Which codec for win7 64 bit?

[jonesnewton]

Hi,
What is the best codec pack to have?
I have Media codec pack 3.9.5 now, downloaded about Oct 09, but some of the audios in videos are real quiet?
I tend to use WMP and VLC, but willing to try anything new?

Any better options?

 

[whs]

This is what is usually recommended. Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs But make sure you uninstall any other pack first.

 

[TheSchaft]

This is what is usually recommended. Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs But make sure you uninstall any other pack first.

I agree - get Shark's basic 32 bit codec pack, and also the x64 components add-on (Shark007.net - Windows 7 x64 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs)

 

[jonesnewton]

This is what is usually recommended. Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs But make sure you uninstall any other pack first.

I agree - get Shark's basic 32 bit codec pack, and also the x64 components add-on (Shark007.net - Windows 7 x64 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs)

Thanks both.

But can I ask first, these codecs are only for WMP?
What about other players like VLC, AVI, etc?

Also this bit is confusing?
2 versions of Windows Media Player exist on x64 systems.
There is a 32bit version stored in \Program Files (x86)\
and a 64bit version stored in \Program Files\
How do I find these? I cannot even find a listing for one of them?
I looked at Windows and Microsoft, the only thing listed is the media codec pack 3.9.5.

And to install, I would just uninstall the old version >media codec pack 3.9.5., then install the version you quoted and then the x 64 components add on ??

Thanks.
Neil

 

[WindowsStar]

Hi,
What is the best codec pack to have?
I have Media codec pack 3.9.5 now, downloaded about Oct 09, but some of the audios in videos are real quiet?
I tend to use WMP and VLC, but willing to try anything new?

Any better options?

K-Lite is up to version 5.9x now. You can update to the newest version if you wish.

http://www.free-codecs.com/k_lite_codec_pack_download.htm

 

[jonesnewton]

Hi,
What is the best codec pack to have?
I have Media codec pack 3.9.5 now, downloaded about Oct 09, but some of the audios in videos are real quiet?
I tend to use WMP and VLC, but willing to try anything new?

Any better options?

K-Lite is up to version 5.9x now. You can update to the newest version if you wish.

Free-Codecs.com : Download K-Lite Codec Pack 5.9.0 FULL, K-Lite Codec Pack 5.9.0 STANDARD, K-Lite Codec Pack 5.9.0 BASIC : K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of codecs and related tools

Thanks for the advice.

Does K-Lite support all players?
Does it work with x64 bit?
Which should I use this FULL - STANDARD - BASIC?

 

[WindowsStar]

Hi,
What is the best codec pack to have?
I have Media codec pack 3.9.5 now, downloaded about Oct 09, but some of the audios in videos are real quiet?
I tend to use WMP and VLC, but willing to try anything new?

Any better options?

K-Lite is up to version 5.9x now. You can update to the newest version if you wish.

Free-Codecs.com : Download K-Lite Codec Pack 5.9.0 FULL, K-Lite Codec Pack 5.9.0 STANDARD, K-Lite Codec Pack 5.9.0 BASIC : K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of codecs and related tools

Thanks for the advice.

Does K-Lite support all players?
Does it work with x64 bit?
Which should I use this FULL - STANDARD - BASIC?

There are 2 versions 1 for x86 and one for x64. You can install both or just the x86. Most of the media playing software is x86 so that may be the only one you need.

Full is normally the best. Just read through the installer carefully so you don't turn on anything you don't need, maybe you don't want something to put an icon somewhere, of if you don't like auto updates.

 

[whs]

Do yourself a favor and do NOT use K.Lite. That is a bunch of garbage thrown together that will most likely give you problems. Read this and you will understand. Regarding your question: VLC has it's own codecs and AVI (to my knowledge) is a filetype not a player. Don't worry about x86 and x64. Get Sharks pack with the x64 add-ons and you will be fine.

 

[Dinesh]

Do yourself a favor and do NOT use K.Lite. That is a bunch of garbage thrown together that will most likely give you problems. Read this and you will understand. Regarding your question: VLC has it's own codecs and AVI (to my knowledge) is a filetype not a player. Don't worry about x86 and x64. Get Sharks pack with the x64 add-ons and you will be fine.

Could not agree more. Very well stated. DO NOT USE CODECS.

 

[Dinesh]

Why Codec Packs Are Bad - How-To Geek Wiki

 

[jonesnewton]

Do yourself a favor and do NOT use K.Lite. That is a bunch of garbage thrown together that will most likely give you problems. Read this and you will understand. Regarding your question: VLC has it's own codecs and AVI (to my knowledge) is a filetype not a player. Don't worry about x86 and x64. Get Sharks pack with the x64 add-ons and you will be fine.

Could not agree more. Very well stated. DO NOT USE CODECS.

Hi

You say dont use codecs, but isnt this CODECS >>Shark007.net - Windows 7 x64 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs << the same as K-Lite ??

 

[Dinesh]

I see no reason to use "codecs". I use VLC media player and the inbuilt WMP and they can play everything, almost everything.

 

[jonesnewton]

Um??

I am now confused about codecs??

:shock:

 

[WindowsStar]

I see no reason to use "codecs". I use VLC media player and the inbuilt WMP and they can play everything, almost everything.

I respectfully disagree, no hate here, just friendly disagreement. I have been using K-Lite for 4 years now without any problems. Now for the average user they may be no need for them but unfortunately we need to play so many non-standard videos that VLC or WMP cannot play them. I have tried every video player out there and they simply cannot play the files. Even Windows 7 native Codecs cannot play .mkv files which are becoming so popular that it should be. Vendors are now using them as their standard.

The OP already has K-Lite on their system so upgrading will most likely fix their codec issues.

Thanks for the articles on codecs but if you read the replies many of the posters disagree with the article itself

 

[Dinesh]

I see no reason to use "codecs". I use VLC media player and the inbuilt WMP and they can play everything, almost everything.

I respectfully disagree, no hate here, just friendly disagreement. I have been using K-Lite for 4 years now without any problems. Now for the average user they may be no need for them but unfortunately we need to play so many non-standard videos that VLC or WMP cannot play them. I have tried every video player out there and they simply cannot play the files. Even Windows 7 native Codecs cannot play .mkv files which are becoming so popular that it should be. Vendors are now using them as their standard.

The OP already has K-Lite on their system so upgrading will most likely fix their codec issues.

Thanks for the articles on codecs but if you read the replies many of the posters disagree with the article itself

I hope you read this article. If codecs are working for you, nothing like it.

 

[whs]

The rule about codecs is easy - don't use some package that is washed together like e.g. K-Lite. Shark seems to have made an effort to come up with a consistent package and even provides a real uninstaller. So that is more trustworthy. After all, codecs add/modify many files and registry keys and I don't think you want that to be done by any unknown source.

 

[Dinesh]

And if you guys still dont understand, read what's written in whs's sig. LOL.

 

[baarod]

Why Codec Packs Are Bad - How-To Geek Wiki

Agree as well. Do not use "packs" in Windows 7 as ALL of these "packs" are designed for DirectShow which was introduced in Windows 98. Windows Vista and 7 use Media Foundation which add hardware acceleration features and CANNOT use these codec packs. What you are seeing when you used these codec packs is the crusty old Windows 98-XP DirectShow junk trying to run right under a modern OS that's designed to use it's OWN NATIVE Media Foundation. It's a band-aid and it will not be supported in the next Windows so get used to Media Foundation now. 7 plays most everything out of the box except MKVs and AC3 audio.

Address your problem directly. You want multi-channel down-mix with matrix or gain control. Those movies that you are having a hard time hearing are have multi-channel audio. Some may not play at all and both almost always boils down to an AC3/DTS issue. To solve that in a completely Windows 7 native fashion get this: http://ac3filter.googlecode.com/files/ac3filter_1_63b.exe

You will probably also run into wanting to play *.MKV or Matroska container files. Do that natively in Windows 7 using just the free part of DivX available here http://www.divx.com/downloads/divx. Choose just the DivX codec pack during installation. As little as I like DivX, they are the ONLY decent Windows 7 native Media Foundation MKV splitter available.

Both packages support 32- asd 64-bit Windows Media Player. More importantly they support 64-bit Windows Media CENTER. Whereas the default version of Windows Media PLAYER in 64-bit versions of Windows 7 is 32-bit, the default version of the Windows Media CENTER in 64-bit versions of Windows 7 is 64-bit. This disparity has caused all kinds of confusion. Since most of these "packs" rely on opacity -- you get the "pack" because you really don't care which codecs you're using -- files may play fine under Windows Media Player but fail under Media Center. It's not apparent that Media Player is 32-bit and the "pack" is 32-bit but Media Center is 64-bit.

Even if things do play in Media Center, many folks are disappointed to find that they can't stream file to their XBOX360 or extender. That again is the fault of the "pack". They're just NOT DESIGNED for Windows 7 and as such lack integration with many of the better features in the new OS. Extender integration is one of those features. Unless your media is rendered using Media Foundation, it's not going to work with extenders.

Try this. Uninstall all "packs". Test playing media files from your library. I think you'll be surprised how many play WITHOUT any of these "packs" (and maybe how much BETTER!). For those that don't play sound or the sound is muffled install AC3Filter and boost the levels and try playing again. For MKVs install DivX (just the codec part) and try those again. Report back with any files that you really need that don't play. I'll bet I can get those to play natively without any "packs" as well.

 

[WindowsStar]

@baarod, I completely agree, less is more and adding just the Codecs you need is much better than a Package. - Thanks - WS

 

[WindowsStar]

The rule about codecs is easy - don't use some package that is washed together like e.g. K-Lite. Shark seems to have made an effort to come up with a consistent package and even provides a real uninstaller. So that is more trustworthy. After all, codecs add/modify many files and registry keys and I don't think you want that to be done by any unknown source.

Respectfully, again I have to disagree here. I have had so many problems with Shark Codes and I know I am steping on some toes because he posts here. But Shark Codecs so far has been one of the worst. With that said I guess now I will be obligated to test it again and post the issues I have had with it in the Shark Codec area, so he as every chance to fix them.