MC and native codecs?

[mediacenternoob]

Hello sir,
Up until this release of Windows, I didn't bother much with codecs or packs because of disasters I had with other packs destabilizing my system. For quite some time i have been using VLC. So forgive the ignorance.

Being leery as mentioned, I wanted to ask a few questions before I installed these packs.(I have Ultimate7 64 bit).

I decided to try and make wmc/wmp12 work because they have alot more native codec playback now. Media Center looks great!!!

So my question is, what formats does it not play that your packs will provide playback for? I have seen on forums problems with mkv, flv, mt2s, etc. If it is just those few, isn't there an alternative to using an entire codec pack?

Again, sorry for the ignorance. Any advice you can give woud be great. Like I said, I am leery of installing a full codec pack and don't have a spare machine for testing.

Thank you

[Shark007]

It is my opinion that you have no need for my codecs. Just continue to use VLC as you have in the past.
It will fill in for the few formats Windows 7 cannot handle natively.

With that said . . . you seem to have an adventurous side that begs to know what all the fuss is about.

The only advice I have for you is that IF you decide you want better support for playback in Media Center, the UNINSTALL button(s) are on the Help TAB of the settings interface. The x64 release MUST be uninstalled before the 32bit package. On an x64 system, install the 32bit package 1st, then the x64 Components addon.

And FYI... most things are still the same after installing my codecs because I do not disturb the native playback by default. Any and ALL changes YOU make using my settings interface are completely reverted to the systems default settings upon uninstall. This is the reason for forcing users to use my uninstall buttons instead of the usual methods though control panel. There is a Reset All feature that allows you to revert all of your changes back to the codec packages installation defaults. Reset All is your best friend while exploring the plethora of possibilities my releases enable the user to use.

On the MISC TAB are several more special features. Investigate them. have fun.

My packages have been scrutinized by 10's of thousands of users and have been built upon a reputation for NOT screwing up your system. Many nay-sayers of days gone by when k-crap left you looking for the format command have come out of the darkness and are using my releases because of the stability they are proven to offer.

Since you're completely novice, I'll make some settings suggestions. On the 32bit Help TAB, use the button to associate filetypes. Also in the 32bit Settings app, set DIVX on H264 TAB. In the x64 settings interface, set the x64 WMP as default and then set it back to 32bit. This will setup MC to play FLAC audio files. Also in the x64 settings app, choose FFDshow on the righthand side of the H264 TAB and also choose FFDshow for MP2/3 on the SWAP TAB. If you have M2TS files that play without audio, choose to disable WMF on the SWAP TAB. (disabling WMF will also disables ALL other settings on the SWAP TAB, so make its use temporary)

Other than the filetype associations of the 32bit Help TAB, each app controls settings for the specific platform of the player you wish to use. Media Center is x64, so for Media Center settings, use the x64 app. All other players are 32bit and the 32bit app will set things for those players.

Goodluck.. with what ever route you choose to take.
yours' is far from the 1st hand I held.

[mediacenternoob]

Thanks for your reply. K-Crap was exactly who I was referring to that drove me away from media player in the first place. It's sounds like you have an understanding as to why I would be a little tentative about installing codec packs but form what i've read in forums, yours sound pretty safe.

I guess I'm just looking for some re-assurance. I had so many system problems with Vista and 7 is just running great. I'd love to be able to use all the features of Media Center but it's been so long since my system has run so clean and fast, I'm just a bit worried of messing something up. Meaning I would do something wrong with your software, not so much that the software would cause the problem.

Anyway, I hope I'm not being insulting but if you can indulge me in a couple more questions before I install?

First, your site says it doesn't matter what player you use, it will play everything. Are you referring to just Media Center and Media Player or do you literally mean I would be able to play any format in any player? Microsoft's Zune for example. It plays wmv/wma, mp4 and a few others but not avi like divx, xvid,etc. I haven't used the video feature much because formats are pretty limited but it would be great if I could. With AV cables, it could be like a portable video collection. And I hate converters. They are just to slow at this point and I have over 500 movies, most in AVI containers.

Second, the other rec I used to get all the time when I ran Vista was ffdshow-tryouts with splitters. Is yours similar to that? I installed it once but the configuration part kinda scared me off.

Third, I read somewhere that WMP12/WMC are not direct show players anymore and that they are moving to their "WMF" or windows media foundation. I know it's not new but are they solely using WMF instead of direct show filters now? And if so, how can you add more formats if their Media Foundation doesn't have a codec for them? Or am I misinformed on this and media foundation still relies on direct show filters?

Again, thanks for your time, sorry for the ignorance, and hopefully I will be using media center soon!

thank you.

[Shark007]

There is no need to continually apologize for a lack of knowledge (ignorance) when you are here asking questions and gaining knowledge. As I am sure you are aware, the only stupid question, is the one not asked.

"First, your site says it doesn't matter what player you use, it will play everything."

This refers to DirectShow Players. The reason I make this statement is because other codecpacks rely on MPC to take up the slack where thier releases fail because MPC has builtin codecs that usually work. I don't distribute a player because I know my releases arent lacking support and i do not need to fall back on a player with builtin codecs to keep my users files playing. I have no exp. with Zune, but if it uses DirectShow, it will use my codecs.

As for FFDshow. It is the backbone of all of my releases but I take the interface away from the user and handle most things in the backgraound without the user even knowing. Example: A user chooses, through my settings interface, to disable AC3Filter. This single click not only disables that filter but also sets up FFDshow to take up the slack caused by disabling that filter.

The Windows Players in Windows 7, being Microsofts' players, are designed to use WMF 1st and fallback to DirectShow when no appropriate WMF filter is present. In most instances my SWAP TAB can take care of this by inserting a directshow filter such as FFDshow in place of the WMF codec. The only instance that I could not overcome was the playback of M2TS files. If you have one of these that plays with video only, the is a button on the SWAP TAB to disable WMF and allow directshow to play the file. Please consider this WMF disabling as a temporary measure because WMF is an integral piece of the OS.

BTW, I find your inquiries so important, i have linked to this particular thread from the main Windows 7 codecs page.
The link is about 2/3 the way down the page.

[mediacenternoob]

Thanks for the quick reply!! Gonna give it a shot. Will let you know how it turns out.

And of all the movies I have, I have exactly one MT2S formatted movie!! So no big deal.

Thanks again!

[McoreD]

(11-03-2009 07:38 AM)Shark007 Wrote:  This refers to DirectShow Players. The reason I make this statement is because other codecpacks rely on MPC to take up the slack where thier releases fail because MPC has builtin codecs that usually work. I don't distribute a player because I know my releases arent lacking support and i do not need to fall back on a player with builtin codecs to keep my users files playing. I have no exp. with Zune, but if it uses DirectShow, it will use my codecs.

Hats off to this comment/belief/attitude. That is why your codec pack is unique Shark007. Much appreciated.

[Mike89]

Quote:In the x64 settings interface, set the x64 WMP as default and then set it back to 32bit. This will setup MC to play FLAC audio files.

What if one has already changed the WMP 12 default to 64 bit (and wants it to stay that way) before installing your pack? Does one still do the above that you wrote?

[Shark007]

(12-20-2009 01:06 AM)Mike89 Wrote:  

Quote:In the x64 settings interface, set the x64 WMP as default and then set it back to 32bit. This will setup MC to play FLAC audio files.

What if one has already changed the WMP 12 default to 64 bit (and wants it to stay that way) before installing your pack? Does one still do the above that you wrote?

if you want to playback standalone flac files in x64 MC, set the x64 WMP as default through the settings application. It does not need to stay set (your choice) but, to innitially enable the feature, do it as instructed.

[gadzooks64]

I have an Acer Netbook with an Atom processor and Intel GMA500 video. It's like have a squirrel for a motor and a chalkboard for a video screen.

How should I configure your package to work best with this system?

[Shark007]

(12-30-2009 10:46 AM)gadzooks64 Wrote:  I have an Acer Netbook with an Atom processor and Intel GMA500 video. It's like have a squirrel for a motor and a chalkboard for a video screen.

How should I configure your package to work best with this system?

I can only guess . . .
On the H264 TAB, Try using the MPC-HC codec.
If that fails you, try Divx's codec on that TAB