Best codec pack?

**drummerboy** · January 25th, 2005, 06:56 AM

Hi

I am curently using K-lite mega codec pack 1.17. Can someone reccommend some good codec packs available on the net?

27 · January 25th, 2005, 07:11 AM

XviD, DivX...

**filipino** · January 25th, 2005, 07:12 AM

i think i have seen something like all in one codec pack? try to google it

**Smidley** · January 25th, 2005, 07:13 AM

K-Lite Codec Pack is all you need.

The current version is 2.35 released on 12/23/04.

**Jeordiewhite** · January 25th, 2005, 07:58 AM

Your pretty much right on there smidley, but I personally think his codec he listed is better. For one, you get quick time alternative and real alternative included. Plus it's the same codec pack, but with extra's like the two other codecs included and you can choose which ones to install.
His is the latest as well. The mega codec pack has different version numbers, but released the same time with all the same things.
www.codecguide.com is their main website for the kazaa lite codec packs, you can choose between the lite, full or mega. Personally mega is the best imho. Kazaa has a really extensive codec pack with fixes and tested to make sure each codec is compatible with every codec and tool they provide. Ones like aces mega codec pack aren't thoroughly tested and are too bulky. Kazaa lites codec packs are pretty much the top ones around for quality, there are others, like nemo's and aces and several others, all have caused lots of issues and have used pretty incompatible/cluttered with bugs codecs like ffdshow which is one you want to stay clear of.

**paul9** · January 25th, 2005, 08:28 AM

gordian knot codec pack is good. find it at www.doom9.org
personally, i find ffdshow covers most of my codec needs.

**GroundZero3** · January 25th, 2005, 08:51 AM

i dont really like the codec packages, they seem to mess up sometimes other video files

i use gspot to find out what codecs i need to get a video to play

**Jeordiewhite** · January 27th, 2005, 01:33 AM

Well I dont know about gordian knot. However ffdshow is the worst mistake you can make when it comes down to having your media player crashing or not playing media player files.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow
As you can see it hasn't been updated since 2002 and it's riddled with bugs and it's probably the most incompatible codec I have seen. It has a few general codecs, but as long as you dont install any other codec your pretty much fine, however I still found to crash things a lot! Even with the newer alpha versions, using alpha software is kinda sketchy to begin with. The most annoying bug I would find is explorer crashing when opening a video file, or player freezing or crashing. It has made me hate ffdshow.
If you didn't want to install a codec pack and didn't have the right codec, then you would probably be best off using video lan, it is a very nice multiplatform video player with it's own codecs so it doesn't have to install system wide direct show codecs that most programs use like windows media player and any other device that needs them.
I used to be picky on not using any codec package(inconsistency/compatibility issues, a lot actually stemming from ffdshow directly, like in nemos packs) till I tried the real time and quick time alternatives and decided to give k-lite's codecs a try. It has been very stable and played all of my files just fine. I dont have to worry about inconsistancys or installing new codecs. Kazaa lite's codec pack has had a reputation of being very well put together and thoroughly tested to make sure everything works just fine. Plus they are always up to date with the latest codecs, wont find that with other codec packs.

Also if there are any issues check the faq of how to resolve some issues which is very nice to know.
http://www.codecguide.com/faq.htm