The most complete codec packs
June 18th, 2009 | Published on: Roundup
The most complete codec packs
The current wide variety of multimedia formats has become an issue when playing audio or video files. We often download videos from the internet which use different codecs and we do not always have the proper codecs to play them. How many times did you download an audio or video file just to see you couldn´t play it? Next, we will give you a short review detailing four different codec packs: K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, Codec Pack de ELISOFT, Combined Community Codec Pack and Vista Codec Package.
K-Lite Mega Codec Pack
K-Lite Mega Codec Pack is one of the most complete codec packs up to date. It includes three codec packages: K-Lite Codec Pack Full, QuickTime Alternative and Real Alternative.
Among the included codecs, we can find the most popular ones such as Divx and Xvid required for playing any DVD, as well as other multimedia formats such as MP3, MP4, MPEG, Realmedia, QuickTime and more. But that´s not it, it also offers several applications and players such as BSPlayer, Media Player Classic and Gspot codec detector.
Installation is completely customizable, this means the user selects which codecs he wishes to install. K-Lite Mega Codec Pack has several installation alternatives: K-Lite Codec Pack Basic contains only the most essential things. Standard contains everything you need to play all the commonly used formats. This package should be enough for the average user; and Full contains even more codecs. What´s more, K-Lite Mega Codec Pack detects broken codecs and filters too, eliminating them from the system and installing new ones.
ELISOFT Codec Pack
ELISOFT Codec Pack is known for its adaptability since it´s compatible with all operative systems, featuring an easy installation and un-installation.
It contains all the standard codecs to play most audio and video formats. It also includes filters to improve image and sound quality.
ELISOFT Codec Pack features the possibility of analyzing and repairing damaged video files.
ELISOFT Codec Pack enables users to play video file with several audio tracks, as well as inserting subtitles and other useful tools.
What´s special about this Pack, is that both DirectShow filters and codecs can be enabled or disabled from the program.
Combined Community Codec Pack
CCCP is a compilation of codecs originally made for playing anime videos. CCCP is simple, light-weight, safe and reliable.
Before installing CCCP, the installer detects possible codec issues with your system -previously installed codecs that is – avoiding further codec troubleshooting.
Apart from having standard codecs such as Divx, Xvid and AVI, CCCP offers free audio and video players and an application for making movie subtitles.
Vista Codec Package
Vista Codec Package is one of the first codec packages made for Windows Vista for playing non-standard multimedia files. It doesn´t contain any player, it´s just a codec pack.
One of its important features is the possibility of playing FLV files, a flash video format used by YouTube among other flash sites.
This pack includes support for all existing audio and video formats for playing the most popular codecs such as xvid and DivX and even several less common formats. We recommend installing only one codec pack at a time. In case you fell like trying another one, uninstall the current codec pack and only then proceed to installing another. Quicktime and Realmedia formats are also supported in this release, allowing video to be streamed in most cases. Although not as comprehensive as the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, this may be suited to users looking for a lighter option that will allow more flexibility of the codecs installed.
As you´ve seen in this short review, there is not a huge difference among these codec packs, which in fact are most popular ones. For that reason you will have to choose the most suitable for your needs. In our opinion, the most complete and full-featured codec pack is Combined Community Codec Pack. Why? Because it´s small and compact, containing only what is needed for most videos; it intentionally disables support for many codecs it considers unnecessary. It thus can potentially avoid problems caused by inappropriate combinations of filters by providing an all-inclusive playback solution. Additionally, unlike many competing packs, CCCP is designed around decoding rather than encoding, and as such doesn’t include many video encoders that other packs do.
Still, other packages might suit yours needs better or you may find them easier to work with, give them a try.
Related posts:
- K-Lite Codec Pack: the most complete solution for playing multimedia files
- Vista Transformation Pack: Make Windows XP look like Windows Vista
- Free Mp3 Wma Converter: converting audio files was never easier
- CCCP: Play any multimedia file now
- Get Vista Transformation Pack and make your old Windows XP desktop look like Windows Vista
