Replace Windows 7 Codecs?

bilbonvidia · 27-08-2009, 4:42 PM

I was wondering is there any point? All the files I have seem to play and all I have installed is Haali splitter and ac3filter. I've seen people mention ffdshow and coreavc as replacements, do they really offer better quality over the standard MS? The files I play are mkv's, xivids, divx, ISO, and I hope to get some bluray disks as I have blue ray drive and in my newly built htpc and cyberlink 9.

Daveybryce · 27-08-2009, 5:17 PM

If you have no requirement to install 3rd Party codecs, then don't. As simple as that.

I only have FFDshow and CoreAVC installed because they allow me to customise settings for audio and video, add post processing filters, automatically adjust screen size for any movie to my screen resolution and multithread and offload CPU efficiently.

If you are not experiencing issues and you are happy with what you are watching then I wouldn't bother.

bilbonvidia · 27-08-2009, 5:37 PM

post processing, I assume this is to improve quality? Does it do a good job? BTW good 7mc thread, it has helped me set 7MC up.

Daveybryce · 27-08-2009, 7:07 PM

Yes it does do a good job, similar to SimHD in TMT3, however a sturdy processor is required as it's completely CPU intensive.

Thanks for you comments on my build thread, it's taken a long time to get to where I am but I'm enjoying it. However thinking of upgrades now, starting with a new case and PSU.

RitchieTheBrit · 27-08-2009, 7:46 PM

I have had trouble finding a definitive answer to this, but does either of the splitters support subtitles yet? I would love to simply install AC3 and a splitter, but I currently have FFDShow for control, but more importantly subs.

Daveybryce · 27-08-2009, 7:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RitchieTheBrit

I have had trouble finding a definitive answer to this, but does either of the splitters support subtitles yet? I would love to simply install AC3 and a splitter, but I currently have FFDShow for control, but more importantly subs.

Erm, good question, however a little confused. When you refer to splitters are you refering to FFDShow or CoreAVC, CoreAVC is a codec not a splitter, haali is the splitter. FFDshow is both.

For you there is an easy solution Ritchie, you would need to alter a registry entry for the default M$ audio codec to the AC3filter registry value, and install a program called DirectVobSub and is a filter purely for subtitles. Download here. Thats it.

I can help you if you wish to do this but you will need a program called radfiltermanager to get the AC3filter CSID value

RitchieTheBrit · 27-08-2009, 8:01 PM

I think I fumbled my words there, lol! What I meant was, a totally minimal install WITHOUT any extra codecs.

I know that the Divx Preview, Haali and Gabest are capable of handling the subtitles, but are yet to implement it. But thats cool, I've not used DirectVobSub before, I'll have a look! I have always relied on FFDShow.

I DO like FFDShow for the control I have over it, and I may just stick with that and the Gabest splitter. What do you reckon? I am going via SPDIF to 5.1 and it works flawlessly at the moment, is there a good reason for switching? Performance? Is the Windows codecs any better than FFDShow?

Hope I'm not hijacking here, but it seems relevant to the OP.

Daveybryce · 27-08-2009, 8:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RitchieTheBrit

I think I fumbled my words there, lol! What I meant was, a totally minimal install WITHOUT any extra codecs.

I know that the Divx Preview, Haali and Gabest are capable of handling the subtitles, but are yet to implement it. But thats cool, I've not used DirectVobSub before, I'll have a look! I have always relied on FFDShow.

I DO like FFDShow for the control I have over it, and I may just stick with that and the Gabest splitter. What do you reckon? I am going via SPDIF to 5.1 and it works flawlessly at the moment, is there a good reason for switching? Performance? Is the Windows codecs any better than FFDShow?

Hope I'm not hijacking here, but it seems relevant to the OP.

I wouldn't say windows codecs are any better or worse than FFDshow, but you don't get any settings to alter in the WMF (Windows Media Foundation). For a HTPC this seems a little dull as we build these to get an awesome viewing pleasure, so FFDShow allows us to tweak lots of filters and settings to get our setup the way we want it and using the power our pc's have to acheive it rather than an out of the box solution.

The only things i have installed codec wise are FFDShow, CoreAVC and Haali and an MP4 (quicktime) splitter. I can watch everything and anything.

I always say if it aint broke dont fix it, but if you want to dabble, then things do break and you fix it by learning, so a win win situation in my eyes lol.

RitchieTheBrit · 27-08-2009, 8:45 PM

Ohhhhh, I've broken the HTPC LOADS of times now!

I've had one running for about 3 years or so now, and I am always tinkering, but once I found FFDShow, every other Codec pack paled in comparison.

I have FFDShow, Gabest x64 and PowerDVD 9 Ultra for BD playback on mine. Never really wacthed any quicktime files on my HTPC, though I love the format for encoding my own renders etc.

I think I will stick with the current setup for now. I was just curious as I will be formatting again once my retail Windows 7 copies turn up.

Daveybryce · 27-08-2009, 8:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RitchieTheBrit

Ohhhhh, I've broken the HTPC LOADS of times now!

You and me both

Quote:

I've had one running for about 3 years or so now, and I am always tinkering, but once I found FFDShow, every other Codec pack paled in comparison

It's a great little app and I wouldn't use anything else now and the development of it just constantly ongoing a good thing as tech is moving so quick at the moment too.

BMWM3CSL · 27-08-2009, 9:34 PM

it was indeed a good question the OP posted and one I've wondered about myself. When building my win7 system, I have initially tried not to install ANY codecs to keep the sys as clean as possible and by and large the system played most files - even mkv via the haali splitter. Only recently some obscure xvids files didn't play and for that reason I installed ffdshow and even after that, the MS codecs are still mostly used. I've also had to install the AC3 filter for handling the AC3 audio streams. That is it so far.

RitchieTheBrit · 27-08-2009, 11:33 PM

Windows 7 has been for me by far the best Windows OOB experience. As soon as they became available, I bought three copies of Home Premium. I normally let Windows stew for a year before taking the plunge on a new OS, but not this time, although it can be looked at that MS have basically had a lot of pre-beta feedback for certain things from Vista.