Ultimate Codec/Player Guide

[kutae]

1. Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs - Get rid of all that crap. (-_-)
(Outdated players, codecs, filters, splitters, everything. :p)

2. Codeode - we kill spam for pleasure
Download Privacy Mantra and Registry Distiller, and use 'em. Will help a lot.

Edit: Also recommended would be CCleaner, which does the work of both of these programs in one small package, and is very simple and effective to use.

(Thanks for the suggestion BB! :D)

3. Download and install the following progs, and you can play everything. :D

a. CCCP - Superior Codec Pack, kicks everything else's ass.

b. Inmatrix.com - Zoomplayer, best player out there.

c. Real Alternative Lite - Allows you to play RealMedia files in any player.

P.S. For even more functionality, Privacy Mantra and Registry Distiller should be used on occasion alongside CCleaner, as although CCleaner does the job of both and finds things that the others miss, so do Privacy Mantra and Registry Distiller find issues that CCleaner misses. Just letting you know, I've tested it out and that seems to be the case, especially if you use a variety of programs, but they're all definitely useful to the average user as well. :D

P.P.S. When installing K-Lite, CCCP or any other Codec Pack, remove the player (MPC, Zoomplayer) from the installation.

[skysongfan]

still recommend WMP with K-Lite Mega Codec Pack in combination with MPC

(don't even need to install realplayer, and MPC is already build into the k-lite pack)

[kutae]

CCCP has MPC and Zoomplayer built-in, so I don't really see your point here. -_-...Other than K-Lite already having VP7 HQ compression technology (rarely used anyways) already in there, it still can't play Realplayer as far as I know. And Zoomplayer looks SO much better, and I hate the interface of VLC and MPC. Too plain...Zoomplayer has the most functionality in my opinion. :D

Whatever though. It's up to you to decide. I'm just recommending what I like best and what I personally know works perfectly. ;)

Note: CCCP allows ALL your players to play ANY file, just like K-Lite or whatever. The point is Zoomplayer, like MPC, is designed to work with all those codecs and so on, and take up much less memory. :D

[Advent7]

which zoomplayer should someone download....standard, pro, or pro wmv.

I downloaded pro personally....but what do you recommend?

I just used it on a episode of Honey and Clover that was 233mb HD version mkv file and was lagging when playing on my media player classic but quit once switching to zoomplayer. I was about to convert the files into something smaller so i could watch it but didn't want to take the time to.

Thanks for the guide and links I now have a favorite media player.

[kutae]

It doesn't really matter. I personally use Standard, but it's up to you guys to decide. Anyways, glad you found it helpful. :D By the way, you said you quit MPC and it worked good on Zoomplayer? I didn't quite catch that. Hehe. Anyways, yeah, compared to most players Zoomplayer is actually designed for use with all those codecs and stuff, and takes up much less memory. That combined with the many options and functionality it provides is why it's my favourite player, against say MPC or VLC, which are too plain and suck. xD

P.S. VLC actually has one thing over Zoomplayer: It has a lot of advanced functions that you'll never use, that you won't figure out how to use, which justifies it's memory hogging. xD. Zoomplayer is very easily customizable for those who know what they're doing, and also for the n00bs, which is why I personally recommend it. Sure VLC has a lot of bonuses for those who know how to use those tools and configure them, but I'd rather not bother to learn. Too complicated, and you can easily get other apps to do those things for you. Smaller package = less memory = better performance, in my opinion. :D

Anyways, like I always say, it's up to you guys to decide. Look at whatever suits you best for your needs and computing power, and just go from there. ;)

[BlackBlade]

(Thanks for the suggestion BB! )

You are most welcome! :) I must say, it seems like Zoomplayer is a pretty good piece of software. I must run it through my extreme testing now. :cool:

[kutae]

xD. Extreme testing? Mind giving me a hint of what that is? ;)

Also, I updated the first post. (again...lol.) Check it out. :D

[RevenG]

All you would need is CCCP and Real Alternative if anything. Everything else is pretty much overkill.

[Advent7]

Originally Posted by kutae

It doesn't really matter. I personally use Standard, but it's up to you guys to decide. Anyways, glad you found it helpful. :D By the way, you said you quit MPC and it worked good on Zoomplayer? I didn't quite catch that. Hehe. ;)

I downloaded the second season of Honey x Clover II and they were on average a 230 mb file. When i used MPC everything would lag as in the animation would not match the sound and the subtitles would play to slow.

Once I switched over to zoomplayer this problem stopped. It's probably because it uses less resources for the program to run.

[kutae]

Exactly my point. Glad to hear it helped you out. :D. Anyways, yeah...mkvs (and sometimes .ogm) are generally HQ and compressed, and because of the multiple audio and/or subtitle tracks available can run pretty slowly and lag on most systems...but like I said....Zoomplayer doesn't hog memory. I remember one time I opened up about 5 or 6 music videos...and was using the volume controls and other stuff to create a personal mix...it was a fun idle moment. ^_^

@RevenG: Don't screw with me. XD. Lol...sorry, but this guide was made with the intent to be able to play ANY file...meaning never having to upgrade, or install new filters/codecs after doing this operation once. Besides I hate Alternative Programs...look plain and no functionality. Besides...the RealMedia Splitter does the job well, without ever having to open Realplayer itself. :D.

P.S. Oy...crap...I forgot to test this for Quicktime files...last I checked it froze my comp. But I dunno if that's just me. Check it out BB or someone else, plz?