Which Codec option and why? (1 Viewer)

[CairnsFella]

It also depends on what you're using for hardware; for instance I have an i3 530 + H55 based HTPC. Intel's chipset/drivers DO NOT play nicely with anything that is MPC based (which includes FFDShow). Look here at my MPC geared PQ comparison between an ATI based (hd 4890) screenshot vs. an Intel based (Intel HD Graphics on i3 530) one: Index of /hosting/i3. There's a clear difference in quality between the 2 screenshots... quite unfortunate. So I am forced to use a PowerDVD/Arcsoft combo for playback. PDVD 10 for AVC based sources and Arcsoft for VC-1. This is not ideal at all because both of these decoders have their own issues, PDVD for one is terrible at seeking. It was so much easier before when I was just using a MPC based setup (SAF 4).

I've even been drawn so far as to consider putting in an ATI based 5xxx card which completely neglects the point of getting my i3 setup in the first place.

Annnyyyyway, experiment with the various methods and options available and see what works best with your setup (there will be plenty of recommendations).

Hi there.

I just wanted to say that I have also had issues with MPC under SAF (if thats the correct terminology) It did seem to me that it was actually the FFDShow audio component that was giving me major glitches on my i3-530 setup.

I have reverted to the Microsoft codecs, which seem ... well... ok I suppose. Im just a little frustrated as with my old system (Q6600, 6800GT, xonar) I seemed to be able to choose between several "good" options. Now I find that the Microsoft option is the only one actually worth choosing so far. MPC and Cyberlink seem terrible.

I dont suppose you know where all the i3 owners are huddling? Id like to read more about other users experiences.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

I dont suppose you know where all the i3 owners are huddling

Must be around, but very few in number of users use intel, think this stems back to the days of the Pentuim 4 cpu, which really were not suitable for htpc as just ran too hot compared to the AMD equivalent.

Think that will change with the ION based mobo's there are out there now, as more people switch to smaller units, using less power in these energy saving times.

 

[Spannari]

Using SAF 4 Final
Tried SAF 5, but experiencing too many problems with it (Subtitles and so on)

 

[dedi]

Its just such a pain to get smooth playback.

I played alot with codecs (on Win7 x64). MPC-HD has micro-stuttering, and one of the worst codecs. Sad it performs so bad as default MP Codec. fddshow is good most of the time, but has sometimes problems, dont know what causes it. PDVD10 performs best in my setup, a little better than PDVD9. MS Codec basically wasn't bad, but gave some problems, dont remember what, I'm currently using it with my clean RC3 install, but probably will use SAF5 soon again.

The bad thing is there are other things disturbing smooth playback. So the graphic card and drivers. I switched from ATI to NVIDIA, because ATI has such poor drivers. Nvidia on the other hand isnt much better. With new drivers it just had problems with overscan (new just creates a strange new resolution) and switching between refresh rates, as it differs interlaced and noninterlaced in a strange way (and some other problems). So I'm using older ones, but here I'm missing p24 refresh rate, which I cant even create as custom resolution. Another thing is there is a difference between 720 with 50hz and directly set signal to 720p50. Completely illogical what makes the hole thing even harder.

There is even more. It's suggested by MP Installation to activate Aero for Win7, but the "dwm.exe" that comes with it causes problems. Kill it via taskmanager (it just restarts then) resolves it temporary. I've disabled Aero now.

 

[edterbak]

Just separate codecs since all codec packs are evil

Tourettes and all other devs who know their stuff. We (I) hardly hear any of you complain about codecs and related problems.
Could you be more specific what you are using then. I'd like to try that.
Video HD/SD > Codec A
TV HD/SD > Codec B
Audio ...
DVD > xxx etc. etc. I think its clear now what I mean.

 

[1gkar]

Thought I would participate as I've only recently got my system working well with all the various media file types. The only one I didn't try was the Shark pack. Individual codecs for me. Here is the thread about my present configuration. You most likely have already had a perusal.

It is nice the system works as I want. Now, all I have to do is not touch, tweak, or install anything

 

[winterescape]

It is nice the system works as I want. Now, all I have to do is not touch, tweak, or install anything

I will have to review the thread as I am very interested in the # of folks that have installed individual codecs VS a “packaged solution” It seems that seeing the results to date I should have formatted the question more like edterbak suggested. IF you did install individual please list what ones and why as I am amazed at the #’s that appear to have custom solutions

Just separate codecs since all codec packs are evil

Tourettes and all other devs who know their stuff. We (I) hardly hear any of you complain about codecs and related problems.
Could you be more specific what you are using then. I'd like to try that.
Video HD/SD > Codec A
TV HD/SD > Codec B
Audio ...
DVD > xxx etc. etc. I think its clear now what I mean.

And let me know how that not touching or installing anything else works out…

 

[kiwijunglist]

Either SAF 4 Final version or install individual codecs manually. I used to install all the codecs manually, but since then I have found that SAF4 does a good job and saves a lot of time. I havn't tried SAF5. I generally say stay away from codec packs, but as SAF actually installs just the codecs i would manually install anyway then it saves a lot of time. I would recommend unlocked SAF4 so you can use PDVD for HDTV.

If I was not using mediaportal, then i would skip codec packs altogether as MPC-HC has all the built in filters you need, the only thing you have to install is haali's mkv splitter. MPC-HC rocks.

PS. My HTPC runs XP Pro SP3

 

[thomas_fogh]

Using Win 7 built-in for everything,

ditto + haali of course

Still would recommend shark007 codecs for any OS prior to win7, or to cover a lot more formats which I do not need in Win7.

Just too easy to use, and integrates correctly into windows, even MCE if you wish, also has repaired many a users foobar'd system

How do I setup MP with the Win7 codecs? (Which to select)
Is it possible to change the audio delay?
I have a 200 ms A/V difference for mkvs (but none for xvid) with my current setup (SAF4)

 

[Spooky]

Just separate codecs since all codec packs are evil

Indeed. For MediaPortal I currently only use CoreAVC (for h.264 obviously) and ffdshow (for the rest). ffdshow seems to work great in RC3 for all cases (also LiveTV mpeg2 decoding + deinterlacing).