Good MP4 codecs for WMP/Winamp or players?

[AFB]

I'm currently using Real Player and I'd rather be .... <not pretty>.....

 

[ShadowBlade]

dont bother with MP4, its pointless.... basically its an MP3 with a higher compression rate (then again all MPx are) so i would advise just converting any m4u's your have to mp3 using nero or similar

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
dont bother with MP4, its pointless.... basically its an MP3 with a higher compression rate (then again all MPx are) so i would advise just converting any m4u's your have to mp3 using nero or similar

Wouldn't converting from m4u to mp3 just make the quality even worse?

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: igowerf

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
dont bother with MP4, its pointless.... basically its an MP3 with a higher compression rate (then again all MPx are) so i would advise just converting any m4u's your have to mp3 using nero or similar

Wouldn't converting from m4u to mp3 just make the quality even worse?

Yes. Once again, someone proves the "don't listen to anybody with a postcount less than 250" theorem.

MP4 is a better compression method. How much better is debatable.

I assume you're reffering to MPEG-4 compression in general, rather than the proprietary Nero MP4 codec. (Though that's probably the best AAC codec out there at the moment) One of the most commonly used "next gen" codecs is Ogg Vorbis. Several programs -- including Audacity, BeSweet and CDex -- come with Vorbis support. It's a better compression method, optimized for low-bitrate stuff. (The lowest I seem to be able to get is 64kbps VBR, though that sounds amazing compared to mp3) You may notice that there's more emphasis on the high-pitch stuff with Vorbis, which made me shy away from it at first. But after encoding a few audio tracks at .001 quality and them still sounding amazing, I no longer cared.

You can also check out AAC. Apple makes the most commonly used one, though if you have a copy of Nero you can try taking advantage of their amazing AAC codec through the use of OagMachine. (From the makers of BeSweet -- www.doom9.org) The Apple one is easier to get though: just install iTunes. There's also a few others out there you can find with a simple google search.

Another newer, popular one is Musepack, or MPC. I'm not very familiar with it, but what I've heard encoded with it has sounded good. It's not lossless -- from what I understand it also cuts out the ranges normal folks can't hear -- but it's a good compression format by most accounts.

All of these are compatible with Winamp and WMP after installing the codecs/plugins. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to recommend you switch from WMP to Media Player Classic. It's a lightweight, resource-friendly player that handles just about everything you have a codec for. (I've only had a problem with Nero-encoded MP4 video files)