How do you tell what codec you need?

[BaDaBooM]

I got a .mpg that only plays audio. Audio codec is listed as MPEG layer 3 but Video is unknown. Media Player tries to download the codec but then gets an error (can't tell what error is) and then just plays the audio.

 

[vexingv]

there a program called gspot that will analyze the media file and tell u which codecs are needed and whether you have them installed or not

linky

 

[BlueWeasel]

Nice program...thanks for the link

 

[BaDaBooM]

Sweet program... just the trick. It was Xvid btw.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Here's what I have noted down on Codec files for those interested:

Nimo codec pack 5.0 build 8 (10-2002) - Spyware included in the FREE DivX5.0PRO codec in this pack!
http://www.divx-digest.com/software/nimo_pack.html
FddShow codecs (something to do with enabling DivX even on a PII 233mhz!) great for DivX etc (FFDSHOW?).
http://www.alphaanime.net/files.php
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow
The Official Nimo LITE pack only contains the most commonly needed codecs - probs can arise if there are too many codecs installed on a PC!
http://nimo.titanesk.com/modules/news/
http://www.divx-digest.com/software/nimo_lite_pack.html
SLD codec pack (google it).
Tsunami Tsunami Filter/Codec Pack 3.9.7 - http://www.intimidated.f2s.com/sharelive/view.php?pid=2940

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: AnAndAustinprobs can arise if there are too many codecs installed on a PC!

What sort of problems?
I recently install the Kazaa Lite Codec Pack, Full Install, and noticed that DivX files constantly crashed, so i uninstalled it, and re-installed it with just the very basic codecs, DivX files now run a little longer before rebooting the computer, but i think thats because i have 4 or 5 programs running in the background while playing a DivX file.

 

[BoomAM]

Just as a matter of interest, what Codecs should i install, from the below list. These are the selectable install options bty in the kazaa lite codec pack.
- BSplayer [version 0.86.494]
- DivX Pro Corporate Edition [version 5.03]
- DivX MPEG-4 Low and Fast motion [version 4.1.0.3927]
- XviD Encoder [Nic's build 30/03/2003]
- XviD Decoder [Koepi's build 04/10/2002]
- 3ivX [version 4.0.3]
- Microsoft MPEG-4 (modified) [version: 4.1.0.3927 / 8.0.0.4487]
- Windows Media 8 [version 8.0.0.371]
- Cyberlink DVD decoder [version 4.0.0.2417]
- Ligos MPEG-2 decoder [version 4.0.77]
- huffyuv [version 2.1.1]
- Ligos Indeo XP [version 5.2]
- WMA Audio [version 8.0.0.4487]
- AC3 Audio [version 0.68b]
- Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 DirectShow Decoder [version 1.9.0.311]
- Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 ACM Codec [version 1.9.0.305]
- Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 ACM Codec [version 1.2.0.63]
- Ogg Vorbis DirectShow Filter [version 0.9.9.5]
- Ogg Vorbis ACM [version 0.0.3.1]
- TFM Audio Filter [version 1.0b8]
- Morgan Multimedia Stream Switcher [version 0.9.7]
- Vobsub [version 2.23]
- DivX Anti-Freeze [version 0.4]
- FourCC Code Changer
- GSpot Codec Information Appliance [version 2.1]

 

[Doh!]

FFDShow & AC3 filter are basically all you need most of the time.