Codecs

logo K-Lite Codec Pack K-Lite Codec Pack
logo CCCP: Combined Community Codec Pack CCCP: Combined Community Codec Pack
logo DivX Codec Pack DivX Codec Pack
logo Matroska Pack Full Matroska Pack Full
logo x264 Video Codec x264 Video Codec
logo XviD Codec XviD Codec
logo Codecs for Windows 7, 8, 10 Codecs for Windows 7, 8, 10
logo Media Player Codec Pack Media Player Codec Pack
logo StarCodec StarCodec
logo XP Codec Pack XP Codec Pack

The quality of audio and video images is improving every year. New formats are appearing that require a special program to be installed on your computer in order to read them, which decodes the signal of the compressed file and outputs it to your monitor and speakers. This program is called a codec. It is a special micro-application that reads and is able to modify the original file. Before Windows 7, codecs had to be downloaded and installed separately. Because the system simply could not read and recognize such types of files. The situation changed dramatically with the release of Windows 7, which included a minimum of codecs for recognition. Often, though, the program failed and required additional manual installation. In Windows 10, the functionality has been fully implemented, but codec programs are still relevant for the following reasons:

  1. Not all devices are updated and adapted to Windows
  2. If the music and video has a non-standard and rare format, the codec database must be updated.
  3. Codecs, like any program, can fail and malfunction. In this case, you will need to manually reinstall the entire package.

All Codecs in rating

K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of all the codecs, utilities, and filters for handling various audio and video file formats. Without them, you can't watch movies or listen to music. That is why this codec pack is often added to the complete installation package of your operating system. But if you need to install this program separately, you can find it in the public domain at various resources on the Internet. Today, K-Lite is completely free, which allows you to download it without any problems to any computer.

Pros

    • Numerous codecs for playing and processing the most popular video formats
    • Utilities to customize audio and video compression settings
    • Plays rare movie and music formats
    • Regular updates from the official site
    • Builtin Media Player Classic, Bsplayer etc.
    • No conflicts with other utilities and players
    • Directshow codec and filter pack is compatible with Windows XP and later
    • Contains multifunctional player mpc-hc for video, audio, streaming
    • Ability to get detailed information about media formats

Cons

    • No Russian language support
    • Not many additional utilities, functions
    • New versions need to be installed manually

Agree that everyone loves to watch movies: it doesn't matter if they are fiction, sci-fi, documentary or animated. It makes no sense to wait for your favorite programs or TV series to be on the air - they will either be scrolled through in an eternity, or not shown at all.

That's why anyone needs an appropriate set of codecs for proper playback on a home PC, which are contained in special programs. Today we will look at one of these: Combined Community Codec Pack or, for short, USSR.

Pros

    • Fixing the most significant problems caused by codec set conflicts
    • Providing a standard for video playback for the anime community
    • Playing most common media formats
    • Easy to install and uninstall
    • Plays the absolute majority of popular audio and video formats
    • Contains popular media players Media Player Classic HomeCinema and ZoomPlayer Free
    • Available in various subtitle formats.
    • Contains ffdshow media decoder, DirectShow filters, Haali Media Splitter and FLV Splitter
    • Components are chosen so that there are no conflicts between them

Cons

    • Some formats are not connected by default - manual connection required
    • Does not include encoders
    • Designed for Microsoft Windows operating systems only

You can't imagine a modern computer without the ability to play media files. Many movies and audio tracks are required by today's users not only for entertainment, but also for work or study. To play files without jerks or stuttering, additional software must be installed. 

Pros

    • A very simple process to install the Divx package
    • Divx is available to download for free
    • Playback of high definition video, audio content and sound, respectively
    • Compatible with the older but still popular Windows XP
    • All known extensions are supported
    • Possesses an option to transfer video files to game consoles
    • Playback divx, avi, mkv, mp4 in high quality
    • Playback features audio tracks with subtitles.
    • Fast enough to play files

Cons

    • The program is only compatible with Windows and Mac OS

Matroska Pack Full is a complete set of decoders and other tools for working with the video files that most often cause errors in the Windows operating system. MKV and MKA are video file formats that are becoming more and more popular every day. This demand for their use is due to several advantages: low file weight, excellent playback quality, easy archiving and decompressing files. It is with these formats that problems arise. Your computer can neither recognize them, nor open them with third-party programs. The Matroska Pack Full software will help to solve this problem.

Pros

    • Allows you to play popular media file formats
    • Codecs work on any player that supports DirectShow
    • Package contains most needed and frequently used codecs
    • Built-in VSFilter module allows you to attach subtitles to playback file
    • Playback of AAC and AAC + SBR audio is also possible
    • Codecs support HD decoding, what will relieve processor from excessive load
    • The ability to change audio tracks during playback
    • Built-in codec for lossless audio compression that can work in real time
    • Has a fairly small size

Cons

    • Available for Windows only

Most of you probably have a couple or three of your favorite movies, TV shows, cartoons or finally documentaries. And watching them in high quality or processing a track with your favorite characters is a separate pleasure. That's why today we'll talk about x264 Video Codec.

Pros

    • High speed
    • Efficient command line
    • Parallel encoding is possible
    • High quality video is preserved with an updated compression mode
    • Optimal performance
    • Different reference frames
    • Multiple video bitrate control modes
    • Support for interlaced frame compression
    • Open source codec

Cons

    • There is no graphical interface of program components
    • Videolan developer made some mistakes in Russian-language design

Xvid Video Codec is open-source software developed by a team of programmers to compress and archive MPEG-4 video files. Any user can get a full set of features absolutely free of charge. The useful solution will allow users to save free memory on the SSD drive.

Pros

    • Open Source
    • Takes up very little hard drive space
    • Totally token size of the hard drive
    • No additional configuration requirements
    • File size is noticeably smaller
    • No loss of overall quality when compressing
    • Converts a variety of MPEG-4 files
    • Built-in option for editing program code
    • Can combine Xvid with DivX or 3VIX

Cons

    • Lack of full-fledged interface for controlling all codec's functions
    • Occasional system jerks during the archiving process
    • Video archiving can take quite a long time

Probably in the 21st century only an exceptional few people do not like to watch movies: it does not matter if they are fiction, science fiction, documentary or animation. The rest of our diverse society, if not delighted with this way of spending leisure time, then certainly do not neglect it.

There is no point in waiting for your favorite programs or TV series to be aired - they are either cut down in a whole eternity, or are not shown at all.

Therefore, for anyone to adequately play back a recording in proper quality on a home PC, you need an appropriate set of codecs, which are contained in special programs. Today we are going to look at one of these - Windows Codecs.

Pros

    • Compatibility not only with Windows Media Player, but also with most other media players
    • Excellent optimization of the video playback process
    • Newest version of the program can be downloaded for free
    • Play all modern video formats
    • No need to install any additional players
    • Thanks to the developers of Advanced Codecs, now you can connect to your media center
    • Advanced Codecs Windows 7 now supports Full HD
    • Installed codecs will play video content in any browser

Cons

    • During the installation of Advanced Codecs , you can see a constantly popping up advertisement

MP Codec Pack is an advanced data acquisition device for performing physical measurements and sensor signal processing. It has plug-ins designed to extend its capabilities. Decompressors for file compression are connected to the application. The device allows you to quickly find the appropriate types of translations, disable or enable subtitles, and control the extraction of audio tracks. To exclude accidental loss of DivX, Xvid data the program has provided automatic volume control. The version is licensed and available for free download in English. The application is made in the form of an installer with different component selection functions.

Pros

    • Helps play 99.9% of media files, along with XCD, VCD, SVCD, and DVD formats
    • Package installations contain ten built-in utilities to customize audio, video formats
    • Modern codec filters for quality playback
    • Codec pack that is easy to install
    • Auxiliary tools for working with video and audio files
    • Video files can be opened in different players
    • Excellent optimization with Windows Media Player
    • Support for Windows 7, Windows 8 as well as XP, Vista

Cons

    • Unstable operation in the presence of other codecs on the PC

Everyone who has ever worked with video or audio files knows that you need a codec for comfortable work. This is a special type of software that allows you to encode and decode information.

Pros

    • Full set of all necessary codecs for quality playback of audio and video files
    • Supports all common modern formats
    • Allows you to personalise the software for you
    • Works great even on older PCs
    • Supports subtitles
    • Supports AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, RM, FourCC changer, MediaInfo etc.
    • Works on Windows 32bit and 64bit OS
    • Easy installation
    • No ads built in

Cons

    • Updates are downloaded manually

XP Codec Pack is a program containing a set of codecs for Windows XP to make it easy to view various videos from your computer. Its main advantage is the possibility of personal adjustment of the playback taking into account personal preferences and computer peculiarities. The peculiarity - "confinement" for Windows XP, which has not been officially supported for a long time and therefore is deprived of most of the utilities.

Pros

    • Supports most popular video and audio formats
    • One of the most comprehensive codec packs for viewing and working with media files
    • Contains many well-known codecs such as FFDShow MPEG-4 Video Decoder, Matroska
    • Splitter and more
    • Contains Media Player Classic.
    • Contains The Codec Detective that lets you view all installed codecs and information about them
    • Solves a lot of common problems of missing codecs: unsupported format, bad sound, etc.
    • Very easy to install

Cons

    • You must remove earlier versions of codecs from the system before installing