Before installation:

It is highly recommended to first uninstall other codec related packages before installing this package. This way your
system stays clean and potential problems will be avoided. Close all multimedia applications (media players, video
editors, browsers, filesharing tools) before installing this pack.
Installation:
Below on this page you can find some information about all components included in this codec pack. lease read this
information thoroughly. !eave all settings in the installer at their default values if you don"t know e#actly what you should
install. $o %&T simply select all components because you think that more means better. In fact, less is better. 'any
components are not selected by default since it is very unlikely that you actually need them. Click on the "rint" button to
open this documentation in (ordpad. That way you can view it during the entire installation procedure.
After installation:
If you have multiple user accounts on your computer then it is recommended to click on the Reset to recommended
settings shortcut in the start menu. This action should be performed on each user account, e#cept for the )dministrator
account that was used during installation, which already has the correct settings. *esetting the settings is not a strict
re+uirement. It is ,ust to ensure that all components are configured with our recommended settings.
Unattended installation:
)n unattended installation is a silent installation that doesn"t re+uire any user interaction. *un the setup with the
command-line parameter -'ake.nattended to activate the /.nattended Install 'aker/ wi0ard. 1ollow the instructions
given in the wi0ard to create an unattended install with ,ust a few mouseclicks.
Codecs explained
'ost players use $irect2how for playback. $irect2how is a framework in which $irect2how filters are used as building
blocks to construct what is called a $irect2how graph. ) multimedia file is a root of this graph and the audio and video
renderers are the leaves of the graph. $uring playback data flows from the root to the leaves. 3ach filter in the graph
performs a subtask of the whole decoding process. Typical elements in the graph are a source filter, which is often also
called a splitter or parser, and decoders for the audio and video. ) source filter is responsible for reading the file format
and feeding the data to the other filters downstream in the graph. $uring graph creation, if $irect2how finds multiple filters
that are able to perform the same subtask, then it will typically select the filter that has the highest merit. The merit of a
filter is simply a numerical value that indicates the preferability of the filter. Tools e#ist to alter the merit of a $2 filter.
)dvanced players are often able to manipulate which filters are used in the graph, allowing for e#ample to block or prefer
certain filters. If no suitable $irect2how filter can be found to decode a certain audio4video format, then $irect2how is able
to fall back to using 51( and )C' codecs (see below) through special wrapper filters.
Codec is short for "compressor-decompressor", a piece of software that is able to decode and encode a certain format. By
this definition, a $irect2how filter is not a codec.
Two other frameworks are 51( (5ideo 1or (indows) and )C' ()udio Compression 'anager). Components for these
system are called codecs, because they are typically able to both encode and decode. These two types of codecs are
re+uired by most video editing applications, such as 5irtual$ub. Traditional video editing applications are not able to use
$irect2how. 'ore modern applications are sometimes capable of using $irect2how for decoding, but they usually still
re+uire 51( and )C' codecs for encoding.
Components:
# means that ffdshow is able to decode the same format(s) as the marked component. 2o you don"t necessarily need to
install the marked component if you install ffdshow.
# means that 'edia layer Classic is able to decode the same format(s) as the marked component. 2o you don"t
necessarily need to install the marked component if you install 'C and use it as your default player.
Players:
Media Player Classic Homecinema [version !"!##$!#%
Media Player Classic [version &!'!(! rev! #'%
This is a full-featured player with many options and useful functionality. It has internal filters for opening various container
formats such as '6, 'atroska, 1!5 and &gg. It is also capable of playing 7uickTime and *eal'edia content if those
frameworks are installed. The 8ome Cinema version has internal $95) decoders for 8.:;6 and 5C-< video.
ffds)o*:
ffds)o* [revision +#&,%
ffdshow is a very powerful $irect2how filter that can decode many audio and video formats. It also contains lots of options
for manipulation of the audio and video, such as resi0ing and post-processing. 3#amples of supported video formats are=
$iv9, 9vid, '3>-6, 8.:;64)5C, '3>-:, 5C-<, 8.:;?, 1!5<, 1!56, 5?, 5;, Theora, 257<, 257?, and '@3>.
3#amples of supported audio formats are= '?, ))C, )C?, $T2, !C', 5orbis, '<, ':, 3-)C?, $olby True8$, )'*,
%ellymoser, and I') )$C'.
ffds)o* -./ interface
51( decoder that supports many video formats.
51( encoder for a few video formats= '3>-6, $5, 8.:;?, Theora, '3>-:, '3>-<, '@3> and a couple more.
0xtra pl1gins
Aernel and Toms'oComp deinterlacers. $2caler plugin.
2irect3)o* video decoding filters:
4vid [version !"!"% #
1or decoding 9vid '3>-6 video. This is currently the most popular video format.
2iv4 [version &!$!,% #
1or decoding $iv9 '3>-6 video.
5n" -P6 [version 6!#!#!#%
1or decoding 5B video. This format is not very common.
MP078" 9Cy:erlin;< [version $!'!#!&,% # #
MP078" 97a:est< [version !#!#!'% # #
1or decoding '3>-: video.
The Cyberlink filter also support playback of $5$ video in (indows 'edia layer and (indows 'edia Center.
(indows 5ista and 2even already contain a '3>-: decoder by default. 2o you don"t need to install another one, unless
you prefer it over the 'icrosoft decoder.
2irect3)o* a1dio decoding filters:
AC+=2>3=?PCM=MP=MP" 9AC+.ilter< [version !&+:% #
1or decoding )C? and $T2 audio. )lso decodes $5$ audio.
-or:is 9Core-or:is< [version !!#!6(% #
1or decoding 5orbis audio. This is the recommended 5orbis decoder.
AAC 9M5@57RAM< [version #!(!&!#% #
1or decoding ))C audio.
2irect3)o* a1dio parsers:
.?AC 9mad.?AC< [version !$%
2ource filter and decoding filter for 1!)C audio files (.flac).
/avPac; 9Core/avPac;< [version !!%
2ource filter and decoding filter for (avack audio files (.wv).
M1sePac; 9M5@57RAM< [version #!(!"!# = #!'!#!#%
2ource filter and decoding filter for 'useack audio files (.mpc).
Mon;eyAs A1dio 92Coder< [version !#%
2ource filter with integrated decoder for 'onkey"s )udio files (.ape .apl).
5ptim.R57 9Rad?ig)t< [version !#!#!%
2ource filter with integrated decoder for &ptim1*&> audio files (.ofr .ofs).
AMR 9M5@57RAM< [version !#!!#%
2ource filter and decoding filter for )'* audio files (.amr).
This filter is also able to encode and mu# )'* audio.
2C8Bass 3o1rce [version !"!#%
2ource filter with integrated decoders for the following audio file types=
))C (.aac .m6a)
)!)C (.alac)
Tracker (.it .mo? .mtm .s?m .um# .#m)
True )udio (.tta)
AC+=2>3 3o1rce 9AC+.ile< [version #!6:% #
2ource filter for .ac? and .dts files.
2irect3)o* so1rce filters:
A-I splitter 97a:est< [version !#!#!(% #
A-I splitter 9Haali Media 3plitter< [version !(!'"!% #
1or parsing the )5I container (.avi files).
MP'=+7P=M5- splitter 9Haali Media 3plitter< [version !(!'"!% #
MP'=+7P=M5- splitter 97a:est< [version !+!"&$!#% #
1or parsing the '64'&54?> containers (.mp6 .m6v .hdmov .mov .?gp files).
Matros;a splitter 9Haali Media 3plitter< [version !(!'"!% #
Matros;a splitter 97a:est< [version !+!"&$!#% #
1or parsing the 'atroska container (.mkv .mka files).
5gg splitter 9Haali Media 3plitter< [version !(!'"!% #
5gg splitter 97a:est< [version !+!"&$!#% #
1or parsing the &gg container (.ogm .ogv .ogg .oga files).
MP078P3=>3 splitter 97a:est< [version !+!"&$!#% #
MP078P3=>3 splitter 9Haali Media 3plitter< [version !(!'"!% #
1or parsing the '3>-2 container (.mpeg .mpg .m<v .m:v files) and the '3>-T2 container (.ts .m:ts .m:t .mts files).
The 8aali '3>-2 splitter also supports .evo files, but it does not always work properly for regular '3> files.
.?- splitter 97a:est< [version !+!"&$!#% #
1or parsing the 1!5 container (.flv files).
C24A Reader 97a:est< [version !#!#!"% #
1or reading 5C$, 25C$ and 9C$ discs.
2irect3)o* s1:title filter:
2irect-o:31: 9a!;!a! -3.ilter< [version "!+(!,!"% # #
2irect-o:31: 9a!;!a! -3.ilter< [version "!++% # #
$irect5ob2ub is a filter for displaying subtitles (ssa4ass, srt and vobsub). Cour subtitle file(s) should have the same
filename as your video file (for e#ample= 'ovie%ame.avi D 'ovie%ame.id# D 'ovie%ame.sub) and should be in the same
folder as your video file. Then the subtitles will automatically be displayed in most players.
5t)er filters:
Haali -ideo Renderer [version !(!'"!%
3#cellent video renderer that can be used as an alternative for the video renderers that (indows offers.
*e+uires a modern graphics card with i#el2hader <.6 or higher.
-./ video codecs:
4vid [version !"!"%
1or encoding video in the 9vid '3>-6 format.
2iv4 [version &!$!,%
1or encoding video in the $iv9 '3>-6 format.
x"&' [revision (,%
1or encoding video in the 8.:;6 format.
(e do %&T recommend using the 51( system to encode 8.:;6 video. utting 8.:;6 video in the )5I container is not a
good idea because of playback compatibility issues. It is recommended to use a C!I based solution, such as 'e>.I,
which can put the video inside the '6 or 'atroska container.
5n" -P& [version &!'!"!#%
1or encoding video in the 5; format.
5n" -P6 [version 6!#!#!#%
1or encoding video in the 5B format.
Intel Indeo ' [version '!,!&!"%
1or decoding and encoding the Indeo 6 video format.
Intel Indeo , [version ,!",&"!,!,'%
1or decoding and encoding the Indeo E video format.
Intel I!"&+ [version "!,,!!&%
1or decoding and encoding the I.:;? video format.
)1ffy1v [version "!! CC0 Patc) #!"!,%
1or encoding video in the huffyuv format.
huffyuv is a lossless (no +uality loss) video compression format.
2iv4 [version +!%
1or decoding an old version of the $iv9 '3>-6 video format.
This codec is re+uired by (' for playing certain old video files.
B-" 9Helix< [version !"%
1or decoding and encoding the C5<: format.
ACM a1dio codecs:
MP+ 9.ra1n)ofer< [version +!'!#!#%
1or decoding and encoding '? audio in applications like 5irtual$ub.
MP+ 9?AM0< [version +!($!"%
1or encoding '? audio in applications like 5irtual$ub.
AC+ACM [version !'%
1or decoding and encoding )C? audio in applications like 5irtual$ub.
-or:is [version #!#!+!&%
*e+uired for playing certain )5I files that contain 5orbis audio. These files are usually old and very uncommon.
$o not use this codec for encodingF
2iv4 /MA [version '!"!#!#%
2ome old $iv9 ?.<< encoded videos use this audio codec. This codec does not get used for decoding normal (') audio.
Real Alternative:
RealMedia components [version &!#!'!(,,%
*e+uired for playing *eal'edia movies and audio.
RealMedia Active4 control
1or viewing *eal'edia content in Internet 3#plorer. &ther programs might also need this component.
RealMedia pl1gin for .irefox=MoCilla=@etscape=5pera=C)rome
1or viewing *eal'edia content in these browsers.
RealMedia 2irect3)o* splitter [version !+!","!#% #
)llows you to play *eal'edia files in all $irect2how enabled players. (ithout this filter *eal'edia files can only be played
in 'edia layer Classic. This filter only works with files that are on your harddrive. It does %&T work with streaming
content. Therefore it is highly recommended to use 'edia layer Classic, because 'C does support streaming content.
>ools:
D8?ite Codec >*ea; >ool [version +!!#%
(ith this multi-functional tool you can (<) detect and fi# some common problems (:) generate a detailed list of all installed
codecs and filters (?) reset settings (6) backup4restore settings (E) manage the installed codecs and filters.
MediaInfo ?ite [version #!6!"#%
This tool can analy0e a media file and show detailed information about it.
73pot Codec Information Appliance [version "!6#a%
>2pot is a tool that can analy0e )5I, '3> and '6 files and tell you which audio and video formats it contains. It can
also perform a render test that shows you which filters are being used to play the file.
-o:31:3trip [version #!%
(ith this tool you can strip languages from 5ob2ub subtitle files (.id# and .sub files).
7rap)3t1dio [version #!+!"!#%
>raph2tudio is a tool for constructing and analy0ing $irect2how filter graphs.
Haali M1xer
Tool for (re-)mu#ing audio and video into a 'atroska container.
.o1rCC C)anger
The 1ourCC (1our Character Code) Changer is a program for changing the 1ourCC of a video file, which is used to
identify which codec should be used to decode the file. This tool is for e#pert users only.
Bitrate Calc1lator
This can be used to calculate the bitrate to use when encoding a movie.