So, what's here? Codecs, players... It happens to me often - someone is asking why he/she couldn't play this or that particular video file, then I have to find proper codecs on the web. I know that many people have problems with codecs, that's why I decided to create this section. It isn't meant to be complete in any way, but there should be nearly everything here a typical user would ever need. But I know I won't be able to keep it up-to-date, so don't be afraid of finding the latest versions and links and please, tell me.

    Because I'm using the Windows XP platform right now (and it is the most widely spread platform too), all programs here are supposed to run under this operating system. Files are packed in zip format, which is natively supported in this system. If you have troubles installing these files, let me know.

Players

Media Player Classic

[29.10.2005] - I think I'm not alone whose opinion is, that this is the best and most practical player. Easy to use, yet offering many functions. Here [1.91 MB] is version 6.4.8.4, you can find the latest one (also for another versions of Windows) here.

mplayer

[08.12.2003] - not an easy-to-use one, but the fastest video player; it doesn't use external filters for picture decoding, it will be able to play most video files with its integrated decoder - if you have a slow computer and thus cannot play films, try this one [3.3 MB].

Decoding of audio and video (parsers a filters)

ffdshow

[29.10.2005] - the most important part - a filter for maybe every used video and audio format, fast and reliable. You can download it here [2.37 MB]. Attention, this version is only for processors supporting the SSE!

Windows media 9 codecs

[29.10.2005] - a bunch of codecs bundled with Windows Media Player 9 - here [1.3 MB].

Matroska splitter

[29.10.2005] - for playing files with mkv extension. Includes ffdshow, vobsub and much more. You can find it here [3.37 MB].

Real alternative & Quicktime alternative

serve to play back proprietary formats real audio/video and quicktime in other media players - e.g. Media player classic. They are too big to host them on my site; you can download them here and here.

VobSub/VSFilter

[07.03.2004] - for watching of subtitles in every possible format - VSFilter 2.33 [650 kB].

Encoding of audio and video

    If you wish only to watch movies, this stuff is of no use for you. They make sense only if you wish to encode your own video files.

XviD 1.1.0 beta 2

[29.10.2005] - I use XviD codec for video encoding - it's, (not only) in my opinion, the best solution. It achieves better quality than DivX and it's for free. (Koepi's build [604 kB]). Latest information and versions can be found here, here and here.

Lame mp3 encoder

[29.10.2005] - creates sound encoded into MPEG-1 layer 3 - Lame 3.97 with frontend [1.13 MB].

ogg vorbis encoder

[12.10.2004] - creates sound encoded into ogg vorbis format (ogg extension), decoder included - vorbis tools 1.1.1 [358 kB].

VirtualDub Mod

[29.10.2005] - the most ingenious utility for working with video; encoding, cutting... - the best version: VirtualDub Mod 1.5.4.1 [2,2 MB]. You can find the latest version on this page.