Assuming the page's timestamp is correct, CodecProblems.html has lain untouched for two years. Developments in playback technology since then warrant an update. Also, in the interest in gaining a wider audience while simultaneously reducing playback support requests, the page should be designed with the goal to enable the uninitiated to playback movies as quickly as possible. Currently, it reads like a collection of disjointed tips and suggestions.
Specific Problems
The official version of Media Player Classic has not been updated in nearly three years. Nobody recommends its use anymore; bugs and playback issues have only accumulated over time. In its place are (at least) two forks, "Home Cinema" and the ".1" version. Recently, Home Cinema seems to be claiming the hearts of the movie watchers, but I am personally unaware of the specific differences between the two. I'm sure either works for TAS watching purposes.
The K-Lite Codec Pack family is heavily criticized for sloppy packaging, redundant codecs, and excessive extras. Additionally, some charge that it can lead to system instability and codec errors unrecoverable outside of a reformat. While I never experienced anything so drastic while using it, I did need to tweak MPEG2 settings to properly watch DVDs and MPEG4 and/or MKV settings to watch TAS videos without flipped or distorted video.
MPLayer OSX has died, rotted, settled into dust, and become fossil fuel.
More MacOS options have become available, specifically Mplayer OSX Extended and Perian. Simarly, X11 frontends for MPlayer have advanced since 2006.
I recommend officially deprecating the use of Windows Media Player. Polevaulting around its issues and limitations is a far greater headache than replacing it. Some of the DirectShow filters have not been updated since the WMP 9 era and probably no longer function. For example, OggDS is not only dead, but its link no longer exists. Most proper replacement solutions allow themselves and WMP to coexist in the cases where one really must use Microsoft's product.
Suggested Changes
Move "Terminology" somewhere else, maybe toward the bottom as a glossary. If we give readers a quick solution then they don't even need to know the distinction between codecs and file formats.
Reorder player software in the order visitors most likely need: Windows, Mac, UNIX.
Strongly push visitors toward one or two reliable soltions per platform. I suggest:
Windows
Media Player Classic Home Cinema via Combined Community Codec Pack
VLC
Optionally, a list of "known to work" players could be maintained, but these should be distinct from the recommended solutions such as not to confuse potential viewers. Examples: BSplayer, GOMplayer, KMplayer, MPlayer, Zoom Player.
MacOS
MPLayer OSX Extended
Quicktime via Perian
UNIX (BSD, Linux, etc.)
MPlayer console
MPlayer frontends (KPlayer, etc?)
Finally, eliminate everything about file types, containers, and splitters. There's no reason to know about this stuff with so many "out of the box" solutions available.
I thought the version included in Real Alternative was updated in 2008 (though Wikipedia says the last version of MPC was released 1000 days ago).
You've identified the most confusing aspect about MPC: because the project lacks unified direction, everybody includes their own version. When you double-click on a MKV, which MPC do you get? The one with Quicktime Alternative? Real Alternative? K-Lite? The obsolete version from Sourceforge you downloaded yourself? They each could very well be a different version and have different default settings. Recommending a "baseline" version, such as is included with the often updated CCCP, is a method to reduce confusion. Additionally, you've demonstrated the need to further recommend the usage of QTLite and Real Alternative Lite (versions without MPC bundling) if such are needed.
Whelkman: You seem to have some good ideas and knowledge on the area. Get equipped with Wiki Edit Abilities. Ask Bisqwit, DeHackEd or adelikat to fix it for you.
Joined: 11/11/2006
Posts: 1235
Location: United Kingdom
I'll get to work on fixing this up later tonight.
Edit: I removed advice to use the K-lite codec pack. I've also updated the link to MPC to one on http://www.free-codecs.com as there is a maintained version there. I haven't added CCCP, simply because it includes alot of stuff which aren't needed to watch videos on this site. All you really need is either VLC or MPC/FFDShow.
I'm considering rewording the recommendations to remove "<user> recommends...". Honestly, does it really matter who made the recommendation? It's a site thing, not an individual thing.
I don't know enough about the state of Mac players, and you haven't provided links. If you could do so, I would be happy to update the Mac section also.
<adelikat> I am annoyed at my irc statements ending up in forums & sigs
...And the Haali Media Splitter since MPC's MKV/OGM handling is buggy. Outside these components, the only real "extras" included in CCCP are Zoom Player and subtitle handling. I know there has been discussion to include subtitles in Japanese language videos, so such may not be superfluous. As it stands, to skip installing the extras, the user now must download and configure three separate packages. MPC's defaults override ffdshow handling, but I don't how Freecodecs packages their version. It's been about a year since I installed the components individually.
Raiscan wrote:
I'm considering rewording the recommendations to remove "<user> recommends...". Honestly, does it really matter who made the recommendation? It's a site thing, not an individual thing.
Agree.
Raiscan wrote:
I don't know enough about the state of Mac players, and you haven't provided links. If you could do so, I would be happy to update the Mac section also.
MPlayer OSX Extended:
http://mplayerosx.sttz.ch/
Perian (Quicktime Extender):
http://www.perian.org/
VLC link is still accurate.
Dead OggDS link still on page. I wouldn't bother updating it as I highly doubt it functions adequately in current environments.
If you haven't noticed, maybe the problem was fixed in the forks: AV sync with OGM and MKV in MPC used to be atrocious. By the end of a 15 minute video, sound could be 30 seconds off. Pausing/unpausing would somehow force a resync.
Joined: 11/11/2006
Posts: 1235
Location: United Kingdom
If that's been a problem in the past, it has long since been solved as I have never noticed it. I've made and used quite a few mkvs lately and noticed no AV problems :)
<adelikat> I am annoyed at my irc statements ending up in forums & sigs
