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A very extensive codec pack for windows that allows users to play a variety of media formats

A very extensive codec pack for windows that allows users to play a variety of media formats

Vote: (681 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Free-codecs

Version: 17.2.0

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(681 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Free-codecs

17.2.0

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • One-stop shop: The best codecs to play the most videos with the best quality.
  • Small download: You're not downloading some bulky install that takes forever to install on a modern computer, or even a good system from 5 years ago. Viruses and overloaded programs on your computer can change the experience for the worst, so if it's slow, consider having a cleaning day for your computer's data.
  • Community-made: This is one of those times where professionals aren't the best. Instead of using what Sony or some other company wants you to use to stay in their market, these are codecs created and chosen by people with passion--and not a lot of money to sway their decisions.

Cons

  • Sometimes outdated. K-Lite depends on the community, and people move onto other projects.
  • Sometimes confusing options. While K-Lite is designed to run out of the box with no changes, people who want to start editing their videos or making small changes can get confused by the tools. K-Lite has a lot of its guts (exposed code and tech jargon/slang) open in a not pretty way.
  • Honeypot risk. K-Lite has been around for a long time, and is often packaged with pirated videos because it works so well. Unfortunately, hackers create places that are attractive to internet searchers looking for ways to play illegal videos. A site or place where dangerous files are kept for unsuspecting people to download is called a honeypot. Just make sure you're downloading from reputable sites.

Codecs are instructions that tell computers, programs, and other systems how to do a task. The K-Lite pack has a few different techniques that create different results, and the reason for putting together this pack is to create a single download that plays most of the best ideas.

Who decides on the best codec? It's mostly nerds from various forums, chatrooms, and other internet community areas. People who spend a lot of time not just watching video or listening to audio, but looking at file sizes, looking at how other techniques can used, and looking at other performance details.

For most people, codec just means "the thing I need to play this video." Download this pack if you're tired of downloading lots of media players just to play everything in your movie collection.

Here are K-Lite's supported file formats:

  • AVI: .avi, .divx
  • Blu-ray: .vob, .evo
  • Flash: .flv
  • Matroska: .mkv, .mka
  • .mp3
  • MPEG-1: .mpg, .mpeg, .m1v
  • MPEG-2: .mpe, .m2v, .mpv2, .mp2v, .m2p, .mod, .ts, .m2t, .mts, .pva, .tp, .tpr
  • MPEG-4: .mp4, .m4v, .mp4v, .mpv4, .m4a, .3gp, .3gpp, .3g2, .3gp2
  • OGG: .ogg, .ogm, .ogv, .oga
  • RealMedia: .rm, .rmvb, .ra, .ram
  • .webm
  • QuickTime: .mov, .hdmov .qt
  • .flac
  • .wv
  • AC3/DTS: .ac3, .dts
  • .amr
  • .amv
  • .alac
  • Monkey's Audio: .ape, .apl
  • .aac
  • Musepack: .mpc, .mpp
  • Trackers: .xm, .s3m, .it, .umx
  • OptimFROG: .ofr, .ofs

Pros

  • One-stop shop: The best codecs to play the most videos with the best quality.
  • Small download: You're not downloading some bulky install that takes forever to install on a modern computer, or even a good system from 5 years ago. Viruses and overloaded programs on your computer can change the experience for the worst, so if it's slow, consider having a cleaning day for your computer's data.
  • Community-made: This is one of those times where professionals aren't the best. Instead of using what Sony or some other company wants you to use to stay in their market, these are codecs created and chosen by people with passion--and not a lot of money to sway their decisions.

Cons

  • Sometimes outdated. K-Lite depends on the community, and people move onto other projects.
  • Sometimes confusing options. While K-Lite is designed to run out of the box with no changes, people who want to start editing their videos or making small changes can get confused by the tools. K-Lite has a lot of its guts (exposed code and tech jargon/slang) open in a not pretty way.
  • Honeypot risk. K-Lite has been around for a long time, and is often packaged with pirated videos because it works so well. Unfortunately, hackers create places that are attractive to internet searchers looking for ways to play illegal videos. A site or place where dangerous files are kept for unsuspecting people to download is called a honeypot. Just make sure you're downloading from reputable sites.