VLC vs. Media Player Classic

[farfromover]

I've been playing around with Media Player Classic for my HTPC, and it seems like a pain in the butt to get everything working smoothly. I basically want a player that can play mkv files with DTS or DD5.1 for audio via spdif to my receiver.

Is VLC a much better way to go??

Also, I want to uninstall Media Player Classic and all the codecs associated with it (as I may have added a few too many), is there a way to remove them from the registry?

Thanks,

[johnsmith]

I find that what Media Player Classic can`t play, VLC media player will do almost everything else and do also what Classic can, so I have deleted it and almost use VLC exclusively..

[recneps77]

I use VLC for like.. everything. I found MPC to be too much of a pain to be useful.

[asif9t9]

I understand GOM Player is supposed to do everything VLC can do, but in a more user friendly package.

[slyboy]

What can't Media Player Classic do?
I use it for everything, including multi channel audio, MKV packaged files. I find the interface is much more familiar than VLC. Shouldn't anyone be able to use any of these players if they have the right set of codecs (and only the right set) on their PC?

[recneps77]

Originally Posted by slyboy

What can't Media Player Classic do?
I use it for everything, including multi channel audio, MKV packaged files. I find the interface is much more familiar than VLC. Shouldn't anyone be able to use any of these players if they have the right set of codecs (and only the right set) on their PC?

VLC has it's own codecs set (I believe).
But I also have the adequate codecs installed (I also encode videos).
I could use WMP if I wanted to (and do, for quicktime files.. absolutely hate quicktime.)
I just find that VLC has more options (like zoom, crop, etc.)

[Snake785]

In my personal experience, I've had no problems with using Media Player Classic and playing DTS/DD via SPDIF. The only codec I've needed for audio was AC3Filter and that allowed me to set up SPDIF passthrough for DTS and DD with no problems whatsoever. I haven't had issues with video codecs. I just installed the few I needed and I've been able to play any video I through at it.

VLC is better since it includes all of the codecs you need, howeverit gave me problems with the SPDIF passthrough. It seems to be very hit and miss for me. It could be because I didn't configure it properly but I did have its SPDIF passthrough option checked. Also, support for HD content is a bit flaky as well (>720p mkvs). They play, but performance seems to suffer sometimes whereas I don't get the same issues with MPC with the same video.

[dogbolter]

google 'cccp'

Everything you need to play mkv.

Includes MPC, Zoomplayer, ffdshow and all the codecs you could ever need in one package.

[JmanBC]

Originally Posted by dogbolter

google 'cccp'

Everything you need to play mkv.

Includes MPC, Zoomplayer, ffdshow and all the codecs you could ever need in one package.

whatever you do, please don't listen to this guy.

The newer Media Player Classic "Homecinema" builds will play almost everything without having to mess with codecs. It will also allow you to output SPDIF audio.
A normal user (ie a VLC user) will never have to install a single codec in order to playback avi/mkv/mpeg/wmv files with MPC Homecinema. An advanced user, however, has much more flexibility with MPC because of the ability to install stuff like AC3Filter and CoreAVC.

(The only things MPC Homecinema won't play immediately (because of legal issues, I think) is RealMedia and Quicktime video. You need to install Quicktime Alternative and Real Alternative if you want to use those formats.)

[asif9t9]

One reason I keep going back to players like Zoom Player and GOM Player is because I can setup the controls properly. Number one for me is I want to control fastforward and rewind with the mouse wheel. Is that possible with MPC or VLC?

[granduncle]

VLC has all codecs internal. Only for itself. Other players can't use them.
MPC has some internal but can also use external DirectShow codecs.

New formats have a good chance not to be implemented in VLC for some weeks/months (e.g. DD+, i.e. EAC3; if you didn't have a commercial player, only the Sonic codec would decode the soundtrack until recently madshi wrote the open source decoder).

Read the long and thourough write-up about latest high definition audio decoding found on HD/BD to find out the advantages of players like MPC.

[Finnkc]

Have you tried MPC Star? MPC was ok but MPC Star has more new codecs from that I have been told. IMO VLC is better, but I use MPC Star sometimes as well and it works great.

[ds7777]

vlc is a good handy package if you're playing lower than 720p hd movies.

if you are regularly playing 720p and 1080p mkv files, then i would highly suggest to not use the vlc player and their internal codecs. instead get a player (ie MPC or Zoomplayer) and a codec pack (coreavc/klite for lower spec machines, or ffdshow for higher spec machines). you will (over time) begin to appreciate the subtle difference in 1080p HD with the right tools.

it all depends if you are watching SD files on your 22" lcd, or HD files one your 52"lcd...

[farfromover]

Yeah, I was having issues with VLC stuttering/flickering. I'm watching 720p and 1080p movies on my 106" screen with HD projector.

[JimmyFace]

My vote is also for MPC Home Cinema. The latest version will also play Blu-ray M2TS files directly. The biggest benefit with MPC Home Cinema is that you can tell it to ignore or prefer codecs. I use it with PowerDVD's video decoder and it works great with the bonus of Hardware Acceleration for my video card. I have an older P4 3.0 so I need the Hardware Acceleration.

Once you load your MKV into MPC Home Cinema, simply right click on the video as it plays and select filters and you can see exactly which decoders (video and audio) you are using and can tweak the codec properties from there. If you don't like or want the decoder it's using then you can go into the options and add the decoder in and then set the player to ignore it. This is handy if you were unlucky enough to install a codec pack and have a codec trying to commandeer your video or audio. FFDShow is a codec that likes to override everything so it is the main codec being used. It will also break your Hardware Acceleration which is why I can't use it.