What is a codec? A codec is a device or program capable of converting data or signals. Simply put, a codec is an intermediate stage between the screen and the movie file that will help you watch the movie.
Why are codecs needed? Often the player refuses to play videos or shows images without sound. This may mean that you do not have the codecs required to convert this stream: the system cannot find a way to decode this file.
Previously, when the codecs were not friends with each other, there were a huge number of manufacturers and formats, you had to download each codec for each format separately, having previously spent time and effort to find all these files.
But then someone figured out to combine all these codecs into a single installation kit. The most popular collection of such codecs is called the K-Lite Codec Pack. This is a universal set of codecs and programs for viewing and processing audio and video files, helping to both convert video files and view them. The K-Lite package also includes some utilities for displaying information about media files, calculating bit rates, etc. The K-Lite Codec Pack is distributed absolutely free of charge.
Installing the K-Lite Codec Pack
Let's look at a specific example of how to properly install the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 11.0.0.
1. Double click to run the file K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1100_Mega.exe... You will see a start-up window for the installation. Click on the button Next.
2. A window will appear asking you to check for updates. If you do not want to check for updates, uncheck the Perform quick upgrade checkbox. Click Next.
3. After clicking on the Next button, you will be taken to the menu for selecting the components to install. If you are not sure which components are best to choose, leave everything as it is and proceed to the next installation step by clicking on the Next button. (For complete installation all components of the K-Lite Codec Pack will need about 59.9 MB free space on disk.)
4. A window will appear asking you to assign associations of audio / video files with the players. If you have already been assigned associations with other players, uncheck the Create file associations box so as not to knock your settings. If you want to reset all settings, check the Reset all settings to their default checkbox. Leave the rest of the settings as default. Click on the button Next.
5. In the next window, do not change anything and click on the button Next.
6. A window with the settings for the Media Player Classic will appear. Leave everything as default and click Next.
7. A window will appear with the ability to select the program language. Select the first language (Primary language) Russian (Russian), the second language (Secondary language) select English (English). We press Next.
8. At this stage, select the video player. If you don't know which one to choose, uncheck all the boxes or leave Media Player Classic (x86). Click on the button Next.
9. A window with Audio Settings will appear. Leave everything as default and click Next.
10. The settings are complete. Click on the button Install by starting the installation process. Here you can still change something by clicking on the button Back.
11. After the end of the process, click on the button Finish.
Installation is complete.
In this lesson, we will install k-lite codec codecs on your computer.
I think that everyone has such a situation when you open a video or try to do something in the program, and you get a message that this or that codec is not installed on your computer. Today we are going to tackle this problem.
Currently, codecs are distributed mainly in the form of packages. The most common in this case is a package called K-Lite Codec Pack... To download this package, go to the site and go to the "Download" section.
Depending on the set of codecs and utilities, there are several versions of the package: Basic, Standard, Full and Mega. I think that the Standard package is enough for us, so on the page that opens, click on the "Download Standard" link. It is also a recommended site itself.
On the next page, we select the hosting from which we will download the codecs. Let's download the file from digital-digest.com. Follow the link to the left of this hosting as in the picture below.
On the website that opens, follow the "Click Here To Download" link.
Now it remains to save the file to your computer. After the download is complete, start the installation of the codecs. To do this, go to the folder with the file and double-click on it with the left mouse button. Let's walk through the installation steps a bit. We will click on the Next button everywhere and only focus on some settings. At the "Installation Mode" step, select "Normal mode" - installation of codecs in normal mode, which does not require additional knowledge and settings from you.
On the "File Associations" page, you need to select which player to associate with, ie. through which player you will automatically open the file formats selected in the next step. You can choose Media Player Classic, which is included in k-lite codec pack or leave the usual Windows Media Player.
Since the ultimate goal is to install codecs, the rest of the installation points, which are not very important, can in principle be skipped by clicking on the Next button. At the end of all installations, press the "Install" button to start the installation.
The K-Lite codec pack also includes 2 useful utilities: MediaInfo and Codec Tweak Tool.
Codec Tweak tool- this utility manages the package. Through it, you can update the codec package itself, as well as fix errors that may occur when working with audio and video files. To check for updates, select the "KLCP update check" item, and in order to fix errors, click the "Fixes" button.
MediaInfo- a utility that allows you to find out information on video and audio files. Just select the file by clicking on the special line.
And we get information about the file. Perhaps it will be very useful for you.
You can find these utilities on your computer through the search in the Start menu. We open the menu, and in the line we type the name of the required utility.
You don't need to expect anything more from the installation of codecs. The principle works here - set and forget.
If you still have questions or have any difficulties installing codecs, then below you can watch a video lesson on the topic of this lesson.
In this lesson, we will walk through the recovery process step by step. language bar in windows.
In this tutorial I will explain how to shrink or enlarge desktop icons... Resizing desktop icons is a pretty simple procedure. This can be done in several ways, but before that you need to understand what caused their increase or decrease. I would recommend checking first set resolution screen, since failure to comply with this recommendation leads to distortion of the display of elements and, accordingly, to a change in desktop icons.
Play a movie, but the player gives an error? Or does the video play, but soundless? Do not rush to panic and think that something is wrong with your computer - it simply lacks the necessary codecs. The problem is easily fixable! Below you will find detailed and understandable instructions for installing video and audio encoders and learn a few valuable life hacks for working with multimedia.
Why are codecs needed?
It is possible that the term "codec" is not very familiar to you, and it is not surprising - the user does not need this information to enjoy video or audio. However, when playback errors occur and the system requires you to install something, knowledge is clearly useful.
Speaking simple language, codec is a small encryption program that is included in any operating system... Not only computers are equipped with such software, but also cameras, phones and other devices. Their key task is to encode data when writing and opening files. The quality of the result depends on how "qualitatively" the codec encrypts and translates the information.
Codecs are involved in encrypting and decrypting data when shooting and playing video
Interesting fact! Modern cameras have the ability to shoot 60 or even 120 frames per second. Ideal for action shots, but other times you simply capture 60 identical shots. This means that for a minute recording you will make 3600 frames, most of which are "extra". Video codecs are embedded in the OS of the device to find duplicates and erase them. This reduces the size of the video, making it suitable for viewing on small devices.
Quick guide to install and upgrade
When purchasing a computer (or other device), you buy it already with a set of decoders that will allow you to correctly play the most popular video and audio extensions. However, if you are trying to play a movie or audio track in a non-standard format, you may need “extra” options.
If you are a Windows XP user, you can view the list of installed codecs by clicking on the “My Computer” shortcut and selecting “Properties”. Click the Hardware tab and navigate to the Device Manager section. In the line "Sound, game, video devices" find the arrow and click on it. If you are a Windows 7, 8 or 10 user, start Windows Media Player, hold down the ALT key and find the "About" item in the menu that appears. Click on the hyperlink "Information about technical support"- and the browser will display a page listing the codecs.
Immediately after clicking, a tab with a table of supported formats will open in the browser
If the built-in options were not enough and the player asks for a new video codec to open, do not worry and do not give up. Decoders can be found easily on the Internet and are completely free to download. Different formats require their own encoders; installing them one by one is not the best solution. Much easier is to download a single package.
The most popular set is the K-Lite Codec Pack. The package is good not only for its impressive list of supported formats, but also because it works for everyone Windows versions starting from XP and compatible with most media players. To install codecs on your PC, follow this step by step guide.
☛ №1. Go to the official site of the K-Lite Codec Pack, go to the download page and select a product version. More than enough for most users Basic versions(the Mega option is needed only for those who need the finest customization of the media player), so feel free to click on Download.
Download a basic set of codecs from the K-Lite Codec Pack
☛ №2. After downloading, run the distribution. In some cases, especially on newer versions of Windows, the system may display a warning (see the picture). There is no danger in the set of decoders, especially those downloaded from the official resource, so click "Run anyway".
☛ №3. Follow the prompts of the Installation Wizard. The standard installation parameters are set by default, the checkboxes are ticked and you do not need to change anything. Click Next until you reach the audio and subtitle language selection window. Check that the primary language is Russian.
Make Russian the default language
☛ №4. After that, the Wizard will offer to mark video and audio decoders for loading. You can uncheck the boxes that are already installed. If you don't need audio decoders, click Select none, and then - Select all video.
Uncheck the boxes only when you are sure who this codec is already installed
☛ №5. When the final installation window appears, you just have to click the button Install and wait for the end of the process. Click on Finish- and you're done!
Follow the prompts of the Installation Wizard and the codecs will be ready to download in a couple of minutes
Now you can enjoy any media without difficulty!
The technique is constantly being improved, new formats and new encoding requirements appear. However, you don't need to worry, as it is very easy to update codecs on Windows 7 and other versions of the system. All that is required is to periodically install the latest version of the package over the previous one.
Alternative way to solve the problem
Another way to forget about format incompatibility is to install an editor that supports the conversion function. Such software will not only allow you to change the extension and codec, but also significantly - correct colors and lighting, cut out unnecessary ones, add effects.
VideoMONTAZH supports both popular and rare extensions. You will be able to work with both short clips downloaded from the Internet and bulky films downloaded from DVDs. To change the codec, you need to add a video to the slide scale, go to the tab "Create" and choose the appropriate conversion option from the proposed ones.
Choose a new, more popular format for your video
In addition, using the video editor, you can:
- glue several passages, regardless of their extensions;
- shorten the duration of the track, change the playback speed;
- adjust tone and color balance;
- enhance the image with built-in effects;
- add over inscriptions, photographs or clipart;
- replace or add soundtrack.
The editor will quickly improve the video
At the exit, you have complete control over the quality of the result. Moreover, the software allows you to easily burn videos to DVD, upload them to the Web or save them for viewing on mobile devices.
Now you know how to install codecs quickly and for free. However, you get a lot more if you choose. This life hack will allow you not to track updates to software packages and always have access to view any files. In addition, you will be able to transform and create vivid videos, because "VideoMONTAZH" includes all the necessary tools.
Do I need before installing new version K-Lite Codec Pack to delete the previous one?
In general, it never hurts. But when installing K-Lite Codec Pack, the uninstall procedure previous version is optional. If there are only minor changes in the new version, you can simply install it over the old one. This will not lead to any problems and everything will work well. If more significant changes have occurred in the package, the installer itself will ask you to remove the previous version.
At the beginning of the installation of the K-Lite Codec Pack, I am asked if I want to uninstall program X. Is this necessary?
No, this is optional. Just click on "No" if you want to save installed program... But if you are using a different codec pack, then removing it will be highly recommended. This will save you problems and help keep the system clean.
At the beginning of the installation, I am asked if I want to uninstall RealPlayer. It is necessary?
No, not required. Just click on "No" if you want to keep RealPlayer. But if you want to use Real Alternative you must uninstall RealPlayer.
During installation, an error occurs: “An error occurred while trying to replace the existing file: DeleteFile failed; code 5. Access denied. "
This means that the installer is trying to delete a file that is currently being used by another program. Close all active programs and click on "Retry". If the error persists click on "Skip" and continue with the installation.
Is it possible to remove only some of the components of the K-Lite Codec Pack and leave the rest.
No, you have to remove the entire codec pack. Then start the installation from the beginning and in the right place select only those components that you need. You can also disable (and then enable back) all codecs and filters using the Codec Tweak Tool. This program does not remove codecs and other components, but only effectively blocks them.
Does the K-Lite Codec Pack contain an uninstaller?
Yes.
The error "Error writing to registry key" occurs.
This error occurs when the access settings for registry keys are incorrect. To fix the problem, open the register editor:
Start -> Run ... -> regedit.exe
In the registry editor, find the key that is causing the problem. Right-click on this key and select "Access Rights". Make sure the Administrators group has Full Control.
What's the difference between the available AVI splitters?
— Microsoft: Has problems playing incomplete or damaged files.
- Gabest / MPC internal: Allows you to play most incomplete and damaged files without problems
— Haali: Has problems playing (trimmed) files that do not contain the AVI index. Contains a sound switch. This is useful for playing AVI files that have multiple audio tracks in players that do not contain an audio switcher directly, such as WMP and Media Center.
Before purchasing or self-assembly personal computer, the user should have an important question - what operating system does he plan to use? The market is now dominated by Windows and macOS X for the home, as well as a host of free, non-commercial operating systems based on the Linux kernel or descendants of Unix-like systems such as FreeBSD and OpenSolaris. Each operating system has its own operating rules, somewhere everything more than works out of the box or in Live USB mode, in other cases you have to not only spend a considerable amount of time installing drivers, but also solve problems with the software part of use. This can especially be a serious problem for people who like to watch movies in high definition (for example, Blu-ray) using files that can reach up to 10-30 gigabytes of memory in size. hard disk(depends on the container used). Windows built-in multimedia is not enough to play movies with this extension (most often it is .mkv), especially in older versions. Of course, it is possible that the file can be played, but it will not be possible to change the voice acting, subtitles or use any tools.
And in most cases, such a movie will be impossible to watch due to various artifacts, friezes or due to the lack of synchronization of video and audio tracks.
Therefore, you have to resort to installing additional codecs that perform the functions of encryption and decryption of data. The difference between codec assemblies will be described below, as well as, how to install the K-Lite Codec Pack correctly.
Difference of sets
K-Lite Codec Pack is an assembly of these or those free codecs, which are included in the available four sets: "Basic", "Standart", "Full" and "Mega". Each next set includes the previous one, with additions, for example, the player "Media Player CLassic Home Cinema" (abbreviated as MPC-HC). Kits are designed for specific tasks and needs. "Basic" is ideal for those users who only need codecs that can interact with other players, including the standard Windows Media Player. The "Standart" set also includes the previously mentioned "Windows Media Player". In fact, it makes much more sense to download it separately, without preinstalling codecs, since it includes all the necessary components by default.
Also "MPC-HC" is rightfully one of the best alternative and, most importantly, free players. In most cases, it overtakes commercial projects such as "KMPlayer", not inferior in performance and playback capabilities of films with various extensions.
Where to download
You can download the codecs from the official codecguide website, which also contains the kits with descriptions of the components that they include. In addition to everything, this site has a news and changes section, where, in addition to updates to the main software, there are also convenient links to download video drivers, as well as plugins related to the operation of flash elements. All files are loaded by clicking on the hyperlinks.
There is also another website where you can download the latest released MPC-HC release.
The official development of this video player is no longer carried out, however, source of this program is freely available at souceforge. For this reason, you can use unofficial forks, which consist in updating the codecs.
Installing codecs
Before proceeding with the installation, the user needs to decide for what purpose he needs the codecs. Otherwise, he risks clogging his OS with unnecessary components that he will not use. In most cases, the "Basic" set is sufficient, to which you can easily assign any default player. The description of the set says that all audio and video files with common extensions, such as AVI, MKV, MP4, MP3, FLAC, DVD, Blu-ray and so on, will be played.
After running the installer, the user will be prompted to use one of two modes: "Normal" and "Advanced". For finer settings, the last option was chosen.
Selecting the default player.
Installation directory, you do not need to change it.
Now the most important thing is the components. By default, the recommended values will be set, however, the user can set those configurations that will be most convenient for him. 
Selecting a decoder. There is no need to change anything here unless the user is sure that another decoder will not work better.
Language settings are set automatically.
Assigning codecs to a particular bit depth of the player. You can leave it as it is, the user is unlikely to notice really significant changes.
Audio and video file associations. If there are no other players in the system, you should make sure that associations are set for all available file extensions.
Audio decoder settings. In the absence of a professional sound card and other equipment, you can also not change anything.
List of files for which thumbnails of images will be created.
So, after setting all the settings, the installer will display general information. Then you can click on the "Install" button to start the installation. This happens in a matter of seconds. To interact with codecs, you need to use the Codec Tweak Tool, which is automatically installed.
Installation is complete, now it is possible to play audio and video files with unusual for Windows extension and the user is familiar with how to install the K-Lite Codec Pack.