The h264/x264 codec is the most used codec for high definition videos today.

3rd Party Codecs

Windows 7 integrated codec

Microsoft integrated a very good codec into Windows 7, which is able to play h264-x264 videos.

It also makes use of the hardware decoding features offered by many gfx-cards.

The name of this codec is Windows DTV-DVD Video-Decoder.

Configuration

Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.

MediaPlayer Classic - Home Cinema (MPC-HC)

This codec is free and open source.

Download

visit the download section and download the latest version of the Stand alone Filters - Win32

Installation

1. Inside the Stand alone Filters - Win32 file you downloaded, you find the MPCVideoDec.ax file.
2. Extract that file to a location which you won't be able to delete by accident (i.e. C:\Filters\h264).
3. register the MPCVideoDec.ax
4. If you are not familiar with how to register filters in windows:
   1. Download the un-register_helpfiles.zip file.
   2. Extract the register_MPCVideoDec.bat and un-register_MPCVideoDec.bat files into the folder where you have the MPCVideoDec.ax stored.
   3. Now right click the register_FLVSplitter.bat file and select run as administrator
   4. A command prompt will open, and a message will appear that the filter was registered.
5. If you want to remove the filter one day, just rund the un-register_MPCVideoDec.bat file

Configuration

Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.

DivX

The DivX h264 codec is free and also offers hardware decoding support for todays gfx-cards. It provides good results for HD playback.

Download

DivX

Installation

1. run the installer
2. deselect the converter and the player
3. finish the installation

Configuration

Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.

CoreAVC

The CoreAVC codec is a cheap commercial codec which provides limited hardware decoding support (only CUDA - nvidia cards) for gfx-cards. It provides good results, but some users report problems with interlaced content.

Download

corecodec

Installation

run the installer with its defaults

Configuration

Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.

PowerDVD

In one of the service updates provided in 2009, CyberLink started to hide their h.264 codec from other applications.

So if you install PowerDVD, and you do not see their codec listed in the h.264 codec selection, then you have a version where the codec is made invisible to other applications by CyberLink.

There is no other way to get it to work in MediaPortal, than finding an older version of PowerDVD.

Download

Visit the Cyberlink homepage and buy PowerDVD (some users reported that the trial works for them as well)

Installation

Just install PowerDVD

Configuration

Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.

ffdshow

Users report very different results when using ffdshow for h.264 videos.

Some users report that it is the best codec - others that it is not working at all.

Download

• ffdshow tryouts - If ffdshow is already installed, continue with the configuration step, if not:

Installation

1. run the installer
2. in the screen where you are asked about which video and audio formats ffdshow should decode DE-SELECT everything.
3. now scroll down the list and only select the h.264/AVC codec
4. click the next button and finish the installation with using the default values in the next screens

Configuration

1. ffdshow was installed in above step
   • Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.
2. ffdshow was already present on the system
3. If you have ffdshow already present on your system then:

• go to your windows start menu
• select the Videodecoder-Configuration shortcut
• scoll the list down until you find the h.264/AVC entry
• change the setting from deactivated to libavcodec
• close the Videodecoder-Configuration
• Select this codec in MediaPortal Configuration