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Codec Pack for Mac

post #1 of 35
9/1/06 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 
Are there any decent all-in-one video and audio codec packs for Mac OS X out there? I've been googling and I haven't had much luck finding any.

I keep dowloading TV episodes and such that don't play cause I don't have the right codecs. :P
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post #2 of 35
9/1/06 at 6:05pm
Use VLC instead.
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www.rhubarbproductions.com
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post #3 of 35
9/1/06 at 7:42pm
Encoding or decoding? Encoding there are serveral, but are all pretty much packaged together with whatever you want to you like ffmpegx.

Decoding, no there is none. You have to find them seperate.

Reason mac users like VLC, you don't have to hunt anything down.
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post #4 of 35
9/1/06 at 10:11pm
Most TV shows I download from BitTorrent are in either Divx or Xvid format, I'd be surprised if you needed anything else to play them with Quicktime (VLC is good, but I still prefer QT's full-screen controls).

http://www.divx.com/divx/mac/ - Divx codec
http://n.ethz.ch/student/naegelic/download/ - Xvid codec
http://www.3ivx.com/download/macos.html - 3vix codec
http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_download.htm - WMV plugin
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post #5 of 35
9/2/06 at 1:46am
Some Windows advice from Microsoft:

"Codec Packs" are evil, don't install them!!
a flirt with mediocrity comes with heavy penalty
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a flirt with mediocrity comes with heavy penalty
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post #6 of 35
9/2/06 at 2:07am
Just use VLC. It plays everything.
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post #7 of 35
9/2/06 at 2:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by geekdreams

VLC is good, but I still prefer QT's full-screen controls

I also prefer the fact that QuickTime doesn't crash constantly and that scrubbing is actually responsive.
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post #8 of 35
9/2/06 at 5:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by revs

Just use VLC. It plays everything.

No, it does not. Even for the formats that VLC handles, it is only a player. With QuickTime codecs, you have access to the supported media formats in most QuickTime-compatible applications. This includes virtually every MacOS X application (with exceptions). Codec packs are really nothing special. They save your having to locate and download each separately.
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post #9 of 35
9/2/06 at 5:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stupider...likeafox

Some Windows advice from Microsoft:

"Codec Packs" are evil, don't install them!!

That's a good article, and it applies in the same way to Mac codec packs I've seen. They're also legally dubious (read: piracy), and they also often combine multiple codecs that handle the same formats, causing conflicts.

So, yeah, agreed.
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post #10 of 35
9/2/06 at 5:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by geekdreams

Most TV shows I download from BitTorrent are in either Divx or Xvid format, I'd be surprised if you needed anything else to play them with Quicktime (VLC is good, but I still prefer QT's full-screen controls).

http://www.divx.com/divx/mac/ - Divx codec
http://n.ethz.ch/student/naegelic/download/ - Xvid codec
http://www.3ivx.com/download/macos.html - 3vix codec
http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_download.htm - WMV plugin

And finally, Xiph QuickTime components (Ogg Vorbis and others).
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post #11 of 35
9/2/06 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Me

No, it does not. Even for the formats that VLC handles, it is only a player. With QuickTime codecs, you have access to the supported media formats in most QuickTime-compatible applications. This includes virtually every MacOS X application (with exceptions). Codec packs are really nothing special. They save your having to locate and download each separately.

for the original posters needs, vlc will work. the original poster wants to watch tv shows he has aquired - the chances of them not playin in vlc are very slim.

of course i know the benefits of quicktime codecs, and do myself have them all installed. My post was aimed at the original question, vlc (or mplayer) is best for videos aquired from the net.

as with everything, its up to personal choice. 8)
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post #12 of 35
9/4/06 at 9:45am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the links, everyone!

I got the VLC player and it seems pretty good. It doesn't play Windows Media or Real files though.

Although I also downloaded the Quicktime plug-ins, and they work quite nicely. I guess I'll have to stick with Real Player for OSX for Real media.
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post #13 of 35
9/5/06 at 9:37am
quick time pluggins are good because then you can watch your programmes encoded in divx etc using front row with the apple remote.

I like to do this before i go to bed therefore i dont even have to get out of bed when the programme has finnished i just hold play/select and boom nighty night Mr Mac and sweet dreams Chris!

Edit: yeah I called my MacBook Mr Mac (I know original isn't it) and just to add my iPod is called Mr Pod.
Switched permenantly! 12/08/2006
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Switched permenantly! 12/08/2006
Unibody MacBook Pro ▪ 2.66Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo ▪ 4Gb Ram ▪ 500Gb 7200rpm HD ▪ Geforce 9600M GT ▪ Wireless Mighty Mouse ▪ Silver iPod Classic 160GB ▪ Black iPhone 3GS...
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post #14 of 35
9/5/06 at 11:00am
I just wish someone would make OS X friendly versions of some older codecs. I've got some old videos (*cough*) stored in Indeo3/4/5 that are unplayable on OS X because Intel never developed a native version of the codec.
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post #15 of 35
9/5/06 at 2:52pm
Intel hasn't owned the Indeo codec for a long time. Bug Ligos the current owner for some compatible versions. Although I doubt they care considering it's a dead codec.
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post #16 of 35
1/2/07 at 9:11pm
Yes VLC player seems to have most codecs but I have had to install some individually into my hard drives library folder in order to get audio. It then works for quicktime and VLC but I have a file at the moment which I cannot remember where I downloaded it from and don't know what codecs it is using. When I use VlC to play this .avi file I get pic and no audio but in Quicktime I get audio and no pic. Used viddyup to convert it for itunes and no pic. Obviously I don't have the right codec but it's wierd that VLC has the picture codec and Quicktime has the audio codec any suggestions.
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post #17 of 35
1/3/07 at 9:50pm
If you have Parallels or are running Boot Camp, you could try GSpot (for Windows). It helps quite a bit in determining what type of codec a certain file is using. It's quite accurate. I don't know of any tools for Mac that do this. If anyone does, please point me to it.
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post #18 of 35
1/4/07 at 1:36pm
http://perian.org/

Perian works for me...
He who fights fair WANTS to lose.
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He who fights fair WANTS to lose.
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post #19 of 35
1/4/07 at 2:01pm
I'll throw in another vote for VLC. I've never had any problems with it. It plays everything.
~jvb
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~jvb
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post #20 of 35
1/6/07 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_E View Post

http://perian.org/

Perian works for me...

Indeed, use Perian. It has lots of codecs, and is actively being worked on.
"There's no bigot like a religious bigot and there's no religion more fanatical than that espoused by Macintosh zealots." ~Martin Veitch, IT Week [31-01-2003]
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"There's no bigot like a religious bigot and there's no religion more fanatical than that espoused by Macintosh zealots." ~Martin Veitch, IT Week [31-01-2003]
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post #21 of 35
1/6/07 at 9:09am
Best Codec Pack ever, includes Perian etc., enjoy!

DaHarder just got banned. Let's crack open the champagne.

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DaHarder just got banned. Let's crack open the champagne.

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post #22 of 35
9/14/08 at 12:49pm
I've been downloading tv shows through torrents, and some of them I get the video fine, but no sound. Any idea what codec I'd need to fix this? I can through the video on my jump drive and
watch it on my tv through my dvd recorder or even on my pc which has a codec pack on it fine

Thanks
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post #23 of 35
9/14/08 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerideout View Post

I've been downloading tv shows through torrents, and some of them I get the video fine, but no sound. Any idea what codec I'd need to fix this? I can through the video on my jump drive and
watch it on my tv through my dvd recorder or even on my pc which has a codec pack on it fine

Thanks

You give absolutely no information about your OS, version of QuickTime, or which codecs you have installed. In the immortal words of Tom Cruise: "Help me help you."

You should have read the recommendation to install Perian. I will also recommend that you install Flip4Mac. Also, installing DivX won't hurt. If your TV shows are Windows Media 10 or Windows Media 11, however, then nothing on the Mac will play them.
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post #24 of 35
12/24/09 at 7:56am
Thanks to those suggesting Perian. I had already had an older version. The newer version worked perfectly. I now have both audio and video for AVI files in Quicktime.

ddamico361
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post #25 of 35
6/14/10 at 2:11am
by Perian's own admission on the download page (or i may have read it in CNET) the video compression quality may suffer in comparison to other codecs. anyone know if they have updated yet, for OSX 10.6.3 snow leopard?

Apple really need to get their act together for former windows users who switch - so much is easily available for windows. took me three weeks research to find a software that'd write DVDmovie format from converted files on above OS.

VLC is good but doesn't play "everything"

pain in the harris that we still have to use different apps for different formats. you with windows too i suppose but come on - this is 21st century and how long have we been converting and editing?
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post #26 of 35
6/14/10 at 2:26am
anyone tried it yet???
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post #27 of 35
6/14/10 at 2:45am
http://download.cnet.com/Avidemux/30...-10829935.html

not tried yet and here's tuther one

http://download.cnet.com/XBMC/3000-2139_4-10914475.html
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post #28 of 35
10/25/12 at 9:44pm

VLC don't use any system codecs, it have buildin, on any supported OS like Linux, Windows , Mac.

VideoLan Connection programist make codecs only for VLC and placed this codecs in VLC library.

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post #29 of 35
12/21/12 at 10:52am

Don't install a bunch of codecs, simply install perian, it takes care of everything in the background.

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post #30 of 35
12/21/12 at 10:53am
Originally Posted by mark shain View Post
Don't install a bunch of codecs, simply install perian, it takes care of everything in the background.

 

This thread is from 2006 and Perian is discontinued. I wouldn't recommend it anymore.


Edited by Tallest Skil - 12/21/12 at 11:07am
PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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post #31 of 35
12/21/12 at 6:35pm

It is true that the newbie necroposted. It is also true that Perian has been discontinued. However, it still works. It is also still available for download on the Perian website. There is no reason to not use it until it no longer works.

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post #32 of 35
12/22/12 at 9:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

This thread is from 2006 and Perian is discontinued. I wouldn't recommend it anymore.

Haha! How is this thread still open!
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post #33 of 35
3/5/13 at 9:01am

i beginning for MAC. on windows i have know many codeces, but on MAC i use VLC only ^^

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post #34 of 35
3/6/13 at 7:40am

I use VLC, mplayer2 binary + mplayer OSX extended, for music ogg/flac/ape I use Vox.

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post #35 of 35
3/6/13 at 8:08am

Oh, are we posting what we use now?

 

I use QuickTime, and anything that it doesn't play I use HandBrake to convert into MP4.

 

I also use iTunes, and anything that iTunes doesn't play I use XLD to convert into something it can (usually just FLAC to ALAC).

PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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