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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Comments
Decoding, no there is none. You have to find them seperate.
Reason mac users like VLC, you don't have to hunt anything down.
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
"Codec Packs" are evil, don't install them!!
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.
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.
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.
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).
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)
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.
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.
Perian works for me...
http://perian.org/
Perian works for me...
Indeed, use Perian. It has lots of codecs, and is actively being worked on.