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Hi there. My Sammy arrived today – White and beautiful – and as I want to watch films on it, I did a search to discover what I need to do. Then… I got stuck. What is a coded, and do I go for Handbrake or some other video software (free preferably!) Could some kind person please take pity on me and tell me what I’ll need and where to get it? Obviously, the simpler the better…
Thank you!
Firstly codec stands for COMpressor DECompressor, and is the way in which the video and audio is stored so that it takes up less hard disk space.
This is not to be confused with the file extension on the end of a video file such as .mkv .avi .mpg etc… as these are the type of container which the video, audio, subtitles, chapters etc.. are placed into (Handbrake calls this the “Format”).
Handbrake is a good free tool and is fairly easy to use. If I were you I would click on the “Toggle Presets” button in Handbrake and choose one of the options from that. I would try converting the same video a few times with different presets and maybe have a play with the quality settings until you are happy with the results.
If you haven’t already there are instructions for setting up Handbrake in this thread:-
DVD to ScreenThe wiki on the Handbrake site should be useful to look at as well.
EDIT: Oh and it would be advisable not to run Handbrake on the NC10 if you have another faster computer, as the NC10’s processor is slow.
You are very kind to respond so promptly, especially as I seemed to have missed an existing thread on this subject – thank you!
If I want to use my external DVD drive to play dvd’s, it tells me that Windows Media Player can’t play the disc because a DVD decoder isn’t installed. Is that the codec thing? And is Windows Media Player the best free thing to play dvd’s on?
Thanks again…
I would download a video player called “VLC”.
what is the file name after the dot?
if its DivX, you have to download and install divx codec or install a player that already has it.
[quote1234945202=limborepublic]If I want to use my external DVD drive to play dvd’s, it tells me that Windows Media Player can’t play the disc because a DVD decoder isn’t installed. Is that the codec thing? And is Windows Media Player the best free thing to play dvd’s on?[/quote1234945202]
If your DVD drive came with a disk then most likely it will contain the necessary programs/codecs to playback your DVD, it may be called WinDVD, PowerDVD or Nero ShowTime. If you install this you will be able to playback DVD’s using the installed program or using other programs like Windows Media Player.The other option is as Rhys_AUS mentioned, to download a media player like VLC which will play back DVD’s and most video files, without the need to install any codecs.
By the way, my first post was just about how to convert a DVD into a file on your hard drive, and not playback.
Another vote for VLC player. I copied 4.3 Gig of DVD files to the sammy and it played flawlessly, the menu structure showed correctly and I was able to select chapters etc.
I find this site the best for codecs:
http://www.cole2k.net/codec-pack-standard.html
Once you’ve installed this package, VLC is the best player + will play anything you throw at it.
[quote1234977699=cm17]
I find this site the best for codecs:http://www.cole2k.net/codec-pack-standard.html
Once you’ve installed this package, VLC is the best player + will play anything you throw at it.
[/quote1234977699]
As far as I’m aware VLC does not use external system codecs, as it has them inbuilt. So installing a separate codec pack and then using VLC is a waste of time.SMPlayer for me. VLC doesn’t disable the screen power down in XP when you are playing a video, so you have to keep on touching the mouse to wake it up. Also, I think that VLC is not as good a picture quality (line structure is much more visible on fast moving scenes).
Why not install both, then choose? They are both free.
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