I'm keeping this short and sweet and will ammend as necessary.



So you just discovered the world of digital video? Wanna take them apart and make videos, burn them to DVD, capture images from avi's...the whole nine yards. This thread is intented to push you in the right directions. Starting with links to great freeware programs to aid the needy, greedy or just plain lazy.



By now you've discovered that certain things called "codecs" are need to "open in Windows media player". So first and foremost lets get a link for a good....player. Not codec, we'll tackle that later.


Video Lan Client


I haven't found anything other than Quicktime that this will not play. There is no link to Quicktime because there is a link to this: Quicktime Alternative But that is very rarely VLC doesn't play Quicktime. Only in certain formats like Quicktime HD.

It's very easy to install. And if you get chancy, you can play with the great LAN options. Yes, it will play those pesky .mkv anime files.



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Now let's get some codecs. DO NOT use codec packs. There is a great alternative that will reappear in the guide shortly.


AutoGK


This is a great program. Not only do you get all the codecs you'll need, but you get the added bonus of a transcoder. I honest to god reinstall this after I install anti-virus on a clean wipe. If you run into any other problems, I've tested this codec pack greatly and it's the only worry free one out there.

Combined Community Codec Pack

Works for any anime out there and if it doesn't then you got a problem. Comes with two players, but...ask yourself if you need them a week after using VLC. There is also a Matroska Pack you may find useful once you become fluent with DV. But for now we will not worry about that.



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Now lets move on to converting. Tutorials will soon be available for each program, right now lets find them and let you start playing.

Here's a hint, when you are trying to backup a DVD, and you keep getting a copyright protection error, you need a decrypter.


DVDFab Decypter

Good for snatching the vobs for later use. Or make an image, for use with other programs. Very easy to use, one click after you choose a destination folder. Loads easier than DVD Decrypter, but lacking the options. Link left out for prosperities' sake.


If you have some cash to spare:

AnyDVD

Background program for decrypting DVD's. Removes all protection and updates as necessary.


VirtualDub

A utility for converting to AVI/MPEG1. Also used for joining AVI's, repairing damaged AVI's, splitting AVI's all losslessly. All in the codec. If you ever have an AVI that will not burn back to any kind of media, VirtualDub can repair it in most cases. I saw a video tribute to the guy with the red stapler from "Office Space" and Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How It Feels". Took several weeks but well worth it.


AutoGK

Again it makes an appearance. Used for transcoding VOBs to AVIs. Easiest user interface out there. Very cut and dry, just remember to adjust the video length settings in your codec. If you encode using the default 1:30:00, your movie will look like crap. This will all come later.


FlaskMPEG

Oldie but goodie in the DV world. After decryption, Flask can work miracles. For a while it was the only program of it's kind. And it wasn't that simple. But for a newbie to DV, it's a God-send. Just using the program will teach you more than you probably wanted to know about DV. A must for any enthusiast.


Last but not least:

DVDShrink

One of the most useful programs out there. Allows for full pre/post processing, image making, or flat out backup. One of the simpler to use also. Our very own fae has written a wonderful tutorial for this program.

Fae's Wisdom






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That is all for now but expect to see more useful Freeware/Opensource applications in the future. Also keep an eye out for my AutoGK tutorial which will be next. And try not to be disappointed at not seeing the miracle AVI to DVD conversion program. Not everyone knows what they are doing or they use a very obscure matrix that will not burn back to DVD.

excellent guide EVILBRENDA...appreciated :a013:

oh and btw

mplayer

plays anyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy damn video on earth! many doesnt like vlc (eg 3gp & 3gpp) unless compiled with 3gp/3gpp libraries

www.mplayerhq.hu

download

http://www2.mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/releases/win32/ (windows)
http://www3.mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/releases/...OSX_1.0pre8.dmg (macosx)
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/dload.html (accessories + treasure + garbage)

mencoder

either bundled with mplayer as a sub binary builtin else COMPILE YOURSELF! convert and rip and etc etc etc etc games you might play with the toy called *(PC)*

vlc

plays any except 3gp and 3gpp unless patched

http://www.videolan.org/

download

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-sources.html (accessories + treasure + garbage)
http://www.videolan.org/streaming/ (just incase if you want to stream with guides and tuts and source codes and softies (no not ice-cream or soda))

xine

plays from any media viz CD/DVD/DV and mp3 and avi and mpeg

http://xinehq.de/

download

http://xinehq.de/index.php/releases (accessories + treasure + garbage)

helix

Real Player's open source version of codes and modules (new programming language = ribosome (python + perl + c + c++ (WTF!)) yes open source no money needed just usual stuffs, free support for free lancers, pirates are welcomed! (COMMERCIAL BUGGERS? PAYYYYYYYYYYYYY :aggressive: :f*@&%: ) they have their own forum + irc server and they dislike freenode (gawd knows why!)

https://helixcommunity.org/

helix dna client/player -> plays real player streams/hookable with your Internet Explorer or browser

helix dna producer -> like a small studio you can have! a cool leather jacket for your cool toy (PC) so you can go and impress dolls (GIRLS! IN REAL LIFE!!! ****)

helix dna server -> broadcasts over anything! yes anything from anything! can be clubbed with vlc server or VLS which feeds from set top box! supports ipv6+mobile ip + 3gp/3gpp devices + low bandwidth/low stream against high quality stream (my area of interest) rest on the main page

helix dna codecs + formats + containers -> easy on the fly conversion provided you have

Darwin Streaming Server (dss)

heard of apple ipod all of us right? yeah they use this for this server and broadcast. its nice but, quality

download
http://developer.apple.com/opensource/serv...ming/index.html (main)
http://www.opensource.apple.com/projects/s...5.1-Windows.exe
http://www.opensource.apple.com/projects/s...Srvr5.5-OSX.dmg
http://www.opensource.apple.com/projects/s...r5.5-Source.tar (yes yes yes! gimme cream!)

codes:

accessories = .exe files (which bill gates rats like) and open source rats dont like
treasure = tips/tweaks/shortcuts/suggestions/mailing list etc etc liked by all windows or unix/linux/macosx
garbage = sourcecode (windows rats hates it) and open source rats loves it

(THIS DISCUSSION IS NEVER ENDING AND WILL NEVER STOP! SO PLEASE IMPOLITELY PARK YOUR RANTS/RAVES/RAMPS HERE WE DONT CARE!)

I didn't realize so many people were having this problem. There are more subtitle sites out there these are the more used ones and a newbie to the scene. Some sites recquire registration, which is really nothing considering how useful it is to you. You could also help by saving those srt files whenever you rip a movie and donate them to these sites. Here's the list:





These may not work on forced subtitles. This means the encoder forgot to include the hardsubs during encoding. There is a movie out now that is a prime example. Half the movie is forced French but filmed in English. So if the hards are left out...hope you speak French. Anyway, good luck.

A load of useful info there guys... really nice work EVILBRENDA for posting in the first place. :a013:

Here's a link that missed the initial post and I thought people might not look back to find it.








This is a wonderful freeware app for browsing photos, video, batch conversions, a little editing capabilities. You can use some Photoshop and Paintshop filters with it also. On the site are several links to people who have freely contributed more plugins for XnView. It's very computer and user friendly. Uses a tenth of the resources that Photoshop and Paintshop use. Any questions on use feel free to PM me and I'll do all I can to help.

thanks for the topic, but there is 2 problems i got with VLC

1- it dosent play all the subtitle, i mean the nun english letters
2- although this program sonds nice but i found also that it dosnt play all the vedio files, or was it my luck!?

anyway i like K-Lite codec's & Classical M.player alot.

but really thanks for the topic

Great guige

I love you Evil B.

Then send me some money!



I forgot to mention there were some updates a few weeks ago to the links to make sure. And I have a link to a media joining program.




Media Joiner



From what I saw and heard from a good friend is that it will just about handle any media. Very simple to use also.

I don't love you that much man.

I would like you to introduce THE WORLD GREATEST VIDEO PLAYER FOR WINDOWS.His name is GOMPLAYER,it's easy to use,and it hase all the things that you need for playing AVI,DVD,XVID,DIVX and other formats.

Link:GOM PLAYER

THX

P.S.And the best thing is that IS FREE.

So in other words it tells you what codecs you need in order to play different media files, VLC and mPLAYER are still better, sorry to say so.
dopeseller didn't mention it but mplayer is not for a newbie, it's a command line video player which if needed can have a GUI. If you'll
get use to mplayer you'll like it, since it plays almost everything (even RM and QT files).

thank u!!!!! this thread is very helpful hopefullyi willremember tolook at this again tomorrow when im bit more sober so i can get soe of these ovies to ply that i havent gotten to work yet

ok im sober now and i got that vlc player. the movie that i couldnt get to play is now working thanks alot evilbrenda really appreciat this thread its very usefull

What more could a Beginner need!

Nice Job!

WhtWater

Excellent guide, thank you very much.

Good list, but i'm a bit dissapointed not to see 'GOM Player' in it ...
Very simple, but very easy to use and is has a powerful subtitle tool.

g'day Guys,
1st Post, short time lurker.

PC Noob/Newbie/etc

I is trying to download codecs and what not, I came across this site and thread and I downloaded "vic" ... but my problem is that when I double click the downloaded file I get "NSIS ERROR...Error launching installer" ... now I get this same message for all the sperate codecs I have tried to downlad, as well as for DivX and Real Player.... I assume its something in my registry but I cant figure out what it might be.....

Any ideas

I run XP (Japanese), Nod 32,

Thanks so much in advance.

Thnx eversomuch evilbrenda for this great guide for beginning video editors(the people, not the software, lol)

Since media players were mentioned here, I wanted to report on one I didn't see mentioned. It's called Media Player Classic, is bundled with the K-Lite MegaCodec Pack and is opensource freeware. It can be found Here. Have used it for years and have never found a file it won't play, including QuikTime and RealMedia files.

I hope this will be of some help to others.

Again, thanks to Evilbranda for the tutorial

thanks evilbrenda this helps alot . but if you could please tell me where to find good movies i always get junk files or they wont play without a password. or tell me where to look on here i'm new to this site and really not that good at computers i guess i'm a newbie lol but have alittle back ground just not in looking for movies i get lucky but i'd really like to know where i can get things like miss march and other movies that are coming out thanks again you've already been a big help thanks again your post showed me alot of what i was doing wrong

First, thank you for the guide!
As I am somewhat new to all of this all help is appreciated.

So I may be asking a dumb question, but are subtitles kind of a pain when they are present on a file you download?
I don't happen to use them, but just ran in to an issue.
Why I ask this is because I was so happy I compiled avi files of all the old Superman movies and burned them as Divx.
All looked good until the last movie I began to watch came on and that one had subtitles on it. Which is something I did not want.

I am sure this is my rookie mistake to burn before checking it out first.
So all this leads to my question if I donwload a movie and it has subtitles on it when I watch it is there an easy way to
remove them or is this what they called hardcode? I will check help section also.

Again, thanks for the guide.

thx alot eb....i'm newbie to video and relly needed this. now all i have to do is learn the how to use the progs

i am new 2 all this but i have been having ALOT of problems playing the Xvid movies in the VLC i'm sure i did something wrong so i'm glad i stumbled across this page.

Hei there,
Thanks for the info on how to get stuff done. Awsome.

i appreciate ur help
but vlc degrades the quality during playback
XBMC is the greatest player evr
it can play files even from rar
with high quality


subscene.com it is the best site for subtitles

I think KM player is better than VLC

Thanks alot, ill try this later when i get home from work.
Have wanted to rip dvds for a while now, and finally found a respectable site to get help from :)

Thanks.
Wick3d.

Whats a good program for converting MPEG 4 files to AVI?

I've always used Handbrake, check out this link for instructions. linky