How to decode movies.

Well, its my first tutorial, so don't whine, just help me to improve.



Lets see somethings about decoding, specially about H.264 (x264).


Video is all going to be High Definition (HDV). It's not hard to find Movies, TV series (HDTV), receive TV in High Definition, but the big problem is: "How to decode that kind of movie?"
Some receivers (of Satellite TV and not only), DVD players etc can decode it by hardware. But lots of people have media-centers ( I'm one of them) and it's very nice too see DVD's, Gaming Movies with a big LCD/ Plasma TV in our living rooms with a nice sound system. But HOW?! lets see how...



First of all, we have lots of formats of Hdv, such as Wmv, avi (ex: xvid), mp4 (h264) etc.
Wmv (Windows media video) is easy to decode because that codec was made for Internet streaming (low bitrate). We can use it with higher bitrate, but the filesize becomes too big and without a nice quality.
Xvid uses MPEG4 to encode. Easly decoded by some random Windows/Linux Video Decoder (ex: Vlc, FFmpeg, Media player).
H264 also knows as AVC (for Advanced Video Coding). It's the codec of future (ex: HD DVD, Blu-ray disc, Tv's). Very popular nowadays in Game movies. Good for high definition.


After do a litle search in web, i found a table(look down) about the pc specification for play HDV (High Definition Videos), but is a bit wrong, since the decoders are getting better etc.



So, my suggestions for decode h264 (and not only, with that settings u can see all movies u want) are: use,
K-Lite Codec pack (Media player classic, fddshow and some other stuff)
CoreAvc (for decode the h264 video)
Nvidia Pure video decoder (optional, for Nvidia and Ati users, at least works with fx5200/ Ati 9600 and newers)
Site about Avivo of Ati's (i sugest Ati users to take a look here)


After download all files, start installing:
k-lite codec pack with thoose settings. (basically we are going to tell to computer to use k-lite codec pack for decode the audio and all kind of movies, except the h264 ones)

CoreAvc will be our h264 decoder. Use the following settings in media player (click one right key of mouse,Filters and then Avc decoder). (execute the keygen, then copy CoreAvcdecoder.ax to c:\windows\system32 , then start -> run and type: regsvr32 CoreAVCDecoder.ax, and press ok)

Nvidia Pure Video decoder. A great decoder that helps our hardware. Dont know too much about the decoder. Just install and register.

After all installed, open Media player classic, then press ctrl alt del and set the priority
of mplayerc.exe to above normal.

This settings works fine for me (in my mediacenter, Amd 64bits 3000+ +512 ram and a fx5200).


U can download some HDV movies such as: Zaigon (HDV 720 30fps) or the newer Legendary (q3 movie, HDV 720 50fps, very nice to test the decode). Download also a HDV movie from WebArtDesign: S4rna movie



Hope my tutorial has helped u. Any question, ask me in #WebArtDesign @qnet.