Advice On Media Players

At the moment, I've got 5 media players on my computer: Windows Media Player, iTunes, Quicktime, and Media Player Classic and BS Player Pro that came with the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

I want one media player that plays all of the file formats that these players have. DivX, mp3, various video formats, AAC....etc.

However, to use iTunes, you need Qucktime which accounts for two media players. I don't mind having two media players, but five is a bit too much and I want one or two media players that support all file formats.

Any feedback and advice would be helpful....

Mayz

 

you will always need Quicktime unless you get Quicktime alternative (its plug in may work with other players too). I keep two of those you list: Media Player classic and BS player.The latter really plays everything but it's somewhat unreliable with broken or damaged files and the notebook may hang for a couple of minutes. MP Classic sees to that but lacks a number of features.

 

yeah, the thing I like about BS player is that you can open literally any media file. In the options, you can even add extra file type suffixes to open anything you like. I've even opened pictures with it by using configuring.

 

I like Zoom Player, it works pretty well, opens pretty much everything (but needs to be configured right).

 

VLC media player, check it out, it has everything i need.

 

jesus, I can't believe the number of supported file formats on VLC!!!! Thanks zero!

Buy it looks like an un-reputable media player to me and it might well crash...

I've solved the problem though...I think. I'll get rid of BS player, Media player Classic and Windows Media Player, leaving me with iTunes and Quicktime and I'll download the divX player form the divX website. The interface looks quite cool! So I got rid of 2 programs!

 

vlc is the shiznit. it will play .mov as well. no need to install any shady codecs at all.

mac/win friendly too

 

I'll have to check that out (vlc); thanks. Most of the videos I have I watch on my TV through the XBMC, I've never had a problem on my lappy with Media Player Classic, and I absolutely avoid Quicktime...

 

Windows Media Player is an integrated part of the OS, and you shouldn't get rid of it. Media Player Classic is harmless. Why would you want to get rid of BSPlayer? And why would you like to keep Quicktime?

 

Check out The Core Media player. Best media player out there, I've tried many.

Okay I can't say the best, but it is my favorite. Plays EVERYTHING and the controls are great, everything makes sense and is logical.

Space bar for pause/play, Z for fullscreen and back to window, left/right arrow keys for rewind/forward 10 seconds, up/down arrow keys for volume up and down, and plenty others for aspect size and a zoom feature to fill your screen if the video is just shy of filling your whole screen.

It has included matroska support and all you have to do is install the latest codecs you need to play any media on it.

VLC doesn't have codecs? It installs its own codec set with its installation for everything to work.

Cheers,
Mike

 

core media player is also one of my favorite. I can just add all the files from an anime series, then watch anime 24hours straight. I also like BS player and window media classic. BS player is for playing files with .sub and window media classic is for playing .rm files.
VLC is nice player if you like everything in one unit.

 

I use WinAmp for music, PowerDVD for MPEG (I like its snapshot feature the best) and VLC for other video. I avoid the Apple and Real crap by using Real and Quicktime Alternative.

PS - I stay as far away as I can from 'Codec Packs'. When I need a Codec, I get the one I need.

 

olyteddy I agree, just get the codecs you need.

fuyuki, use core media player for videos with subs as well, it handles them nicely, plus it has a menu option where it shows all the media streams that are available, so you can choose. AWESOME

 

Whoa what happened to my SIG????

 

It's just that I want to keep my software "organised" and I don't want too many unnecessary programs on my PC. I know Windows Media Player is an integrated part of the operating system. I just feel that it's not needed. Maybe I made a wrong statement there that I'd get rid of BS Player.

It's just I would want every audio and media file to open from just 2 programs, one for my music collection, in this case iTunes and Quick Time for everything else, and you need QuickTime to use iTunes, adn I don't really like Windows Media Player. I know BS Player is very useful and plays just about anything, but as I said I just want 2 programs.

 

So you want a program that will play all video files, which Core and VLC do, but you don't want to use Core or VLC? What kind of suggestion were you looking for then? And why do you need Quicktime to use iTunes? I haven't used either in a while, but the last time I used iTunes I didn't have QT installed.

 

i installed the latest K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, and use the media player classic to run all the video files. I also installed DivX Player, which i never use, but have after insalling it, i can run some movie files in the media player classic which weren't viewable before.

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't about about that function.

 

I also want to use less programs when I can, and if you asked me which two programs to use for everything, I'd say "Winamp for music and BSPlayer for videos". I also wouldn't touch Quicktime or anything that needs Quicktime to run, but that's just me.

 

All media players use a core set of codecs which are installed in your system that are independent from your media players.

Windows Media Player will not play certain files unless a codec is installed. It has an auto codec download function that downloads codecs if it requires one.

So you do need codecs to play certain media types.

You just install them and use your favorite player. That's all there is to it.

I just like the feature set of the Core Media Player and its simplicity and functionality. The skins are nice too. I use this one skin that makes it really skinny and I can just put it up at the top of the screen and it won't get in the way of anything.

 

I have the K-Lite Codec Pack and Windows Meida Player. I've tried VLC and Media Player Classic, but I just don't like the interfaces they use.

 

I have three follow up questions; What can play Real (.rm) without installing anything from those evil people? What uses the least resources, cuz Winamp sure does use a lot? And which player supports playlists (.m3u) as well as Winamp does?

 

polish_jr...there are players that play .rm, google it as Real Player alternative and also Quicktime alternative.

Winamp doesn't use much resources, it's only when it is maximized because of the Modern Skin stuff. When minimized it doesn't use as much. Also, considering the hardware most people have these days I'm sure you can afford to use Winamp and let it use up those resources.

It's not like you have it on while playing games, which is actually still really smooth with winamp on.

Cheers,
Mike

 

I used media player classic and itunes. But I also use windows media player plenty. Media Player classic doesn't not seem to want to play streaming audio for me.

Btw, you can removew wmp in the add/remove windows components section of add/remove programs in control panel. But I really don't see the bother.

I used to like WinAmp but grew to hate it over time. Hate realplayer.

 

I use
Music -> Foobar2000, Winamp (on laptop because I do not need all the functionalities of Foobar2000 on the go)
Media -> Media Player Classic , VLC Player (aka VideoLAN), Windows Media Player (The rate of use goes in this order too )