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  • Download Kodaki installation package for Windows 8. K-Lite Codec Pack: where to download, how to install

Download Kodaki installation package for Windows 8. K-Lite Codec Pack: where to download, how to install

A universal codec package that is cross-platform (works on any version of Windows), multifunctional (plays almost all video formats, from AVI to MKV) and free.

What you need to know about the K-Lite Codec Pack

Have you ever encountered the problem that when watching a video after reinstalling Windows, you have either problems with the sound or with the picture? The K-Lite codec package solves this problem, because it can play almost any video file.

There are four versions with a different list of functions: Mega, Full, Standard and Basic. We will look at Standard. It has the necessary set of functions for the average user, unlike the Full or MEGA versions, which are not so easy to understand. As mentioned above, it supports formats such as MPEG, AVI, DVD, MP3, Blue ray, OGG. In addition, along with the installation of codecs, an MPC player is also installed, which will help you play it all.

If you have used other codecs before and are now worried that conflicts will arise between them, then you are completely in vain. When installing K-Lite Codec Pack, it automatically detects and removes conflicting and unnecessary codecs. Therefore, you can safely download K-Lite. It is completely suitable for all versions of Windows (7, 8, Vista, XP).

Briefly and clearly

  • promotes playback of most video formats;
  • Media Player Classic included;
  • supports subtitles.

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack– the most complete package of codecs and DirectShow filters from the K-Lite Codec Pack product line. These codecs and filters are used by the system to encode and decode video and audio files of various formats. Despite the fact that there are many alternative, paid media players that are used in professional work, only the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack does not require an Internet connection to obtain data about a particular codec format. The fact is that such programs have built-in the most popular codecs, which are most often found in wide use.

The latest version of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack contains not only common, but also rare formats. You download the program once and be sure that you will not encounter a system refusal to play a particular media file due to the lack of the required codec. Plus, the program is updated quite often to keep up with the latest changes in the field of codecs.

Can't find or download video codecs for Windows 7, 8, 10, try K-Lite Codec Pack - the most conflict-free program for working between different codecs, all its components are selected in such a way as to avoid incidents. When installing the package on your computer, you can mark those tools that will be useful to you in the future. You can download the latest version of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 32bit and 64bit for Windows for free in Russian via a direct link from the official website on our website.

Main features of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack for Windows 7, 8, 10:

  • Supports all codec formats, both common and rare;
  • No conflicts between different codecs;
  • The ability to select only the tools needed for the job during installation;
  • Timely updating of the program.

Regardless of the version of Windows, the problem is the same: to watch a movie you need codecs that are not included in the operating system. Therefore, the package, on the one hand, needs no introduction: many users download it immediately after installing Windows in order to improve support for popular multimedia formats in one fell swoop.

On the other hand, rarely does anyone bother to study the contents of this package (the principle “if only everything works”) works, although there are reasons for this. Thus, K-Lite includes utilities that can be used to diagnose and solve specific problems related to the operation of codecs.

In addition, K-Lite not only adds broad support for media formats, but also allows complete control over the processing process. During the installation phase, you can select the components you need, as well as specify your preferred filters and decoders. The quality of playback and processing speed depend on their correct settings.

All these points will be touched upon in this review.

Key benefits of K-Lite Codec Pack

K-Lite Codec Pack has many strengths, we will limit ourselves to listing the key points:

Internal component compatibility

The K-Lite distribution is always tested for compatibility by specialists. When installing codecs yourself, it’s easy to end up in a “Codec hell” situation, since many filters don’t get along with each other. To eliminate conflicts, you need to look for the cause of the “evil” and use special utilities to remove one or another component.

Good compatibility with Windows

Apart from the aforementioned lack of conflicts, the package is easy to completely remove from the system without leaving a trace. During installation, K-Lite checks for other codecs on the system and suggests using them during installation, among other options. Also at the installation stage, a search is made for faulty codecs and it is proposed to fix them.

Flexible setup

There are 5 package options available for download with different configurations; 3 installation modes and profiles are also offered.

For each multimedia format, you can select the appropriate decoder from the available options; by default, K-Lite selects the most optimal one. For Windows 7 and 8 users, a special utility, Preferred Filter Tweaker for Windows 7 and 8, is provided to configure preferred codecs bypassing the OS.

Regular updates

The user does not need to monitor the update of each audio or video codec or other components: K-Lite always contains the latest versions.

K-Lite builds

There are 6 package options available on the download page:

  • Basic - provides support for the most famous multimedia formats: AVI, MKV, MP4, OGM, FLV. Minimum set that does not include a video player. It will be optimal if you prefer to use another player, and a minimum set of codecs is sufficient for playback.
  • Standard - also includes Media Player Classic HomeCinema, DVD MPEG-2 decoder (opens up more options when playing DVDs), MediaInfo Lite utility, which displays detailed information about the media file.
  • Full - compared to the standard version, this includes madVR - a high-quality renderer, the GraphStudioNext diagnostic utility and additional DirectShow filters.
  • Mega - contains ACM and VFW codecs, DirectShow filters, additional utilities. During installation, you will be offered a video player to choose from: Media Player Classic HomeCinema or Media Player Classic Regular. You can read about the differences between them below.
  • 64-bit build - recommended for installing over the 32-bit version if you plan to play videos in a 64-bit environment. It is worth emphasizing that this package will be in addition to, and not in replacement of, the above options, since not all applications support 64-bit codecs.

There is another way to view information on assemblies, available on the K-Lite package website in the form of comparison tables: and. Essentially, if you are interested in a specific function or format, then there is no need to compare anything.

Installation

Three installation modes are possible - simple, normal and advanced, depending on which the number of settings for the components included in the package changes.

The next step is to select an installation profile. It affects not only the number of components, but also the preferred settings. For example, “LAV for everything” implies that video decoding will be done using LAV Video whenever possible. “Lot of stuff” - installation of the maximum number of components.

You cannot install multiple codecs or filters to play the same format, as this would inevitably cause a conflict. The “Use system default” option means that the installer has already detected a codec that is not part of K-Lite: for example, included in the OS or installed previously.

The last step (“Hardware Acceleration”) is settings for hardware video acceleration. It is highly advisable to read the small reference document describing the settings (the “Help” button at the bottom of the window).

So, according to the help, on a fast processor we set the standard settings (“Use software decoding”), on NVIDIA video cards - CUVID or LAV DXVA2, on AMD - LAV DXVA2, when using the Media Player Classic HomeCinema player - the DXVA decoder.

K-Lite Composition

The codec package includes:

  • DirectShow splitters
  • DirectShow video decoding filters
  • DirectShow audio decoding filters
  • DirectShow audio parsers
  • DirectShow subtitle filter
  • other codecs and filters
  • Media Player Classic / HomeCinema player and additional utilities

In order to “decipher” this list, it is necessary to clarify the meaning of some terms (see below). The work of the splitter, filters and parsers can be more clearly displayed by the GraphStudioNext program, which is part of K-Lite. For example, the easiest way is to open any media file using the “File - Render Media File...” command. The file processing process will be demonstrated in the diagram.

DirectShow is a framework from Microsoft that runs on Windows and is an environment for playing audio and video formats and input/output to devices. Some formats are supported natively by DirectShow, and the list changes with each version of Windows. At the moment, DirectShow is being replaced by the Media Foundation framework, which is integrated into Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Splitters(English “source filters”, literally - source filters) audio and video are separated from the container for further processing by decoders. You need to understand that the playback file is a container that is often mistakenly called a video format.

Decoding filters DirectShow video and audio, or conversion filters, add support for additional file formats that can be played by any video player.

An example of filters is the popular ffdshow decoder, which works based on open libraries. It allows you to play Xvid, DivX and H.264 - which is probably the majority of cases you have to deal with. ffdshow includes filters (not to be confused with DirectShow filters), which allow you to control playback in real time: apply filters, change sizes, colors, etc.

The developers of K-Lite directly advise choosing the LAV decoder due to its greater performance and stability, and ffdshow - only if extra functionality is needed.

Along with LAV Video, included in all packages, other filters are optional and can be replaced.

Similarly, audio filters decode audio formats separated from the container by a splitter. These include the popular AC3Filter library, which adds support for AC3 and DTS along with tools for configuring multi-channel audio.

Task parser- output the signal to the device after it is decoded.

Media Player Classic

Of course, when installing K-Lite, almost any player (GOM Player, LightAlloy, Zoom Player, etc.) will work with the required formats. However, in the case of K-Lite, it is still preferable to use Media Player Classic, which is not included only in the Basic assembly. This video player is best optimized for this package; moreover, it is included in K-Lite in a modified form.

There are two players: Media Player Classic Home Cinema and Media Player Classic Regular, which is an offshoot of the Home Cinema project. Despite the fact that they are based on the same platform, there are differences.

Regarding the Classic Regular player, we can only say that it is less functional in comparison with Home Cinema. To get acquainted with it, you need to install the Mega assembly and during installation specify Media Player Classic Regular as your preferred player.

Other nice additions to Media Player Home Cinema include: image output on multiple monitors, H.264 hardware decoding, support for multiple subtitle formats, localization, including Russian. The original Home Cinema distribution, which can be downloaded from, already includes decoders (so the player can work standalone, without installing K-Lite). The description of K-Lite states that the codecs built into the player have been replaced with more efficient ones - those that are available to choose from when installing K-Lite.

Utilities

After installing K-Lite, there is a need to fine-tune codecs. You can find auxiliary utilities in the directory with the installed K-Lite package, the Tools folder.

Codec Tweak Tool

The main K-Lite settings are collected in the Codec Tweak Tool shell. In the settings, you can remove broken codecs and filters (which were installed incorrectly or left traces in the registry), re-register filters, reset settings to their original ones, generate a log from the contents of the package, sometimes this is required for diagnostics.

The most interesting section is “Configuration”; the settings of all installed filters (audio, video, source filters (splitters)) are collected here. In principle, it is not difficult to do the same thing through the video player parameters, but this would not be the most convenient way.

Codec and Filter Management allows you to activate and deactivate unnecessary filters and codecs, including those included in the OS. Additionally, similar to installing K-Lite, you can specify your preferred splitters for each format.

Preferred Filter Tweaker for Windows 7 and 8

Windows 7 and Windows 8 users should pay attention to the Win7DSFilterTweaker utility. Its necessity is manifested in the fact that these operating systems have their own audio and video decoding system - Media Foundation. The built-in capabilities of this framework cannot be overridden by third-party filters without making changes to the registry. This is, in fact, what this utility is intended for. With its help, you can not only specify your preferred decoders, but also disable unused ones, even deactivating Media Foundation.

MediaInfo

A utility with which you can find out detailed information about a file: bitrate, resolution, container, audio and video formats, compression. Technical data will be useful if you need to reconfigure filters or install a missing codec. This program is built into Media Player Classic and is available as the “Mediainfo” tab, “Properties” item in the context menu.

GraphStudioNext

A very informative utility for analyzing audio and media files. After processing the content, GraphStudioNext diagrams the processing the file goes through before being output to the screen and dynamics. This all depends on the specific codec configuration in the package. Therefore, GraphStudioNext will be useful for diagnostics when problems arise with file playback. In addition, each component in the diagram is clickable and opens the codec or splitter settings.

VobSubStrip

Editing subtitles in IDX format - you can remove unnecessary streams from the list and resave.

K-Lite Codec Pack is a time-tested package of video codecs for Windows; it has been providing comfortable viewing of movies on your computer for more than 10 years.

The program consists of filters and decoders that process media files of different formats. It ensures playback of video and audio recordings without any freezes or errors.

If a movie file does not play on your computer, do not rush to blame the video player. The fact is that initially, along with Windows Media Player, the operating system installed the simplest tools for processing multimedia files. Because of this, there may be errors when playing videos and lack of support for some fairly common formats. To solve this problem, you need to download codecs. One of the best options is the K-Lite Codec Pack for Windows, designed to make media players stable and fully functional.

The developers of this codec pack offer to download video codecs in four versions:

  1. Basic— basic set, the only one that does not include the MPC-HC player
  2. Standard- extended package includes several rarely used decoders
  3. Full— there are also additional DirectShow filters, such as ffdshow and VP7
  4. Mega- the most complete version, which also includes ACM and VFW codecs.

For the average user, the Standard version will be sufficient. If you are interested in additional DirectShow filters, which involve finer image adjustments and subtitle control, then pay attention to the Full and Mega packages.

During installation, the program prompts you to select the formats and decoders you want to work with, as well as remove “broken” components from other packages. Although, it must be said that by default everything is set to the optimal option, so there is no great need to understand the interface. However, at any time you can call the menu through “Start-Programs-Configuration”.

Possibilities:

  • a set of the latest versions of decoders;
  • no conflicts with similar software;
  • playback of all used formats (including such “hard-to-open” ones as MKV, FLAC, RMVB, HDMOV, TS, M2TS, OGM);
  • built-in Home Cinema media player;
  • detection and replacement of damaged or missing decoders;
  • built-in utility for removing a package (or part of it);
  • auto update.

Advantages:

  • simple installation in a minute;
  • opening all popular video files;
  • Download K-Lite Codec Pack is offered free of charge.

Things to work on:

  • there is no Russian-language interface, you can select Russian only in the menu;
  • after deletion, many unnecessary entries remain in the registry.

It is also important to note that the program gets along well with any media players and works even if you already have similar sets from other developers.

However, if you used one of the four packages presented, and then decided to install another, it is advisable to remove the previous one. For example, you had Standard, but you wanted to install Full. In this case, the authors recommend “demolishing” Standard. And in order to clean the registry, use a good one, for example, CCleaner.

Unlike a number of analogues, this codec set eliminates conflicts with components of other packages. And thanks to frequent auto-updates, you will only have the latest versions of codecs.

Perhaps the main advantage of the K-Lite Codec Pak 64-bit codec set is its exceptional usefulness. This means that after reinstalling the system on your PC, you won’t have to search for the codecs you need one by one. This version contains almost all popular and even rarely used codecs. It doesn’t matter in what language you enter your query in the search engine - K-Lite Codec Pack 64-bit Windows 7 download free or K-Lite Codec Pack Windows 7 64 bit download - you will find the original package, which is popular due to the absence of conflicts between codecs, ease of installation and use.

Today, getting the latest codecs and decoders is easier than ever. Ensure your system supports the vast majority of multimedia files.

The K-Lite Codec Pack 64-bit includes the following components: AC3Filter, AC3File, ffdshow decoders; video codecs Matroska, Haali Media, FLV, MP4, RealMedia, CDXA Reader, MPEG splitter, filter for reading external subtitles DirectVobSub, Win7DSFilterTweaker, Codec Tweak Tool and GraphStudio tools.

By the way, on 64-bit versions of Windows, you also need to use 32-bit software. In this case, a regular codec package will do, which is designed to work in all 32-bit players. The 64 bit codec pack is only compatible with 64-bit players.

Main characteristics codec package for this version of K-Lite Codec Pack:

  • always the newest versions of the best codecs;
  • installation of the package will be possible even for a novice user;
  • select only the components you need during installation;
  • Before updating, the K-Lite Codec Pack 64-bit codec assembly version is thoroughly tested for conflicts with other codecs and programs;
  • It is very easy to remove a codec package: partially or completely, along with folders and registry keys.