K-Lite Codec Pack
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This article is outdated. (August 2011) |
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| Developer(s) | Codec Guide |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 9.9.4 (May 20, 2013) [±][1][2] |
| Operating system | |
| Platform | IA-32 and x64 |
| Size |
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| Type | Software bundle of audio codecs and video codecs |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | codecguide.com |
K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of audio and video codecs for Microsoft Windows that enables the operating system and its software to play various audio and video formats generally not supported by the operating system itself. K-Lite Codec Pack also includes several related tools, including Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC), Media Info Lite, and Codec Tweak Tool.[3]
Contents |
Editions [edit]
There are five editions of K-Lite Codec Pack, all being available free of charge.[3]
- Basic: The Basic edition is the smallest version and enables a Microsoft Windows computer to play the contents of AVI, Matroska (MKV), MP4, Ogg and Flash Video(FLV) files. It only consists of ffdshow (for audio and video decoding), DirectVobSub (for subtitle decoding), Codec Tweak Tool and four other minor components.[4] Basic edition is the only edition that does not include MPC-HC or MediaInfo Lite.[5]
- Standard: The Standard edition includes all features of the Basic edition plus a DVD Video decoder, Media Info Lite and MPC-HC. This edition enables DVD playback in Microsoft Windows.[6] This package is recommended for normal users.[3]
- Full: The Full edition includes 31 additional components and four additional tools beyond those included in the Standard edition, as well as adding video encoding capabilities to Microsoft Windows PCs. However, no encoding or conversion tool is included in the package.[7]
- Mega: The Mega edition adds fourteen additional components not present in any other edition. Amongst these components, there is the original Media Player Classic (in addition to MPC-HC), GSpot Codec Information Appliance and additional language files for MPC-HC.[8]
- 64-bit: The 64-bit edition is an independent package of codecs that can be used on an x64 version of Microsoft Windows. (It is not supported on IA-64 versions of Windows.) This edition can co-exist with one of the other editions, and in fact the developers recommend installing the 64-bit pack after installing one of the regular packs.[9]
In the past some versions of K-Lite Codec Pack included BS.Player (until it was supplemented with an adware package).[10]
Supported file formats [edit]
K-Lite Codec Pack supports the following file formats:[5]
| File format | Basic | Standard | Full | Mega |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVI .avi, .divx |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DVD-Video .vob, .evo |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blu-ray video (non-encrypted) .m2ts |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flash Video .flv |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Matroska .mkv, .mka |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MP3 .mp3 |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MPEG-1 formats .mpg, .mpeg, .m1v |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MPEG-2 formats .mpe, .m2v, .mpv2, .mp2v, .m2p, .mod, .ts, .m2t, .mts, .pva, .tp, .tpr |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MPEG-4 formats .mp4, .m4v, .mp4v, .mpv4, .m4a, .3gp, .3gpp, .3g2, .3gp2 |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ogg .ogg, .ogm, .ogv, .oga |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RealMedia .rm, .rmvb, .ra, .ram |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WebM .webm |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QuickTime .mov, .hdmov .qt |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FLAC .flac |
No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WavPack .wv |
No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AC3/DTS .ac3, .dts |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| AMR .amr |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| AMV .amv |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Lossless Audio Codec .alac |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Monkey's Audio .ape, .apl |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| MPEG-4 AAC .aac |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Musepack .mpc, .mpp |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Trackers .xm, .s3m, .it, .umx |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| OptimFROG .ofr, .ofs |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| File Format | Basic | Standard | Full | Mega |
Critical reception [edit]
As of 27 October 2009, CNET reported a total of 1,074,578 downloads for K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.2 since it was released on 12 October 2009. User ratings gave it an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars, but it was only reviewed by 87 people.[11] Meanwhile, CNET reported only 122,552 downloads for K-Lite Codec Pack Full Edition 5.2 (released on the same date), however it also received an average user rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, albeit from only seven reviewers.[12] No CNET editors had reviewed these products up until this time.
On the same date, Betanews Fileforum reported a rating of 4.7 out of 5 based on 2,346 votes for K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.2.0, and 9,416,511 downloads.[13] Fileforum did not have an entry for K-Lite Codec Pack 5.2 Full.
Softpedia reported K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.2 and K-Lite Codec Pack 5.2 Update to have been downloaded a combined total of 2,011,113 times after their release on 12 October 2009, and gave them a user rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 2,281 votes. K-Lite Mega Codec Pack was chosen as a Softpedia Pick.[14] Softpedia also reported K-Lite Codec Pack 5.2 Full, K-Lite Codec Pack Full 5.2 Update, and K-Lite Codec Pack 2.7 64-bit Edition to have been downloaded a combined total of 1,452,750 times up until this date, and to have received a user rating of 4.3 out of 5 from 2,082 users. K-Lite Codec Pack Full 5.2 was also a Softpedia Pick.[15]
SnapFiles also highly praised K-Lite Codec Pack Full edition, giving it five stars.[16]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "K-Lite Codec Pack Major Release".
- ^ "Update packs for the K-Lite Codec Pack".
- ^ a b c d "About the K-Lite Codec Pack". Codec Guide. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
- ^ "Contents of K-Lite Codec Pack Basic". Codec Guide. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
- ^ a b K-Lite Codec Pack: Comparison of contents
- ^ "Contents of K-Lite Codec Pack Standard". Codec Guide. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
- ^ "Contents of K-Lite Codec Pack Full". Codec Guide. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
- ^ "Contents of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack". Codec Guide. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
- ^ "K-Lite Codec Pack 64-bit". Codec Guide. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ^ "K-Lite Mega Codec Pack Update 8.7.5 Build 2012.04.27 / 8.7.0 - Changelog". Softpedia. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ^ "K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.2". CNET. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ "K-Lite Codec Pack Full 5.2". CNET. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ "K-Lite Mega Codec Pack – Free Download and Reviews". fileforum.betanews.com. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ "K-Lite Mega Codec Pack – Softpedia". Softpedia. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ "K-Lite Codec Pack Full Update 5.2.0 Build 20091013 / 5.2.0 / 2.7.0 - x64". Softpedia. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ "K-Lite Codec Pack (Full) Freeware download and review - installs popular audio and video codecs from SnapFiles". SnapFiles. 29 October 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
