K-Lite Codec Pack
 | |
| Developer(s) | Codec Guide |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 18.6.3 (October 20, 2024) [±] |
| Operating system | Windows XP and later[1] |
| Platform | IA-32 and x64 |
| Size |
|
| Type | Software bundle of audio codecs and video codecs |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | codecguide |
K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of audio and video codecs for Microsoft Windows that enables an 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.[1]
Editions
There are four editions of K-Lite Codec Pack, all free of charge.[1]
- Basic: The Basic edition is the smallest version and enables a Microsoft Windows computer to play the contents of AVI, Matroska (MKV), MP4, Ogg, Flash Video(FLV) and WebM files, etc. It only consists of LAV Video, LAV Audio, and LAV Splitter (for audio and video decoding), DirectVobSub (for subtitle decoding), Codec Tweak Tool, Icaros ThumbnailProvider, and Icaros PropertyHandler.[2] Basic is the only edition that does not include MPC-HC or MediaInfo Lite.[3]
- Standard: The Standard edition includes all features of the Basic edition plus madVR, MediaInfo Lite, and MPC-HC. [4] This package is recommended for normal users.[1]
- Full: The Full edition includes all features of the Standard edition plus ffdshow, DScaler5 MPEG-2 decoder, DC-Bass Source Mod, Haali Media Splitter, Haali Video Renderer, and GraphStudioNext.[5]
- Mega: The Mega edition includes all features of the Full edition plus ACM and VFW codecs for video encoding/editing, AC3Filter, Haali Matroska Muxer, FourCC Changer, and VobSubStrip.[6]
After version 11.3.0, the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of LAV Filters share their settings, and an option to install only 64-bit codecs was added (visible only in Expert install mode).
In the past some versions of K-Lite Codec Pack included BS.Player, until it was supplemented with an adware package.[7]
Compatibility
K-Lite Codec Packs are compatible with Windows XP and later.[8]
Starting with K-Lite version 10.0.0, 64-bit codecs were integrated into the regular K-Lite Codec Pack. Previously, a separate 64-bit edition of the pack was available for x64 editions of Windows.[9]
Supported file formats
K-Lite Codec Pack supports the following file formats:[3]
| 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 |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WavPack .wv |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AC3/DTS .ac3, .dts |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| AMR .amr |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AMV .amv |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Lossless Audio Codec .alac |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Monkey's Audio .ape, .apl |
Yes | Yes | 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
As of 27 October 2009, CNET reported a total of 1,074,578 downloads for K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.2 since its release date of 12 October 2009. User ratings gave it an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars, but it received only 87 reviews.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] Fileforum did not have an entry for K-Lite Codec Pack 5.2 Full.
In October 2009, Softpedia reported K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 5.2 and K-Lite Codec Pack 5.2 Update had 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.[13] 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 have been downloaded a combined total of 1,452,750 times up until this date, and 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.[14]
Also in October 2009, SnapFiles also highly praised K-Lite Codec Pack Full edition, giving it five stars.[15]
See also
References
- ^ 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 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b K-Lite Codec Pack: Comparison of contents
- ^ "Contents of K-Lite Codec Pack Standard". Codec Guide. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Contents of K-Lite Codec Pack Full". Codec Guide. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Contents of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack". Codec Guide. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "K-Lite Mega Codec Pack Update 8.7.5 Build 2012.04.27 / 8.7.0 - Changelog". Softpedia. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ^ "Download K-Lite Codec Pack". Codec Guide. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ "K-Lite Codec Pack 64-bit". Codec Guide. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ^ "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.
