Need a codec

Does anyone know of a good codec for audio files that you don’t have to be a computer wiz to use? Thanks.

What do you mean by good?

Lossless?

Lossy Code = OGG
Lossless = WMA Lossless

My opinion.

What do you mean by good?

Lossless?

Lossy Code = OGG
Lossless = WMA Lossless

My opinion.

Easy to install and very user friendly.

I don’t know exactly what all you’re trying to say, but I am trying to convert my stuff to WMA output format.

In addition, I would like to be able to simply play certain files that I normally can’t with the basic setup.

I hope this clarifies things.

Go for Winamp, it will play most stuff. Also, to convert formats, I use Mediacoder. It’s pretty simple.

Yeah use winamp very good. Supports WMA and OGG. Do you need a converter for your files?

Yeah use winamp very good. Supports WMA and OGG. Do you need a converter for your files?

No, I’ve got an audio converter from maniactools.

Go for Winamp, it will play most stuff. Also, to convert formats, I use Mediacoder. It’s pretty simple.

I checked it out (mediacoder.) For the download, it gives me three choices of mirrors. The first says something like webergy. The second says mcex.com. The other one has some prompt asking for "authentication."

I’m confused. It doesn’t even give any info for which one is best for users in x location with what type of system.

Even though I use the computer a lot and know how to do things like uploading images and stuff, I’m not gifted in all the technical stuff. I’d describe my knowledge of computers as being very mediocre.

If you would work with me on this I’d like that very much. Thanks.

I use Easy-CD-DA Extractor for my stuff. It costs but I can send it to you. PM me if you are interested.

I checked it out (mediacoder.) For the download, it gives me three choices of mirrors. The first says something like webergy. The second says mcex.com. The other one has some prompt asking for "authentication."

I’m confused. It doesn’t even give any info for which one is best for users in x location with what type of system.

Even though I use the computer a lot and know how to do things like uploading images and stuff, I’m not gifted in all the technical stuff. I’d describe my knowledge of computers as being very mediocre.

If you would work with me on this I’d like that very much. Thanks.

I just used the first mirror. It didn’t put any viruses or anything on my computer, and I just did it about a week ago (for my new computer). The mirror shouldn’t affect anything other than having a slight difference in speed. I have no idea what the authentication is about. When you first start it up, it will bring up a web page with a button "Start MediaCoder" or something like that (you can disable it from starting up that page, it will have a little check box under the button). Once you get it open, you drag the files you want to convert into the main box, choose your type of encode you want to make it in the lower left box (audio, video) and in that box you can change the encoder to what you want it to encode into. In the lower right box is where you change the quality of the encode. Once everything is how you want it, just click the "Start" button at the top. It sounds like a lot, but it really is simple once you see how things work.

Eh, WInamp is aiyt. Personally I prefer the open source program: foobar2000 (http://www.foobar2000.org/download). It’ll playback just about any audio format! For the formats that it can’t playback, however, there are plug-ins that can be installed to allow for playback of other non-native formats such as .ape, .tak, .wmal (all lossless formats). In my opinion, this is the best sounding media player as well. It uses a different kind of dithering technique which apparently sounds better then Winamp’s dithering technique. You can also download a plug-in called Kernel Streaming Output which will bypass the mixer and play the audio directly from it’s source for bit-accurate playback (Winamp has it’s own version of this as well).

As for a standard format to choose for your audio files, it really depends on how you use them, whether for the computer only, portable players, storing and backup, ect.. Personally I prefer FLAC (free lossless audio codec) for playback and backups after it has been ripped from a CD using Exact Audio Copy. This will create a 1:1 copy of the CD also known as a digital CD. For lossy encoding (.mp3, .ogg, ect.), I prefer AAC format over mp3 because, with the right encoder (Nero > iTunes), I can create compressed files that are the size of high quality MP3s but with sound quality that is indistinguishable from the original source, in this case the CD.

Anyway, I hope that this was more helpful then confusing. :p Cya!

I just used the first mirror. It didn’t put any viruses or anything on my computer, and I just did it about a week ago (for my new computer). The mirror shouldn’t affect anything other than having a slight difference in speed. I have no idea what the authentication is about. When you first start it up, it will bring up a web page with a button "Start MediaCoder" or something like that (you can disable it from starting up that page, it will have a little check box under the button). Once you get it open, you drag the files you want to convert into the main box, choose your type of encode you want to make it in the lower left box (audio, video) and in that box you can change the encoder to what you want it to encode into. In the lower right box is where you change the quality of the encode. Once everything is how you want it, just click the "Start" button at the top. It sounds like a lot, but it really is simple once you see how things work.

Thanks. I also saw stuff for videos on their website. I’m going to try to convert mine to HD (< right word?) if possible. I can’t see anything with all those pixels. 😡

Eh, WInamp is aiyt. Personally I prefer the open source program: foobar2000 (http://www.foobar2000.org/download). It’ll playback just about any audio format! For the formats that it can’t playback, however, there are plug-ins that can be installed to allow for playback of other non-native formats such as .ape, .tak, .wmal (all lossless formats). In my opinion, this is the best sounding media player as well. It uses a different kind of dithering technique which apparently sounds better then Winamp’s dithering technique. You can also download a plug-in called Kernel Streaming Output which will bypass the mixer and play the audio directly from it’s source for bit-accurate playback (Winamp has it’s own version of this as well).

As for a standard format to choose for your audio files, it really depends on how you use them, whether for the computer only, portable players, storing and backup, ect.. Personally I prefer FLAC (free lossless audio codec) for playback and backups after it has been ripped from a CD using Exact Audio Copy. This will create a 1:1 copy of the CD also known as a digital CD. For lossy encoding (.mp3, .ogg, ect.), I prefer AAC format over mp3 because, with the right encoder (Nero > iTunes), I can create compressed files that are the size of high quality MP3s but with sound quality that is indistinguishable from the original source, in this case the CD.

Anyway, I hope that this was more helpful then confusing. :p Cya!

In my case, I’m trying to have everything in WMA format. I will also make use of MP3s for times when I don’t have a laptop or CD player.

I’ll have to think about my choices. Will these programs also unscramble "rar" files so that they can be played?

Thanks for your help everyone. 🙂

VLC Player is what I use for either video or audio. Has not failed me. As for converting, I found a website that does it and that’s what I use. You used to be able to download youtube videos with it but now they don’t.

Thanks. I also saw stuff for videos on their website. I’m going to try to convert mine to HD (< right word?) if possible. I can’t see anything with all those pixels. 😡

I don’t know how much it will be able to help with upping the quality of video…if the original is all pixelated, you might not be able to convert it to High-Def (HD) and get a better picture. I’m sure you can convert it, but as for how well it will increase quality…who knows? You would probably have a better chance of high quality by downloading the movie or whatever from a better rip, and then converting to the format you want.

You can not upscale and get a better picture not possible. Believe me. I’ve tried.

Need help again.

I decided to try the mediacoder, and both times I downloaded it using a different mirror, I got the message that the program was invalid with Win 32 (something like that.) Each time I downloaded the 64 bit updater with it. I went with the full version for both video and audio, by the way.

This is very distressing! :notgood:

Dude. Just try Easy CD-DA Extractor.

Download Here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y0QBJQ77

If you need help installing just reply.