While playing most formats of high definition video on your PC isn't too difficult (MPEG-2, WMV-HD, QuickTime HD, Divx/Xvid HD, etc.), more and more people are choosing to compress their HD content using the quite advanced, and processor intensive, MPEG-4/AVC (H.264) standard. The AVC codec provides for excellent compression, often allowing a full length movie to be compressed at 720p with DVD audio onto a standard DVD+/-R disc. The codec is also being used increasingly at 1080p on Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. As cable and satellite companies work to broadcast more and more HD content within their existing bandwidth, using the AVC codec instead of the MPEG-2 codec makes a lot of sense... better quality in less space. Users with over-the-air ATSC video capture cards can easily capture HDTV broadcasts in their original format, and convert to AVC to save space.Whether you record the broadcast yourself, convert videos you've shot on a camcorder, or borrow someone else's recording, playing back AVC requires a little more knowledge than other formats. A big part of this is that there is no standard container file for the format. An AVC file could have extensions of .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .avi, etc.
.mp4 files are standard MPEG-4 files which may use the AVC video codec, but these files are limited to using the standard Mpeg-4 audio codec as well. Since most HD broadcasts include Dolby Digital (AC3) audio, this format is rarely used for recording HD content. This format can be played by many media players, including Apple's QuickTime player (for which the .mov "container" extension was created).
.mkv and .avi are "container" extensions. They don't indicate what audio and video codecs are used on a given file. Many different codecs can work within these extensions, often leading to a great deal of confusion when the video and or audio from a file doesn't play. It seems that for AVC HD, the .mkv (Matroska) extension gets used more frequently, as the format allows for a "direct stream" of AVC video along with one or more audio tracks/codecs to be used.
To play back files recorded using the AVC codec, you'll need a few things: a PC-based media player, an AVC codec, a Matroska "splitter" (for .mkv files), and the audio codec for whatever media you're playing. Confused, yet?
Fortunately, there are a couple of easy options.
For .mp4 and .mov files, you can simply grab a free copy of Apple's Quicktime media player (available with or without iTunes). The Quicktime player uses a decent AVC codec, though with HD content it is very hard on all but the latest dual-core PCs.
For .mkv and .avi files, the amazing and equally free VLC Media Player can play just about ANY video file you can throw at it -- including AVC HD files with just about any audio codec. This player is a must-have for anyone who wants a simple "ALL-IN-ONE" player. Everything's included... no codecs to install! The downside, though, is that requirements for playing back AVC HD material are pretty high using VLC. While a Core 2 Duo T7200 can playback 720p files without problems, an older A64 3500+ hiccups frequently and runs near 100% CPU useage continuously. So, if your system isn't up to the requirements, or you simply want a less taxing alternative...
Welcome to the tough way. This is for the adventurer... the person who wants the best... the geek who wants total codec control... or the person with no other options.
First of all, you will need:
WinRAR -- if you don't already have it, to extract the other utilities
Core AVC codec <- direct link -- Core AVC <- Homepage -- shareware
AC3 Filter -- codec for Dolby Digital AC3 and DTS sound common in HD titles
Really, it's not so tough once you get the files. Media player classic simply unzips... no installer. You can, of course, make a link to it from your desktop, by right clicking, and selecting "New" -> "Shortcut" and then selecting the file you just extracted. Then install the Core AVC Codec and the AC3 filter. Both are pretty self explanetary.
One installed, open Media Player Classic. Select the "View" menu, then "options." Under the "External filters" tab, click "Add filter." Then select the "Core AVC Video Decoder." It will appear in the list. Change the setting for the filter to Preferred. Now do the same for the AC3Filter codec as well.
Once that's done, simply run Media Player Classic, and open your AVC-encoded video file. Although it was more work than the VLC method, you should find that this method works on older PCs (I've heard 720p is watchable on a midrange Pentium 4), as it uses much less system resources than other decoders. This is about the only codec most people can use to get watchable 1080p playback on their PCs. As an added bonus, it's really one of the best looking decoders out there! The only real downside (aside from the effort of getting all the parts) to this method, is that Core AVC isn't technically free. It's shareware which you can use for a month, but after that, you will be nagged to buy (for $8 I think) the full version.
One other thing that's worth mentioning: Sony and Matsushita (Panasonic) have created a media format called AVCHD, primarily as a consumer HD camcorder format. The format uses AVC video at either 720p or 1080i and is typically stored on either the camcorder's hard drive or DVD+/-R/RW discs. Part of the idea is that AVCHD-format DVD discs should be compatible with most Blu-ray players, so that videos shot on the camcorders can be immediately played back on a Blu-ray disc player. Pretty cool. Unfortunately, the camcorders produce .m2ts streams that aren't playable in most PC AVC-compatible players. The camcorders usually come with a PC software player, however, so that isn't as big of an issue. Also, PowerDVD 7 Deluxe is supposedly able to play these files, along with DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and most other MPEG-4 format files, but it costs $69.99.
Hope that helps some people. If you are having problems with any of these methods, leave a comment and I'll try to help. Also, if you know of any other good, preferably free tools for viewing AVC files, post those in the comments as well.
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