Free DVD Decoder????

[Lochreas]

Does anyone know of any free software DVD decoders out there? Also can you recommend any hardware DVD decoders because I heard that they are better. They are pci cards right?

[Avatar28]

The Sigma Designs Real Magic Hollywood Plus card is probably the best (if not only) hardware DVD decoder currently out there. It can be had for about $50 or so with shipping. A little more if you want one with the remote control.

I don't know of any free decoders unless you plan on going the warez route, but we're not going to discuss that here. There are some decoders you can get for cheap (about $15) from Intervideo and a few others that will let you play DVDs through media player. There's also Interactual's PC Fiendly (did I say that out loud?) that comes with a lot of DVDs.

I don't know how well it works, but I've also heard that you can install one of the trials from WinDVD or whatever and it will install the codec to allow you to play DVDs through Media Player and that when you uninstall the program, it leave the codec behind. Never tried it, though, so I don't know how well it works.

[Lochreas]

Do you know what file a codec is??? Like what format or anything?

[nekura]

Originally posted by Avatar28
I don't know how well it works, but I've also heard that you can install one of the trials from WinDVD or whatever and it will install the codec to allow you to play DVDs through Media Player and that when you uninstall the program, it leave the codec behind. Never tried it, though, so I don't know how well it works.

I actually did this for a project that notquiterite and I did. We were trying to get The Matrix to play, but we needed the software decoder so I just installed a trial program. Unfortunately, the program only allowed five minutes of playback, so I just used Windows Media Player instead and it worked fine.

[Lochreas]

Originally posted by nekura


I actually did this for a project that notquiterite and I did. We were trying to get The Matrix to play, but we needed the software decoder so I just installed a trial program. Unfortunately, the program only allowed five minutes of playback, so I just used Windows Media Player instead and it worked fine.
Yep! That is exactly what I just did. I found DirectDVD, which only lets you playback for 5mins. I used Windows Media player and it worked fine.

Thanks for the help...I am going to get a decoder card as soon as I find one.

[scoobydoo]

Zoom Player is a free software player.

http://www.inmatrix.com/files/zoomplayer_download.shtml

I use it for all my video media, I hate WMP! It plays everything ans uses codecs from some of the more popular softare players out there also.