Codec packs are so passé.
MPC-HC and done, my friend. If you really want MPC to use an external codec, it'll let you (options > external filters). But chances are, you won't have to.

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-28, 18:41:

Codec packs are so passé.
MPC-HC and done, my friend. If you really want MPC to use an external codec, it'll let you (options > external filters). But chances are, you won't have to.

Right, I have been using the MPC-HC and that worked well too except a scenario where the video is encoded in hvc1 main codec profile, and I would have to pause-play the video after track forwarding. The hvc1 main codec isn't even supported in a different player I use, DivX, which instead supports hvc1 high (only?)

In the old MPC-HC (2017), 1 think I noticed is the display of the WMP logo (the WMP logo that displays on files where a thumbnail isn't generated) or the DivX logo in left side of the lowest black column. Would you happen to know where it comes from?

Finally there is a HEVC Video Extensions on Store, what would be its purpose if MPCHC can do HEVC?

Were you running the older version of MPC-HC on the same installation of Windows? If so, the new version is likely using your previous settings and external codecs. Go to Options > Internal Filters and make sure that everything under Source Filters and Transform filters is selected. Then, go to External Filters and block or remove your external filters. Restart MPC-HC.

Now try playing your HEVC encoded file and skip around a bit. Scrubbing should be pretty much instantaneous if you're using the built-in LAV splitters and decoders.

The Divx logo was generated by the Divx decoder itself. IIRC, Divx decoder settings allowed you to disable the logo, at least on paid versions. However, that logo will never appear if you use MPC-HC's built in decoder (which you absolutely should, as using Divx software in 2025 is akin to having a Yahoo toolbar start up in your browser).

The HEVC extension from the store is only for UWP and web apps (e.g., Netflix, Edge, Movies & TV). Obviously, Microsoft would rather you play your video files in their apps. The HEVC Extension is not a DirectShow filter, so it won't be available to MPC-HC.

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-29, 06:47:

The HEVC extension from the store is only for UWP and web apps (e.g., Netflix, Edge, Movies & TV). Obviously, Microsoft would rather you play your video files in their apps. The HEVC Extension is not a DirectShow filter, so it won't be available to MPC-HC.

Movies and TV, is this the newer Media Player, the default installed video player on Windows 11?

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-29, 06:47:

The Divx logo was generated by the Divx decoder itself. IIRC, Divx decoder settings allowed you to disable the logo, at least on paid versions. However, that logo will never appear if you use MPC-HC's built in decoder (which you absolutely should, as using Divx software in 2025 is akin to having a Yahoo toolbar start up in your browser).

I think I am confused or I got you confused. I am currently using the older MPC-HC, I didn't knew it existed and my problems and curiosities emerged out of it. I don't know if we are talking about the same DivX logo.

In the 2017 MPC-HC, this logo appears:

In other videos, this appears instead:

One common thing I noticed here was: if the default player associated with the videos was Windows Media Player (Legacy), the logo2 would appear. Alternatively, if the default media player was DivX (yes I would remove it, I downloaded it out of curiosity of the branding used in a lot of places), then the logo1 would appear. There is also another variant of the DivX logo which is a little more purple, more like its icon.

If the default player is MPC-HC, then the logo appearing depends on the video coding format used: HEVC or H264 or CVID or IV50 or... I would want to know where it gets the logo from when it runs as default on MPC-HC 2017. It also doesn't put the logo based on what the last associated media player was: if the last associated player was WMP, then it will still show the DivX logo on the MPC on certain codecs, even when I have MPC as the new player.

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-29, 06:47:

Were you running the older version of MPC-HC on the same installation of Windows? If so, the new version is likely using your previous settings and external codecs. Go to Options > Internal Filters and make sure that everything under Source Filters and Transform filters is selected. Then, go to External Filters and block or remove your external filters. Restart MPC-HC.

Now try playing your HEVC encoded file and skip around a bit. Scrubbing should be pretty much instantaneous if you're using the built-in LAV splitters and decoders.

Well you have my attention 😀 I can't find a logo on the new MPC-HC anywhere.

However coming to my original issue: both the newer and older MPC HC still have the same issue where I have pause-play the video to play the frames after track forwarding. I checked the Internal Filters and External Filters in both the MPCs and checked all of them.

Still use the old X codec pack 2.7.4. Have not found a thing that does not work. Even HEVC/265 works. All Youtube ripped/latest torrent and so on stuff works. And it is compatible with XP an 7.

BEEN_Nath_58 wrote on 2025-01-29, 07:53:

I think I am confused or I got you confused. I am currently using the older MPC-HC, I didn't knew it existed and my problems and curiosities emerged out of it. I don't know if we are talking about the same DivX logo.

Yeah, I was totally thinking of something else. Way back in the day, if you used the official Divx decoder to play MPEG4 ASP video, you'd see a Divx logo during the first few seconds of playback. You could get around that by using Xvid or ffmpeg instead. But yeah, what you were/are seeing is completely different.

BEEN_Nath_58 wrote on 2025-01-29, 07:53:

However coming to my original issue: both the newer and older MPC HC still have the same issue where I have pause-play the video to play the frames after track forwarding. I checked the Internal Filters and External Filters in both the MPCs and checked all of them.

I'm still not entirely convinced that MPC-HC is using its internal decoder; it just sounds too...flakey...to me. I mean, HEVC playback on PC has been trouble-free for years now. What you're describing sounds like an issue with an older MKV/MP4 splitter, or a not-entirely-compliant HEVC decoder.

If you right-click over a playing video and point to 'Filters' what do you see listed in the sub-menu? On a standard MPC-HC installation, it should look like this:

What are the specs of the machine you're using? On any semi-modern machine with hardware HEVC support, MPC HC--using its internal decoder--should display 'Playing H/W' on the status bar, indicating that it's using the GPU to decode video streams. Your particular configuration appears to be using software decoding. Software-decoding HEVC on an older CPU can result in sluggish scrubbing, or the need to pause playback after jumping to a different part of the video (pausing forces a manual A/V sync). I remember having that problem back in the day when I was playing 10 bit 264 on an Athlon X2 that could barely handle the stream alone. Scrubbing/seeking always sent it over the edge, and it'd need several seconds (or more) to recover.

BEEN_Nath_58 wrote on 2025-01-29, 07:53:

Movies and TV, is this the newer Media Player, the default installed video player on Windows 11?

You know, I didn't even know WMP was still a thing! I just opened the new WMP for the first time ever, and yeah - it definitely looks like an update must've replaced Movies & TV with the new WMP at some point. Definitely the same style of UWP app though.

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-30, 03:13:

You know, I didn't even know WMP was still a thing! I just opened the new WMP for the first time ever, and yeah - it definitely looks like an update must've replaced Movies & TV with the new WMP at some point. Definitely the same style of UWP app though.

And they named it "Media Player" instead of "Windows Media Player" just to sound innovative 🤣

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-30, 03:13:

If you right-click over a playing video and point to 'Filters' what do you see listed in the sub-menu? On a standard MPC-HC installation, it should look like this:

The attachment Untitled.png is no longer available

The filter list looks the same throughout any type of file:

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-30, 03:13:

I'm still not entirely convinced that MPC-HC is using its internal decoder; it just sounds too...flakey...to me. I mean, HEVC playback on PC has been trouble-free for years now.

What are the specs of the machine you're using? On any semi-modern machine with hardware HEVC support, MPC HC--using its internal decoder--should display 'Playing H/W' on the status bar, indicating that it's using the GPU to decode video streams. Your particular configuration appears to be using software decoding. Software-decoding HEVC on an older CPU can result in sluggish scrubbing, or the need to pause playback after jumping to a different part of the video (pausing forces a manual A/V sync). I remember having that problem back in the day when I was playing 10 bit 264 on an Athlon X2 that could barely handle the stream alone. Scrubbing/seeking always sent it over the edge, and it'd need several seconds (or more) to recover.

Its a 3rd Gen Pentium.

The file having the issue isn't even HEVC encoded. It is H264 and is using the Main profile.

All the files using H264 with main profile have this issue, while those with H264 and high profile run fine. Its using GPU decoding through DXVA2 native mode. I tried the other decoders like DXVA2 copyback, Intel QuickSync, etc and they behave the same.

Talking about HEVC, I do have them too, they use Software Decoding (since HEVC support on Intel came over in 6th Gen?) but they don't have the issue I explained in H264 files.

I turned H264 into Software decoding as well but it still behaves the same, a 7 second delay is pretty annoying!

Standard Def Steve wrote on 2025-01-30, 03:13:

What you're describing sounds like an issue with an older MKV/MP4 splitter, or a not-entirely-compliant HEVC decoder.

The MKVs I have, all are either HEVC or H264 High's, and they run fine either in GPU decoding or Software decoding

Gee, I wish I could be of more assistance, but it looks like you've got everything set up properly. 🤔

Just wondering, does scrubbing work in non-DirectShow based players, like that innovative new Media Player app? How does VLC treat it? If your video trips up all three, I'd begin to wonder if a specific encoderparameter was used that just doesn't jibe with your particular setup.