Ultimate Codec Guide

REQUIREMENTS
1.) Ability to follow these instructions
2.) A fairly powerful computer with a dedicated GPU. This is needed for scaling algorithms in
madVR and if you have a shitty computer you will drop frames like crazy. Some settings
are optional, due to either hardware restrictions or your personal preferences.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 2.0 GHZ Dual Core Processor, and a higher end graphics
card, such as an Nvidia GTX 650 or AMD HD 7750).
Higher spec hardware is always better, and will actually give you better quality playback,
especially when playing lower resolution videos on higher resolution displays. Weaker
hardware than that listed above is NOT SUPPORTED.
3.) Brains to follow instructions. You need to follow them to the letter. Other settings will
depend on how powerful your computer is, and if you have a weak system you might need
to lower some settings down. Again all this is covered in the guide as you go.
4.) REMOVAL OF CODEC PACKS. All codec packs need to be removed. It might be a good idea
to use a good registry cleaner after removing them, and then reboot your system. Even if
you use a basic video player (MPC-HC or BE, VLC, Pot Player, etc.), REMOVE THEM BEFORE
USING THIS GUIDE.
5.) Some patience. Depending on your user level this will take some time. It takes me less
than 20 minutes to set up, but I have been doing this for years and don't need a guide.

IS THE QUALITY WORTH IT???

Short answer: Hell yes it is.
MadVR, even at its lowest settings, looks FAR better than any other video player out there. Even
low end systems can handle the lowest settings fine, but wont be able to use the advanced
options or software included in this guide (SVP is very CPU and GPU intensive, and higher quality
scaling algorithms in madVR are also intensive). VLC cannot even touch the quality of madVR
playback.
For example, here is a simple comparison image of VLC vs MPC-HC with madVR quality. I know this
is an anime screenshot, but it really shows how VLC can wash out colors and quality. The video
files you see are unaltered and identical, and each is taken at the exact same frame in the video.
The left is VLC, the right is MPC-HC with madVR. I made this screenshot myself over a year ago and
still have it. Its great for showing the apparent differences in quality.

VLC

MPC-HC with MADVR

INSTALLATION

Extract the archive, and make sure the "UltimateCodecGuide-vX.X folder" is in the root of your C:
drive, otherwise install will fail.
Install: run INSTALL.bat as admin.
Uninstall: run UNINSTALL.bat as admin.

UPGRADING:
If you are upgrading to the latest version, just extract over or copy over the extracted files to the same
directory, overwriting ALL existing files. Then make sure to the install.bat again to register any new
features.
The .bat files register the elements needed (such as madvr and xysubfilter) in your system. The
install .bat also creates a MPC-HC shortcut on your desktop.
All the uninstall .bat does is unregister the .dll files. Remove the "UltimateCodecGuide-vX.X" folder
from your drive to finish the uninstall, and remove the shortcut from your desktop.

Madvr Settings
Play a video and pause it. Now in your system tray you should have a madvr icon. Right click it, then
click edit madvr settings.
Check the madvr settings folder in the install folder. Following the series of images in there in order,
change your madvr settings to match exactly as listed. Some images have corrections written on the
images, follow those as well. These settings are for max quality, and you will need to test them after
setting them, some systems cant handle it.
If you cant play video back correctly (use Control + J while playing a video to see the OSD), meaning
you get a lot of dropped or delayed frames, use this image to try lowering down one tier at a time in the
madvr settings where you changed scaling settings. The guide settings are for the Highest preset.

MPC-HC Settings
By default, MPC-HC is set up for playback. But it does not have playback associations in windows set,
nor does it have any form of GPU acceleration setup. You can set both of these up very fast manually
though.
First associations. Go inside the MPC-HC settings folder. The 01.png image shows where to go and
how to set all video types on your computer to play in MPC-HC by default inside the settings.. Very
nice for just being able to double click a file in windows to open it and start playing.
Next video acceleration. This depends on your GPU intel for cpus, and either nvidia or amd for a
real gpu.
02.png shows where to click in settings to get to the LAV filters. 03.png shows which setting you need
to change. It is set by default to none, but you need to set it to one of the following.
For Nvidia Cards ALWAYS select "NVIDIA CUVID".
For AMD Cards, you have two choices. Try "DXVA2 Native" if your
card can handle it. Make a mental note now if youre not sure and
finish the guide. If you have issues with playback, then try "DXVA2
(copy-back).
For Intel CPUs with an IGPU, select the Intel related option. Only newer gpus such as i3's and above
will work with this.

EXTRAS
There are some extras included in the extras folder.
One, subfonts. You don't need these unless you have problems with fonts appearing correctly in your
videos in rare cases, see the subfonts_README.txt for more info.
The other extra is Icaros. It will give you thumbnails in windows explorer for all videos and images.
You just run the .exe to install. See the icaros_README.txt for more info, there is also a single png
showing how to activate at the end of the install.