mp3s sound terrible is video codecs the cause?

[pintree3]

Not sure where I should be posting this so I'm taking an educated guess:

After some problems with codecs I thought it best to format my HD. I then installed the Nimo codec pack and because of a problem with it I did what the web site suggested: I uninstalled it but this time without ffdshow. It suggested I install it separately and so I did. Things were still not good so I uninstalled the separate installation of ffdshow and all works great without ffdshow; sound and video.
But then a day later I played some MP3s and they sound terrible--heavy distortion. I am afraid since AVIs and other video play great to do anything about or with the Nimo pack.
Does anyone know why my MP3s could be sounding bad and what I could do about it?

thanks

[ormonde]

"I then installed the Nimo codec pack"

Installing codec paks is generally a bad idea. It is better to go with individual codecs for whatever video format(s) you might be dealing with. For playback, the "FFDirectshow" filter is the best all round. For mp3, the "******" mp3 codec is a good one.

[ormonde]

setarip

I was unaware of that bit of information - thanks for the heads up.

[ormonde]

setarip

All set...

[pintree3]

Thanks for the help and by this I mean for your suggestion attempt ormonde and for you setarip for letting me know it is not a legal codec (even though I do not know which one is illegal--which begs the question, if this codec, as well as others, are illegal then how is the unaware like myself know when and if he is installing an illegal codec?).

About the codec pack. yes I have read that elsewhere, that it is not reccomended, yet, I also read how good it is--and as I wrote, beside the MP3 problem, it does work wonderfully.
So then it comes down to which individual codecs to install. I have used Gspot and have used afreeCodecVT to give me suggestions: Both provided not one but many choices--can I actually, and is it wise to, try one and see how it works, uninstall it, try another and so on? In the past, when trying to do so, I realized that codecs do funny things to computers and that installing them or unistalling them involves risks. And the more one does so the more problems come about--hence my reason for this time accepting the Nimo Codec pack. So what is one to do? I truly don't know.

Regarding ffdshow (As well as literature on other codecs) is overwhelming for me. I have read much buyt the info gets more and more confusing as I read on. It gets confusing because often there is terminology used which I do not fully comprehend. Understanding what is written often requires other knowledge. Also some things written contradict others, some advice may be good while other advice may be wrong, not well thought of, not well written or not necessarily pertaining to your needs--and wether it does or not is not necessarily known (As I said it requires previous learned knowledge.
So yes the more you read and experiment the more you learn but as is happening to me I am learning more but I now, amidst my confusion, feel I also know less.

Oops this is too long, isn't it? Sorry.
One last question if I may: Where can I read appropriate info on 'ffdshow'. Since it appears to be a filter and not a codec.

[pintree3]

Oops, you said, 'FFDirectshow" and not, 'ffdshow' sorry.
but, see what I mean by confusing--or is it the same; Aargh!

[ormonde]

"I am learning more but I now, amidst my confusion, feel I also know less."

Well - such is life unfortunately. My advice is to keep experimenting. If a particular codec does "funny things" as you put it to your computer system, you can always "Restore" the previous state of your system by using "Restore Points" if your have XP, or an alternate image saved on a separate drive (partition) or disk.

[UncasMS]

i wonder where setarips *advice* has gone?


@ setarip

do us a favour and spare us stupid replies like the ones, that have vanished here now

in case i have something to say, i will do so myself

you're definitely the last person i'd need take care of my business

[pintree3]

Hmmm, Windows restore point? Interesting. I never thought of that (I guess that is why you are you and I am I
OK let us assume I use it--IS there a site you reccommend where could I find out more on this.
I am curious for I fear that, for example, does using it mean that all entries, all files modified all software in/uninstalled from the present to the last restore point og back to that point-: i.e. the modified word file is no longer modified, the installed software is no longer installed. The uninstalled software is reinstalled etc.

Also: back to my previous point/forum Q--I forgot to mention that besides the distortion I also had frequent but very quick skips in the sound. Now here's the thing. I, listening to your advice, uninstalled the codec pack and strangely enough, though GSpot, rightly so says I don't have any video codecs installed the AVI files all see and sound good--with no codecs installed. Could they actually not have been uninstalled or something along those lines?
But regarding MP3 the distortion is good BUT the skips are still there.

Thanks again, by the way. I hope Santa Claus is really great to you this year

[ormonde]

"IS there a site you reccommend where could I find out more on this."

Just refer to the "Help and Support" section that is contained under the "Start" menu.

"Thanks again, by the way. I hope Santa Claus is really great to you this year"

Glad to be of help - I'll make sure to put out those "Milk and Cookies" at Christmas time.

[UncasMS]

to setarip

i'm glad you didnt expect any other reaction