Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic (MPC) for Windows is a free, open-source media player designed to handle a variety of audio and video files. It is lightweight, user-friendly, and capable of playing most media formats without needing extra codecs or plugins.

Based on the original Media Player Classic developed by Gabest in 2003, the project was discontinued in 2006 but revived by a community of developers who have continued to update and maintain it.

One of MPC's standout features is its ability to play numerous media formats, such as:

• AVI
• MP4
• MKV
• MOV
• MP3
• and many more.

This wide format support allows users to enjoy media content without needing additional codecs or plugins, making MPC a versatile player for various media types, from movies and TV shows to music and streaming content.

Support for Multiple Audio and Video Codecs

MPC also supports a broad range of audio and video codecs, including H.264, H.265, VP9, and others. This ensures that users can play files encoded with different codecs without the need to install extra software.

Customization Options

MPC provides various customization options, including themes and skins, so users can personalize the look of their media player. It also supports numerous keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys, allowing for convenient control of media playback without needing to use the mouse.

Full-Screen Playback and Playlist Creation

MPC supports full-screen playback, offering an immersive viewing experience. Users can also create and manage playlists, making it easy to organize and access their favorite media files. Playlists can be tailored to different occasions or moods, and switching between them is straightforward via the intuitive interface.

Audio and Video Adjustments

The player includes settings for both audio and video. Users can adjust audio volume, balance, and equalizer settings to enhance sound quality. Similarly, video settings such as brightness, contrast, and saturation can be customized to improve or personalize the visual experience.

History of Media Player Classic

MPC, first released in 2003, became popular for its efficient playback and minimal resource use. However, it was discontinued in 2006 due to resource limitations. Afterward, the Doom9 community forked MPC into a new version called Media Player Classic - Home Cinema (MPC-HC), which continued development with added features and improvements. The last official release of MPC-HC was in 2017, but it was also eventually discontinued due to a lack of active developers.

Though the official MPC-HC project is no longer supported, some community-maintained versions are still available. However, users should be cautious with these forks as they are not officially supported and could present security risks. As a result, it may be wise to consider alternatives like VLC, which remains actively maintained.

A Media Player That Deserves Updates

Media Player Classic remains a powerful and versatile media player, offering many features like extensive format support, codec compatibility, customization, full-screen mode, playlist creation, and advanced audio and video settings. Its ability to manage a wide range of media files makes it a reliable choice for Windows users. However, given its discontinuation, updates would be welcome to maintain its status as a top-tier media player.