Media Player Classic BE 1.8.2 Settings for better playback quality and usability

This article will highlight some of basic settings of the Media Player Classic BE that are useful during playback of media files.

Media Player Classic BE version: 1.8.2

Installation

During the installation process, it is recommend to install MPC Video Renderer along with it.

Basic Settings

Keep the MPC-BE app window at the top while playing a video file

This is useful in keeping the MPC-BE app window at the top of other windows.

To enable this feature Select View > On Top > While Playing Video from the MPC-BE app menu bar.

Set Process priority above normal

Running the MPC-BE app with CPU priority level Above normal.

  • Open MPC-BE Options windows from the menu View > options.
  • Select the Player tab.
  • Enable Process priority above normal.

Associate media files to open by default with the MPC-BE player

Associating the media file is useful in running the media file by default with MPC-BE app.

  • Select  Player > Formats tab.
  • Select the Modify button in the group box labeled Association to open a new window with administrative access.
  • Association list four options:
    • Video: Clicking on this option selects only video file extensions.
    • Audio: Clicking on this option selects only audio file extensions.
    • All: Clicking on this option selects both video and audio file extensions.
    • None: Clicking on this option deselects all file extensions.
  • Click on an option to select desired File extensions to be associated with the MPC-BE app.
  • Select the Apply button.

Use Chapters marker

To enable showing Chapters marker

  • Select  Player > Interface tab.
  • Enable Use chapters marker.

Limit window proportions on resize

This setting will keep the MPC-BE app windows size in proportion to the video frame size of the video file that is being played in the MPC-BE app.

  • Select Player > Window size tab.
  • Enable Limit window proportions on resize.

Volume step setting

Volume Step settings allow the user to set the step size (in percentage) at which the volume will increase or decrease when it is done by using a keyboard shortcut or mouse buttons. Lowering the volume step gives a more granular control.

To set the Volume step, do the following:

  • Select Playback tab
  • Set the Volume step to 2 in the group box labeled Control.

Speed Step setting

Speed Step allows the user to set the step size (in percentage) in which the playback will increase or decrease when done through keyboard shortcuts or mouse controls.

  • The default keyboard shortcut for Increase rate: Ctrl + Up
  • The default keyboard shortcut for  Decrease rate:  Ctrl + Down
  • The default keyboard shortcut for  Reset rate: Ctrl + R

To set the Speed step, do the following:

  • Select the Playback tab.
  • Set the Speed step to 5.

Enhanced Video Renderer Presentation mode

By default Copy Presentation mode is used and is most compatible.

Users with Microsoft Windows 7 or later OS can use the Flip mode presentation of the video. It offers better synchronization between video and audio streams. It offers faster recovery from video playback glitches.

To set presentation mode, do the following.

  • Select the Video tab.
  • Select Flip/FlipEx from the drop-down list labelled Presentation mode.

Enhanced Video Renderer Downscaling algorithm

Downscaling <50% setting is used to set the video down-scaling filter. It will be used to downscale the video frame when the playback video frame size (resolution) is lower than 50% of the original frame size (resolution) of the video file.  

Nowadays video quality of media files is good. So using basic Bilinear filter will handle the task easily and give good quality output.

To set Downscaling filter, do the following.

  • Select the Video tab.
  • Select PS:Bilinear from the drop-down list labeled Downscaling <50%.

A better down scaling filter is Hamming that output higher quality image, requires more computing power and less artifact are present in the image.

Other useful MPC-BE settings

1. Increase or decrease the audio levels

Sometimes the audio level in a media file is very high and it requires lowering of the overall audio level or the audio level in a media file is very low and requires boosting the audio level.

In this case, the Gain Settings may prove useful in lowering or increasing the audio level. Try keep the Gain setting between -3.0 dB to +3.0 dB.

2. Auto volume control and Boost audio

Enabling Auto volume control the MPC-BE will automatically increase the audio levels. It will increase the audio level of those frequencies of audio that is low compared to other frequencies of the audio.

With Boost audio settings enabled, the vocals will be boosted. This feature is useful when the audio level of vocals is low in the media file.

Use MPC Video renderer

By default Enhanced Video renderer (custom presenter) is used as Video renderer of MPC-BE app.

Using MPC Video Renderer provides more enhanced features.

To use the MPC Video renderer, do the follwoing:

  • Select Video tab.
  • Set MPC Video Renderer as Video renderer.
  • Click Apply button.

MPC BE app GPU usage

Task manager in Windows OS 10 and 11 can be used to monitor the GPU usage by the MPC-BE app. Parameters like 3D, video decode, video processing and Copy should be monitored.

GPU usage level lower than 60% during playback of 4K video is good for overall performance of the computer. GPU usage above 60% will put too much load on GPU.