Media Player Classic – Home Cinema, also known as MPC-HC, is a quick and simple video/audio player for Windows. Its main goal is local media files playback, done highly efficiently in terms of both speed and accuracy while avoiding any extra processes or services being run in the background.
One of the reasons why this program is so popular among users is because it resembles very much the old Windows Media Player in a way yet at the same time it supports a wide range of newer formats without the hiccups of the original. On top of that, the player interface remains extremely minimalistic while the engine behind it is really quite powerful.
The player opens files without any delay
MPC-HC takes next to no time to start, even if the computer is of an older generation. You double-click the video file and it starts to play with absolutely no introduction screens or waiting.
Due to this, it’s great for when you’re in the mood for something quick and simple. The app does not pretend to be your media library manager so all this gives you a clean and predictable user experience.
Video and audio formats handling
This application plays smoothly a big variety of video formats such as MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, FLAC, etc. The fact that it has the major codecs pre-installed in the system makes it such that it only very rarely needs to download codec packs from the net in order to be able to play.
Ultra HD and 4K formats go well as long as the GPU supports them. Besides, it can also handle subtitle files, multiple audio channels as well as pinpoint frame accuracy during seeking in long features.
Intended for keyboard and mouse control
Combination of keyboard and mouse is what MPC-HC appreciates most and works the best with. For instance, the most commonly performed operations like pause, skip, and fullscreen visually get reflected immediately.
If privileged users wish they can set custom shortcuts so that each action will be at their fingertips and the whole playback process completely under control. That is why this player is particularly favored by the ones who watch a lot of local media on their Windows desktop.
The exterior is very simple and the tracker inside that
Even the exterior looks very simple, yet there are many functions that are rather hidden. Apart from able to do things like play the video at a faster or slower pace, even make the audio go forward or delay, or adjust subtitle timing, you can also perform a lot of other advanced options.
Besides, there is also support for filters and video renderers, which helps users who like to fine-tune picture quality.
Where the player shines the most
It is pretty obvious that this program is most suited to the likes of users who have movies, TV series, or some recordings on their computer and that want to watch them casually or for testing purposes. It works pretty well in both ways.
If you are one of those people who not only likes to have access to streaming services or media shops but also wants to have it all integrated and that is ready to use in your media player at the flick of a switch, then MPC-HC is not for you because it’s a player focused on local playback only.
Open-source nature and stability
Because of power player is derived from an open-source background, the development is completely transparent by default. The Windows community has helped keep it reliable over the years.
The updates tend to be amateurish at best but focusing mainly on adding new functions, improving compatibility, and fixing bugs rather than on flashy redesigns. This is largely appreciated by the old-timers.
Download and Installation of MPC-HC
Media Player Classic – Home Cinema could be downloaded for free on Windows from reputable software download sites like appgetters. When installed on the computer, it acts like a normal desktop application and can coexist with other software.
If you are a person who prefers to have a quick go at things without any fuss or hassle, then you will find MPC-HC an awesome media player on Windows.