How to Connect Any Video Player to Kodi: Unleash the Full Power of Your Media Center

Introduction

Kodi has become a powerhouse for media enthusiasts, transforming ordinary devices into comprehensive home entertainment hubs. Its intuitive interface, extensive add-on support, and ability to organize your digital library make it a top choice for managing movies, TV shows, music, and more. While Kodi comes equipped with its own capable video player, did you know you can supercharge your viewing experience by integrating external video players?

This article dives deep into the world of using external video players with Kodi, explaining why you might want to do it, which players are the best choices, and providing a step-by-step guide on how to set everything up. Get ready to unlock a new level of customization and performance from your media center!

Why Use an External Video Player with Kodi?

Kodi’s native player is decent, but integrating an external player brings several key advantages. It’s not just about being different; it’s about optimizing your media experience to match your specific needs and hardware.

Expanded Codec Support

One of the primary reasons to consider an external player is codec support. Codecs are the algorithms that compress and decompress video and audio data. Kodi’s built-in player strives for broad compatibility, but it might stumble with newer or less common codecs. Formats like HEVC (also known as H.265), VP9 (popular on YouTube), AV1 (the future of video compression), and high-resolution audio formats like DTS-HD or TrueHD might not always play flawlessly with the default player.

An external player, often updated more frequently and designed for specific codec support, can step in and handle these files without a hitch. This means smoother playback, fewer error messages, and a more seamless viewing experience overall.

Unmatched Customization Options

Beyond basic playback, some external players offer a level of customization that Kodi’s native player can’t match. Players like Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (MPC-HC) or MPV provide a wealth of advanced settings, allowing you to fine-tune every aspect of the video rendering process.

Think about features like shader support, which can dramatically improve video quality by applying real-time processing effects. Or, consider advanced subtitle rendering options, allowing you to customize font styles, positioning, and even automatically download subtitles. These are the kinds of tweaks that can take your viewing experience from good to exceptional.

Enhanced Performance Capabilities

In certain situations, an external player can significantly improve performance, particularly on older hardware or when dealing with high-resolution content. Many external players are optimized for specific hardware acceleration techniques, such as DXVA (DirectX Video Acceleration on Windows), VDPAU (Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix-like systems), or VAAPI (Video Acceleration API). These techniques offload video decoding tasks from the CPU to the GPU, freeing up resources and ensuring smoother playback, even with demanding video files.

Using an external player can prevent stuttering, frame drops, and other performance issues that might plague the Kodi built-in player in some scenarios.

Purely Personal Preference

Sometimes, the best reason to use an external player is simply personal preference. You might prefer the interface, keybindings, or specific features of a particular player. Perhaps you’ve been using VLC for years and are accustomed to its controls. Or maybe you’re drawn to the minimalist design of MPV. Regardless of the reason, the ability to choose your preferred player is a powerful aspect of Kodi’s flexibility.

Choosing the Perfect External Video Player

Selecting the right external player for Kodi involves considering your operating system, your technical proficiency, and the types of media you typically consume. Let’s explore some popular options:

Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (MPC-HC)

MPC-HC is a lightweight and highly configurable player available for Windows. It boasts excellent codec support, a clean interface, and a wide range of customization options. It’s a great choice if you want a powerful but resource-efficient player with granular control over every setting.

VLC Media Player

VLC is a cross-platform powerhouse, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It’s known for its broad compatibility, ease of use, and ability to play virtually any video or audio file you throw at it. It’s a solid choice if you want a reliable and versatile player that “just works” without requiring extensive configuration.

MPV

MPV is a cross-platform player for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s renowned for its command-line interface (although GUI frontends are available) and its extreme customizability. MPV is the player of choice for those who want to fine-tune every aspect of the video rendering process, including shaders, scaling algorithms, and advanced audio processing.

Important Considerations

Before making your choice, consider these factors:

Operating System Compatibility: Ensure the player is compatible with your operating system.
Ease of Use vs. Advanced Features: Balance the player’s complexity with your technical expertise.
Codec Support: Choose a player that supports the codecs you need.
Hardware Acceleration Options: Select a player that supports the appropriate hardware acceleration techniques for your system.
Resource Usage: Opt for a lightweight player if you’re using an older or less powerful device.

Configuring Kodi to Use an External Video Player

The key to linking an external player to Kodi lies in modifying the playercorefactory.xml file. This file tells Kodi which player to use for different types of media.

Finding the `playercorefactory.xml` File

The playercorefactory.xml file is located in your Kodi user data directory. The exact path varies depending on your operating system:

Windows: %APPDATA%\Kodi\userdata (You can paste this directly into the File Explorer address bar)
macOS: /Users//Library/Application Support/Kodi/userdata
Linux: ~/.kodi/userdata or /home//.kodi/userdata
Android: Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi/userdata/

If the playercorefactory.xml file doesn’t exist, you’ll need to create it. Use a plain text editor (like Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on macOS) to create a new file with that name.

Editing the `playercorefactory.xml` File

The playercorefactory.xml file uses XML syntax. Here’s a basic example of how to configure Kodi to use MPC-HC as the default external player:


<playercorefactory>
  <players>
    <player name="MPC-HC" type="External">
      <filename>C:\Program Files\MPC-HC\mpc-hc64.exe</filename>
      <hidexbmc>true</hidexbmc>
    </player>
  </players>
  <rules action="prepend">
    <rule video="true" player="MPC-HC"/>
  </rules>
</playercorefactory>

Let’s break down each element:

<playercorefactory>: The root element of the XML file.
<players>: Contains the definitions of the external players.
<player name="MPC-HC" type="External">: Defines an external player named “MPC-HC”. The name attribute is what you’ll use to refer to the player in rules. The type attribute must be set to “External”.
<filename>C:\Program Files\MPC-HC\mpc-hc64.exe</filename>: Specifies the full path to the executable file of the external player. Important: Make sure the path is correct for your system.
<hidexbmc>true</hidexbmc>: Hides the Kodi interface during playback. Set to false if you want to see the Kodi interface on top.
<rules action="prepend">: Defines the rules for when to use the external player. prepend means the rule is applied first.
<rule video="true" player="MPC-HC"/>: This simple rule says to use “MPC-HC” for all video files.

Here’s a similar example for VLC:


<playercorefactory>
  <players>
    <player name="VLC" type="External">
      <filename>C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe</filename>
      <hidexbmc>true</hidexbmc>
    </player>
  </players>
  <rules action="prepend">
    <rule video="true" player="VLC"/>
  </rules>
</playercorefactory>

And for MPV:


<playercorefactory>
  <players>
    <player name="MPV" type="External">
      <filename>C:\Program Files\MPV\mpv.exe</filename>
      <hidexbmc>true</hidexbmc>
    </player>
  </players>
  <rules action="prepend">
    <rule video="true" player="MPV"/>
  </rules>
</playercorefactory>

Remember to replace the paths with the correct locations of your chosen video player.

Advanced Configuration Techniques

The <rules> section is where you can get really creative. You can define rules based on file types, sources, or resolutions. For instance:

To use MPC-HC for only .mkv files:

<rule filetypes="mkv" player="MPC-HC"/>

To use VLC for content from a specific streaming add-on (you’ll need to know the add-on’s source name):

<rule protocols="plugin://add-on.id" player="VLC"/>

To use MPV for 4K content (requires a bit more complexity):


<rule video="true">
    <res>3840,2160</res>
    <player>MPV</player>
</rule>

Troubleshooting Tips

Player Doesn’t Launch: Double-check the path in the <filename> tag. Ensure the executable exists at that location.
Video Doesn’t Play: Verify that the external player is properly installed and configured. Test it outside of Kodi to make sure it can play the file.
Kodi Crashes: Check the Kodi logs for error messages. The playercorefactory.xml file might have syntax errors.
Kodi Logs: The Kodi logs can provide valuable clues. The location of the log file varies depending on your operating system.

Configuring Your External Video Player

Once Kodi is configured to use your chosen external player, you might need to tweak the player’s settings for optimal performance.

Basic Settings

Audio Output: Make sure the player is using the correct audio output device (e.g., your sound card or HDMI output).
Hardware Acceleration: Enable hardware acceleration if your player supports it. The specific setting will vary depending on the player and your hardware.
Subtitles: Configure your preferred subtitle settings, such as font, size, and color.

Advanced Settings

Shader Configuration (MPV): If you’re using MPV, explore the possibilities of shader configuration. Shaders can significantly improve video quality by applying real-time processing effects.
Custom Keybindings: Customize the keybindings to match your preferences.

Conclusion: Unlock a New Dimension of Media Playback

Using an external video player with Kodi opens a world of possibilities. You gain access to broader codec support, greater customization options, and potentially improved performance. While the initial configuration might seem a bit daunting, the benefits are well worth the effort. So, take the plunge, experiment with different players, and fine-tune your setup to create the ultimate home theater experience. Happy viewing!