Started as an academic project is now the biggest Open Source media player in the world. But VLC out there is not just a media player. It has far more features than you can ever imagine. You can convert media files format, can take the snapshot, add watermark and record screen, and much more.
To go through the number of hidden features VLC has could fill an entire wiki (which it does). So instead of you reading through the incredibly technical wiki, we have gathered the 13 best VLC tricks and Hacks you may not know.
VLC tricks And Hacks Explained
1. Convert Media Files
Did you know that you can use VLC to convert your media files into a wide variety of formats? The app lets you choose exactly how you would like to convert them or you can simply use a given preset.
To start, go to Media > Convert / Save, add a file and click Convert / Save. From here you will select the desired codec to convert to.
2. Play/Download Online Videos
You can actually use VLC to play and download online videos. You can use the full suite of tools to manipulate video playback or save them for later play.
To start an online video, go to Media > Open Network Stream. Press theNetwork tab, enter the URL of the video and click Play. To save it, instead ofPlay, choose Convert.
3. Record A Currently Playing Video/Audio
If you want to record and capture a snippet of a video that you are playing, VLC has an option to do so. To enable this feature, on the menu bar, click View > Advanced Controls. Extra buttons will appear on the app. While playing a media file, click on the Record button to start recording. Press again to stop.
Recordings will be saved in the Videos folder for videos while audio will go to your Music folder. On the Mac version, go to the menu bar and click Playback > Record or use the shortcut CMD + ALT + R.
4. Record Desktop
VLC is able to record a video of your desktop, acting as a screen recorder. To enable desktop recording, go to Media > Convert / Save. Go to the Capture Device tab and on the Capture mode drop-down menu, select Desktop. Select your frame rate under Desired frame rate for the capture and click Convert / Save. Finally, select your codec and the destination and click Start. To stop recording, click the Stop button.
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5. Record Webcam
You can record a video in VLC using the webcam. Go to Media > Open Capture Device and select DirectShow from the Capture mode drop menu. From here you will select the video and audio device from where it will capture. Click Play and VLC will stream from your webcam. Use VLC’s ability to record currently playing video and you have yourself a webcam recorder.
6. Rip A DVD
Did you know you can use VLC to rip your DVD’s into your computer? It’s a simple way to create an archive of your DVD’s for backup purposes or a way to view them when you do not have access to the physical disc.
Go to Media > Convert / Save and click on the Disc tab. Under Disc Selection, click on the radio button of the media disc you are using and check No disc menu. Make sure the selected Disc device is correct and click Convert / Save. Choose the codec you wish to save in and save it with the extension that is compatible with your codec.
7. Remote Control VLC From A Browser
There is an option available to use a web browser as a simple remote control for VLC. This is incredibly useful when running VLC on a media center PC, as you can control it using a laptop or your mobile phone.
To enable this feature, go to Tools > Preference, and click the radio box All under Show settings. Next, go to Interface > Main Interface and tick the Web check box. Then, under Interface > Main > Lua, set the Lua HTTP Password. Remote control through the browser should now be enabled.
To test this, on your browser with VLC installed, go to localhost:8080. It will ask for the password and once given, it should display a remote control interface for VLC. To use this on another device, you will need to find the IP address of your devices’ browser. Add the address to your device’s browser with :8080 appended to it, for example, 128.0.0.1:8080. Your device is now a simple VLC remote.
8. Video And Audio Effects
VLC gives you a multitude of tools that allows you to manipulate the video and audio of any given media. To see the tools available, go to Tools > Effects And Filters. From here, you can adjust colors, crop, rotate video, add filters, etc. With audio, you get the usual equalizers to tune your music.
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9. Add Watermarks On Video
You can add your own watermarks on a video through VLC, bypass a need for a dedicated video editor to do so. Do remember though that you will need to use VLC’s recording feature to save the video with the watermark.
To start, go to Tools > Effects and Filters. Click on the Video Effects tab and under the Overlay tab, you will get options to either add in your logo or a simple text to the video.
10. Take A Snapshot
Ever need to take a snapshot of a video you are watching? VLC has a way to do so. Simply use the shortcut Shift + S on Windows and Linux or CMD + ALT +S on OS X. The picture will be saved in your OS’s respective pictures folder.
11. Bookmark A Video
You can bookmark a part of a video so that you can return to it later on if you feel like replaying a certain part of a video. To bookmark a video, go to Playback > Custom Bookmarks > Manage. The Edit Bookmarks window will pop up. Press the Create button when at a section of a video you would like to bookmark.
12. Add Subtitles
If a video you have doesn’t come with subtitles, you can add your own by finding an SRT subtitle file for the video and adding it in. To add the subtitle, play your video and go to Subtitle on the menu bar and click Add Subtitle File. If you want VLC to play it automatically, place the SRT file in the same folder as the video and make sure it uses the same filename as the video file.
13. Adjust Playback Speed
This feature is incredibly useful when you are watching a media file primarily for the content, such as podcast, audiobooks, recorded lectures, etc. To start, press ] to fast forward by 0.1x for each press. To slow it down, press [ instead. On the Mac, there is a slider to control playback speed, located in Playback.
We hope these VLC tricks And Hacks will help you to use VLC player more efficiently.
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