7 VLC Features You May Not Know About

Screen video recording

VLC allows you to record your screen and save the result in different formats. No sound, but in good quality. Here's how to do it:

Click “Media” → “Open Capture Device”.
From the Capture Mode list, select Screen.
Set the desired frame rate. 15 to 30 fps should be enough.
Click the arrow next to the Play button and select Convert.
In the “Profile” list, assign the appropriate format. For example, H.264 + MP3 (MP4) is suitable.
Click “Browse”, enter the name of the future video file and select a folder to store it. Then click "Save".
To enable recording, use the “Start” button.
To stop, click “Stop” in the player menu.

New interface

Ars Technica columnist Jim Salter took a look at the interface offered by the test build of VLC 4.0 for Linux dated February 12, 2021.

According to him, the first thing that catches your eye is the transformation of the player into a real media center, in which the collection management tools are separated from the means of playing its contents. So, if in version 3.x, when launching the application, the user was greeted by an empty player window with a characteristic logo, then in 4.0, instead of it, a media browser appears, which displays thumbnails (previews) of all video files stored in the “Video” folder of the current user.

Old (left) and new (right) VLC interface

The usual menu bar in VLC 4.0 has been replaced by the Video, Music, Browse and Discover tabs. The Music tab presents musical compositions from the user's library, Browse allows you to connect to local network resources. The Discover page, as its name suggests, will allow the user to discover new audio and video content based on personal preferences, but according to Salter, it does not work in this build.

File open dialog in VLC 3.x (left) and Browse tab in VLC 4.0 (right)

If necessary, in addition to the “Videos” folder, you can specify others as sources, after which VLC will scan them, including subfolders, and add all found videos to the collection. However, according to the reviewer, the new VLC does not currently allow adding individual files, which may not always be convenient.

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Infrastructure

A similar approach to creating a collection is used in the popular open media center Kodi - the program independently monitors folders pre-defined by the user for new content and adds it to the collection, downloading additional information about it from the Internet. Although in theory, Salter argues, this approach relieves the user of the need to manually structure his media collection, but it is not universal. “I don't need to see all the stupid memes I downloaded and video clips I recorded with my webcam,” the reviewer notes. Unlike VLC 4.0 in its current state, Kodi gives the user a choice of format for presenting the collection, including organized at the file system level.

Sometimes it can be difficult to understand which file is being played in the new VLC

Another important change, the reviewer notes, becomes noticeable only during video playback. In older versions of VLC, playback and video control buttons were displayed in a single interface. In VLC 4.0, video playback starts in a new separate window, and the controls are in a different one. Moreover, in full-screen mode, any controls are completely absent. You can still pause the video, for example, using the context menu, which, as before, is called up by right-clicking in the playback area.

Combined (left) playback window and controls in classic VLC and separate (right) in new

Salter also complains that the new interface makes it difficult for the user to determine the name and physical location of a file placed in a collection. This can only be done while the file is playing.

Converting video files

VLC is convenient to use as a video converter. This feature is especially useful for large files that are inconvenient to convert online. So, the player is capable of converting an entire movie. But it is worth saying that this process will not be quick.

The program does not indicate what types of videos it accepts for conversion. But you can choose formats like MP4, Webm, ASF, TS and others as the output file. To convert video using VLC, do the following:

Click "Media" → "Convert/Save".
Use the "Add" button and select the video file you want to convert.
Click "Convert/Save".
In the Profile list, find the output format.
Click "Browse", enter a name for the future video file and select a folder to store it. Then click "Save".
To start the conversion, use the “Start” button.
Wait until the timeline in the player is completely filled.

What are the advantages

This is truly the best iptv player. Why? Because all iptv players today are made on the VLC platform. Of all the changes that exist in third-party programs, these are outdated codecs, reduced functionality, added advertising and irrelevant playlists. It turns out that they made the program worse, changed the name and passed it off as their own.

Other advantages (with remontka.pro):

In addition to the usual means of playing media content, the VLC media player can do additional things (video conversion, screen recording) and has extensive customization options (including support for extensions, themes, customizing mouse gestures).

Extensions for VLC

The VLC player supports extensions that allow you to expand its capabilities (automatically downloading subtitles, listening to online radio, and much more). Most extensions are .lua files and sometimes installing them can be difficult, but it can be done.

The order of installing extensions will be as follows:

Find the required extension on the official website https://addons.videolan.org/ and when downloading, pay attention to the installation instructions, which are usually present on the page of the specific extension.
As a rule, you need to download files to the VideoLAN\VLC\lua\extensions folder (for regular extensions) or VideoLAN\VLC\lua\sd (for add-ons - directories of online TV channels, films, Internet radio) in Program Files or Program Files (x86), if we talk about Windows.
Restart VLC and check if the extension works.

Themes (VLC skins)

The VLC player supports skins, which can also be downloaded from addons.videolan.org in the “VLC Skins” section.

To install the theme, follow these steps:

Download the .vlt theme file and copy it to the VideoLAN\VLC\skins player folder in Program Files or Program Files (x86).
In VLC, go to Tools - Options and on the "Interface" tab, select "Other Style" and specify the path to the downloaded theme file. Click "Save".
Restart VLC player.

The next time you launch, you will see that the VLC skin you selected has been installed.

Player control via browser (http)

VLC has a built-in HTTP server that allows you to control playback through the browser: for example, you can select a radio station, rewind the video, etc. from a phone connected to the same router as the computer with VLC.

By default, the HTTP interface is disabled, to enable it follow these steps:

Go to Tools - Settings and at the bottom left in the "Show settings" section, select "All". Go to the section “Interface” - “Main Interfaces”. Install o.
Inside the "Basic Interfaces" section, open "Lua". Set a password in the HTTP section.
Go to https://localhost:8080 in your browser to access VLC's web management interface (the player must be granted access to private and public networks in the Windows Firewall). In order to control playback from other devices on the local network, open a browser on this device, enter the IP address of the computer with VLC in the address bar and, separated by a colon, the port number (8080), for example, 192.168.1.10:8080 (see. How to find out the IP address of a computer). The screenshot below shows the VLC web interface when controlled from a mobile device.

Video conversion

VLC can be used to convert videos. For this:

Go to the “Media” menu - “Convert/Save”.
Add the files you want to convert to the list.
Click the “Convert/Save” button, set the conversion parameters in the “Profile” section (you can also set up your own profiles) and specify the file where you want to save the result.
Click the "Start" button to start the conversion.

Playing YouTube Videos

VLC can stream YouTube videos without advertisements. This feature can be useful for watching long videos continuously. However, the player does not play some videos.

Here's how to watch YouTube videos using VLC player:

Click Media → Open URL.
Paste the video link into the "Enter network address" field.
Click Play.

The nuances of installing VLC player

So first, let's look at some important aspects when installing a turntable. In the future, when setting up VLC to watch IPTV, performing some preliminary steps and setting important parameters will save you from unnecessary additional operations. After launching the installer, you need to follow the instructions, and you do not need to change anything in the default options offered.

But at the stage of selecting associations with files or objects that will automatically open using the player, it is recommended to immediately mark the playlist items (M3U and M3U8).

Downloading videos from YouTube

The program can not only play, but also download videos from YouTube. But, again, this method does not work with some videos. To download videos from YouTube, do the following:

Click Media → Open URL.
Paste the video link into the "Enter network address" field.
Click Play.
Click Tools → Codec Information.
Copy the link from the Location field.
Open the copied link in your browser, right-click on the video and use the “Save video as” option.

VLC is about to get a radical makeover

The developers of the popular VLC media player are preparing a major release in which the appearance of the application will radically change and a number of new functions will appear.

According to Ars Technica, in version 4.0, which will be released in 2021, the VLC interface will be significantly redesigned. According to one of the leading developers of the player, Kempf , the application will look more modern.

The VLC team also plans to provide player users with a wide selection of extensions that will allow them to view video and audio content from third-party sources directly in the program. The possibility of monetization through advertising is being considered.

Also, according to Kempf, it is known that the VideoLAN team is working on a project codenamed Moviepedia. The specialist compares Moviepedia with the popular IMDb service, which is a large database of cinema.

VLC will also receive support for AV2 and AV1 video codecs. In the latter, as Ars Technica notes, streaming video services have recently shown increasing interest. Finally, the media player will work in the browser in a new way - using Webassembly and JavaScript technologies.

Using the built-in equalizer

If suddenly you are not satisfied with the sound of a movie or music, you can adjust the audio to your taste. To do this, the program has as many as 11 parameters. Here's how to do it:

Click “Tools” → “Effects and Filters” → “Audio Effects” → “Equalizer” and click “Enable”.
Adjust audio settings manually or select one of the presets and save your changes.

Program overview

As soon as the smart TV program is launched for the first time, you will see a small window with a drop-down menu in which you can select one of the IP-TV providers. There is also the ability to manually enter the playlist address in M3U format.

After we select a channel, the main window will open with a list of available programs.

As you can see, the main window of the program consists of a viewing area, a list of available channels and a lower control panel. If you right-click on the viewing area, a context menu will appear in which you can: expand the picture to full screen, display it on a second monitor, start surfing channels and turn off the playlist. There are also some settings, for example, “Video window size”, “Management”, “TV program”, “Scheduler” and “Settings”.

The bottom panel contains standard keys: play, stop, record, open a file and adjust the sound. On the right side there are screenshot buttons, a settings key, TV guide, channel list and a navigation button to switch to the previous and next channels.

When we click the “Record/Stop Recording” button, the process will begin. At the same time, we see the recording time and the size of the output file.

After clicking on the red circle again, the recording will stop and the file will be available for viewing.

In order to open what was recorded on your hard drive or SSD drive, click on the button with the image of a folder next to the write button. You will see the directory and its path.

Creating screenshots works in the same way, just click on the camera icon and see an image thumbnail in the upper left corner, it confirms the creation of a screenshot.

In order not to miss your favorite show, IP-TV Player has a program. You can call it with a button with a picture of a clock, and turn it off with it.

If desired, the channel list can be disabled so that it does not take up useful space in the program. This is done with the button indicated in the screenshot.

Audio normalization

Some films cause discomfort due to volume changes. Shooting and explosions are too loud, and conversations are too quiet. The situation can be corrected by the audio normalization function.

During the writing of this article, it was not possible to find a film on which to test normalization. But members of the official VLC forum assure that the function works. Here's how to use it:

Open the “Tools” → “Settings” → “Audio” section.
Enable the "Normalize volume to" option.
At the bottom of the window, click “All” under “Show settings.”
In the left panel, select Audio → Filters → Volume Normalization.
Set limits on the number of audio buffers and volume levels. The VLC community recommends values of 10 and 1.60, respectively.
Click “Save” and restart the player for the changes to take effect.

How to install IPTV Player on your computer

The IP-TV Player application is completely free, so you don’t have to look for a crack, license key or activation code. Just download the application from the link below and start installing.

We launch the file downloaded to your computer from our website; to do this, simply find it on your PC (by default this is the “Downloads” folder) and double-click the left mouse button.

At the beginning of the installation, you need to specify the installation path. You don't have to do this, but often you have to change the target directory. For example, if there is not enough free space. To make folder configuration options available, check the box next to “Select settings and installation folder.” Next, click on the “Browse” button and select the directory we need. Finally, click “Next”.

At the next stage, we will be asked to install additional software. This is the Yandex panel and the start page, disable this function by placing the switch in the “Settings parameters” position and uncheck all three checkboxes from their positions. At the end, click on the virtual key with the text: “Next”.

But that’s not all, they will try to slip us Yandex Browser again, if you don’t need it, just remove the checkbox from the “Download and install Yandex Browser” position. Finally, click on “Install”.

The installation of the program has begun, it will take no more than one minute, we are waiting for the process to complete.

We complete the installation by clicking on the button with the text: “Ready”.

At this point, the installation of the program is complete, and you can proceed to watching your favorite channels.

Playing from the point where you finished watching

VLC can play a video from the point where the user finished watching it. To do this, the player remembers the playback progress in the last hundred files. To enable display from the last position on the view bar in VLC, do the following:

Open the “Tools” → “Settings” → “Interface” section.
Next to “Continue Playing,” select “Always” and save the change.

History of VLC

VLC is one of the very first media players for personal computers. It was first presented in 1996 as a project by students at the Ecole Centrale Paris university. The application is currently being developed by the VLC Team. The player's name stands for VideoLAN Client.

The most remarkable feature of the VLC project is that it is developed and distributed free of charge under the free LGPL license.

The player was updated to version 1.0.0 only 13 years after the first announcement - in July 2009, and version 2.0.0 was released three years later, in the winter of 2012. Initially created for Microsoft Windows, as of today the player exists in versions for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows 10 Mobile, Android, iOS, Linux OS, macOS, Tizen, Chrome OS and a number of other less common platforms. The application is distributed free of charge and supports most popular video and audio formats, and can also play streaming Internet radio. The interface has been translated into more than 70 languages, including Russian.

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Additional TV playback functions in the player

Users have additional options for watching TV channels. To manage the broadcast, use the “ Playback ” tab:

To save a fragment of the broadcast as a separate file, use the recording function;
Navigation keys allow you to rewind the program, freeze frames and repeat playback;
Switching the stream is done using the “ Next-Previous ” keys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRgaAC3FTZ4

IPTV is online television that can be watched on websites or in special players. Today we will use VLC Media Player for this.

In this article I will tell you where to download the player, how to configure it for comfortable viewing and where to get m3u playlists.

Content

Instructions for watching IPTV through VLC: how to use playlists?

Now you can use the simplest operations in the player. First of all, download the playlist you need from the Internet and open it in the player using one of your preferred methods.

If you did not download the playlist, but decided to use exclusively an online resource, when opening it, select the open URL option, and then indicate the address of the page on which the playlist is located on the Internet. After this, the broadcast will begin automatically.

Note: Downloading from the internet or using links on websites is best for self-updating playlists, as you won't have to re-download the content once they expire. In addition, keep in mind that the player minimizes to tray when the main window is closed, so sometimes problems may occur when opening other lists. To avoid their appearance, log out first, and only then open a new file or link on the Internet.

Where can I download channel lists?

To watch the broadcast on your PC, you need to have a list of channels and their direct links. They can be downloaded from free sources on the Internet. The requirement for the list file is m3u format . Only it is supported in VLC and is the most common for IPTV streams.

To download a playlist of channels from the desired country or provider, enter the appropriate query in Google. Go to a suitable site and download a few m3u files you like. For each nickname you will see a short description of the contents of the streams. Example request: