VLC media player - more than just player

Media player VLC many is known as one of the best free media players, which supports almost all common video and audio formats, available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android devices, as well as iPhone and iPad (and not only). However, not everyone knows about the additional features that are present in the VLC and may be useful.

In this review - general information about the player and about the useful VLC features, which are often unknown even to regular users of this player.

General information about the VLC player

The VLC media player is simple and, at the same time, a very functional player for various open source OS and its own codecs that support content playback in most of the formats that you can meet on the Internet or on disks (DVD / A after some additional actions - and Blu- Ray), the playback of streaming video and audio is supported (for example, to view the Internet TV or listening to the radio online. See also How to watch TV online for free).

You can download the VLC player for free from the official developer site - https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ (where versions are available for all supported OS, including for old versions of Windows). VLC for Android and IOS mobile platforms can be downloaded from official application stores - Play Market and Apple App Store.

With a high probability, after installing the player, you will not have any problems with its use to directly reproduce - play video and audio from files on a computer, from a network or from disks, the program interface is intuitive.

Most likely, there will be no problems with the configuration of the effects of audio, video correction (if necessary), turning on or disconnecting subtitles, creating a playlist and the main player settings.

However, all the listed features of VLC are not limited.

VLC - Additional Functions

In addition to the usual media content reproduction tools, the VLC media player is able to make additional things (video conversion, screen recording) and has extensive setup options (including extensions support, the design, mouse gesture setting).

Extensions for VLC.

The VLC player supports extensions that allow you to expand its capabilities (automatic downloading of subtitles, listening to online radio and much more). Most extensions are .lua files and sometimes their installation can represent difficulties, however it is possible to cope.

The procedure for installing extensions will be as follows:

Find the desired extension on the official website https://addons.videolan.org/ and, when downloading, pay attention to the installation instructions that are usually present on the specific expansion page.
Usually, you need to download files to the VideoLAN \ VLC \ LUA \ EXTENSIONS folder (for normal extensions) or VideoLAN \ VLC \ LUA \ SD (for add-ons - online TV channels, films, Internet radio) in Program Files or Program Files (x86), if we talk about Windows.
Restart VLC and check the expansion operation.

Topics for registration (Skins VLC)

The VLC player supports themes (skins), which can also be downloaded from Addons.Videolan.org in the "VLC Skins" section.

To set the topic, 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 the Tools - Settings and on the Interface tab, select "Other Style" and specify the path to the download file. Click "Save".
Restart the VLC player.

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

Player Management through Browser (HTTP)

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

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

Go to the Tools - Settings and Downstairs in the section "Show Settings" Select "All". Go to the "Interface" section - "Basic Interfaces". Install the "Web" mark.
Inside the section "Basic Interfaces" Open "LUA". Install the password in the HTTP section.
Go to the browser to the Http: // Localhost: 8080 address in order to access the VLC control web interface (player should be available to private and public networks in Windows Firewall). In order to manage playback from other devices on the local network, open the browser on this device, enter the IP address of the computer with the VLC and, through the colon - the port number (8080), for example, 192.168.1.10:8080 (see How to find out the computer's IP address). On the screenshot below - the VLC web interface when operating from a mobile device.

Video conversion

VLC can be used to convert video (and not only, for example, you can convert Audio CD to MP3). For this:

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

Also, in the context of converting video formats, an overview can be useful: the best free video converters in Russian.

Mouse gestures in VLC

If you go to "Tools" - "Settings" - "All" - "Interface" - "control interfaces", enable "mouse gesture management interface" and restart the VLC, it will start maintaining the corresponding gestures (by default - with the left mouse button) .

Basic VLC gestures:

Movement to the left or right - rewind for 10 seconds ago and forth.
Movement up or down - adjust the volume.
Mouse left, then right to place - pause.
Mouse up and down - disable the sound (MUTE).
Mouse left, then up - slow down the playback speed.
Mouse to the right, then up - increase the playback speed.
Mouse left, then down - the previous track.
The mouse is right, then down - the next track.
Up and left - switching the mode "Full screen".
Down and left - exit VLC.

And at the end, some more useful features of the video player:

With this player, you can record video from the desktop, see the video record from the screen in the VLC.
If you select the "desktop background" in the "Video" menu, then the video will be played as the desktop wallpaper Windows.
For Windows 10, the VLC media player is also available in the application option from the store.
Using VLC for iPad and iPhone, you can transfer video from a computer without iTunes, more: How to copy video from a computer to iPhone and iPad.
Very many actions in VLC are conveniently implemented using hotkeys (available in the "Tools" menu - "Settings" - "Hot Keys").
VLC can be used to broadcast video on the local network or on the Internet.

Have something to add? I will be glad if you share with me and other readers in the comments.