The best VLC tricks to get the most out of the player

If there's one program that's rarely missing from a PC, laptop, or even many computers... Smart TV, that is VLC Media PlayerThis free and open-source player has earned a reputation for "opening everything" because it can play virtually any video or audio format you throw at it, without any weird codecs or fuss.

The funny thing is that, despite its popularity, most of us only use it to press play, pause, and little else. And that's a shame, because VLC hides a lot of advanced features and Tricks very powerful that can save you from installing other programs: from converting videos, recording your desktop, ripping DVDs or Blu-rays, to controlling the player from the browser or subscribing to podcasts.

Convert videos and audio to other formats with VLC

One of VLC's star features is the integrated converterwhich is used both to change the format of a video and to extract only the audio (for example, converting it to MP3 (to listen to it on your mobile). All without installing anything extra.

En Windows y LinuxJust go to the menu Media > Convert / Save (or the option) Convert (or simply, depending on the version). On macOS you'll find something very similar under File > Convert/EmitFrom that panel you will be able to add one or more files that you want to transform.

Once you have uploaded the files, click on Convert and a window will open with several parts: the first shows the source videos or audios, in the second you choose the output profile or format (MP4, MKV, MP3, OGG, etc.) and in the third you define where to save the result and what name?

In addition to the basic profile, you can adjust advanced parameters such as codec, bitrate, resolution, or audio channelsThis is very useful for, for example, creating a lighter file for your mobile phone, keeping only the audio track of a conversation, or converting a problematic MKV file to MP4 for a TV that doesn't handle certain formats well.

Play and download videos online (YouTube and other websites)

VLC isn't limited to what's on your hard drive. It can also directly play videos hosted on the Internet, like those from YouTube or other pages, taking advantage of all the player's features: filters, subtitles, shortcuts, etc.

To watch a video online, go to Medium > Open Network Location (on macOS: File> Open NetworkA window will open with a tab called Redwhere a box appears for pasting the URL. Copy the video link from your browser and paste it there.

By pressing on Play (o Open en MacVLC will then begin loading the content and display it as if it were a local file. This way you can Take advantage of the equalizer, video filters, and subtitle synchronization and everything else, without depending on the website of the moment.

Furthermore, relying on this same system, it is possible to use VLC to download the video file that you are watching, for example from YouTube, without resorting to strange websites:

• First, play the online video in VLC using the option to Open network location.
• Then enter Tools > Codec Information (on macOS: Window > Multimedia Information).
• In the General admission You will see a field called Place o Location: copy the full URL that appears there.
• Paste that address into your browser's address bar and enter; when the video starts playing, right-click on the image and choose Save video as ... To download it.

This method is not the official system for downloading content from all platforms, but It works very well with many directly hosted videos. and it saves you from relying on third-party services that are sometimes insecure or full of advertising.

Record your desktop and webcam with VLC

Another of VLC's little-known features is its ability to record the computer screen as if it were a desktop captureIt doesn't replace professional gaming tools, but it's perfect for creating quick tutorials or showing someone how to do something step by step.

To capture the desktop, go to Medium > Open Capture DeviceIn the window that opens, look for the drop-down menu. Capture mode and select DesktopJust below you'll see the field of frame rate (FPS): 15 f/s is usually enough to explain basic things, while 25 or 30 f/s provide smoother animation.

Now, instead of clicking the Play button, click the small arrow next to it and choose ConvertThis way, you can select the output format (e.g., MP4 with H.264) and the folder where the recording will be saved. When you press StartVLC will start recording everything that happens on your desktop until you stop playback.

You can also use VLC as a kind of webcam recorderThe procedure is very similar, but the capture mode is different:

• Go to Medium > Open Capture Device.
• Choose Directshow (or the equivalent option in your system).
• En Video device name Choose your webcam and, in the audio device, the microphone you want to use.
• If you click on Advanced You can adjust bitrate, resolution, or other input parameters.
• Marking Device properties You will access the webcam's own panel, the same one that comes with its original software.

Then you can give Play to watch the streaming from the camera inside the player and, if you activate the advanced controlsYou'll have a record button to save the video. If you prefer, you can choose Convert instead of Play so that it starts saving automatically in the format you have defined.

Rip Blu-ray, DVD or audio CD

If you still have a good record collection, you'll be interested to know that VLC also serves as a basic ripping toolIn other words, it allows you to create digital copies of your Blu-rays, DVDs, or CDs to view them on other devices without always relying on the optical drive.

The procedure starts from the same option as always: Media > Convert / SaveWhen you open it, instead of staying on the file tab, go to the tab DiscFrom there you can choose what type of support you are using: Blu-ray, DVD or CD.

Each type of disc has its own settings: on a DVD, for example, you can select From which title and track do you want to start?, to choose audio and subtitle tracksor adjust the start and end points of the conversion. On an audio CD, you can determine what clues to extract and in what format (for example, MP3 or FLAC).

Once you have everything set up to your liking, click on Convert / Save and choose the output format (codec, container, etc.). This way you can generate a backup to have your movies or music ready on your laptop, mobile phone or home server without having to keep putting in and taking out discs.

Video and audio effects, normalization and synchronization

Beyond playback, VLC incorporates a panel of real-time video and audio effects which allows you to correct mediocre recordings or customize the image and sound to your liking.

To access, enter Tools> Effects and Filters (or use the shortcut Ctrl + E (on Windows). A window with several tabs will open. Audio effects You'll find a graphic equalizer to adjust bass and treble, as well as other sound processing options.

En video effects You have adjustments such as brightness, contrast, saturation, color tone, sharpness, cropping, and even rotation. These controls allow you to, for example, to clarify a video that is too dark, to straighten a poorly oriented recording or make small adjustments without going through a professional editor.

The tab is very important. Synchronization, where you can to advance or delay the audio or subtitles relative to the imageIf you've ever had an episode where the voices are out of sync or the subtitles appear too early or too late, here you can compensate for the delay with millisecond precision.

Another very useful setting, which is often overlooked, is the volume normalization. Go into Tools> Preferences and go to the section Audio. Check the box Normalize volume and establishes a reference value. After restarting VLC, the program will attempt to equalize audio levelsThis is great for movies with explosions and very disparate dialogues, or to avoid scares with louder-than-normal ads.

Add watermarks, logos, and text to your videos

While not a professional video editor, VLC also allows you to overlay a logo or text on the image, which is usually used as a watermark or small identifying seal.

Again, go to Tools> Effects and Filters and enter the tab video effectsInside you will find the sub-tab OverlapThere you can select the options for Add logo to select an image (for example, your channel logo) or Add text to write the phrase you want to display.

These elements can move position on the screen and adjust its transparencyThis way you avoid having to use an editor just to add a simple signature. Keep in mind that if you want the watermark to be "imprinted" on a new file, simply playing the video isn't enough: you'll need to use the function of recording or conversion While the effect is activated, VLC will generate a file with the logo or text already integrated into the frames.

Play and manage podcasts and online radio stations

VLC also behaves like a basic podcast and internet radio clientIdeal if you're an occasional listener and don't want to install extra apps for something you only use occasionally.

To access these functions, open the Play list Ctrl + L or from the menu View > PlaylistIn the sidebar you will find a section of Internet where sources such as Podcast, radio directories like Icecast, or services like Jamendo.

If you want to subscribe to a specific podcast, hover your mouse over it. Podcast and press the icon + that appears. In the box that opens, paste the Podcast RSS feed URL and confirm with OK. From that moment on, in the podcasts section you will see the list of added programs and, when you enter one, its episodes available to play.

With radio stations, the system is just as simple. If you already know the Streaming URL of your favorite radio station, go into Medium > Open Network LocationPaste the address and press play. That station will appear in the playlist and you'll be able to drag it to the media library to always have it at hand.

Furthermore, activating the Advanced controls from the menu ViewYou'll have the classic red record button. This will allow you to capture fragments of a radio program or podcast that are being broadcast live and save them to your hard drive to listen to them later.

Remote control VLC from the web browser

If you use VLC as part of a media center connected to the TVYou'll find the option to control it remotely from your mobile browser or another computer incredibly useful. VLC includes a small tool for this purpose. integrated web interface that acts as a remote control.

To activate it, go to Tools> PreferencesIn the bottom left, it changes Show settings a All To view advanced settings, open the section in the list on the left. Interface and enters Main interfaces. Check the box Web to enable it.

Then, within that same configuration tree, expand Main interfaces and enters MoonHere you can set a password for Lua HTTPwhich will be the key you will have to enter later when connecting from the browser.

Save the changes, close VLC, and reopen it. Windows will likely display an alert about the Firewall It will ask for permission for VLC to accept connections; you must allow access on the network where you will be using it. From there, you can open a browser on the same computer or on another device on the same network and access it. http://localhost:8080/ (or replacing “localhost” with the IP address of the PC where VLC is running) to control playback with the password you have defined.

Markers, AB loops, and loop playback

When you watch series, movies, or tutorials, it's very useful to be able to mark key moments to jump into them instantlyVLC includes a bookmarks feature that many people don't even know about.

With the video playing, enter the menu Playback > Custom Favorites (or the equivalent option according to the translation). A window will open where you can press Create to save a marker at the exact minute and second where the playback is.

Each marker can Rename to remember which scene it is (for example, “start of final battle” or “step 3 of the tutorial”) and it is also possible to edit There to fine-tune it if you've ended up a little earlier or later than you wanted.

Furthermore, if you activate the Advanced controls from the menu ViewA button with the letters will appear A-BThis is used for only repeat a portion of the video in a loopPosition the playback where you want the loop to begin and press that button to set point A; then advance to where you want it to end and press it again to set point B. From then on, VLC will play that section over and over until you deactivate the mode by pressing the same button again.

If you simply want a video or an entire playlist to loop continuously, you can use the loop icon From the control bar: one click makes the list repeat, another makes the current item repeat over and over again.

Subtitles: adding, synchronizing, and controlling them

In a modern player like VLC, subtitle handling is essential. This program doesn't disappoint in that regard, as it allows add subtitles in various ways and control their synchronization with the video.

The most direct way is to go to the menu Subtitle > Add subtitle file and select the SRT file (or other compatible format) that you have on your disk. You can also simply drag the subtitle file from the file explorer to the VLC window while the video is playing.

If you like to automate things, there's a simple trick: place the Place the subtitle file in the same folder as the video and give it the exact same name. (Just changing the extension, of course). When you open the video, VLC will detect it and load the subtitles automatically.

If you notice that the subtitles are ahead of or behind the image, you can fix it from the tab Synchronization en Effects and filters such as using keyboard shortcuts. For example, G and H They are usually used to move the subtitles slightly backward or forward, while J and K They can adjust the audio offset. This is very convenient when downloads subtitles that don't quite match the video version you have.

View compressed videos without decompressing them and take screenshots

If you're one of those people who download videos that come in compressed files, you'll be interested to know that VLC can play many of them directly, without needing to extract them first.

In many cases, that is enough. Drag the compressed file (for example, a ZIP or RAR) onto VLC or use Medium > Open File and select the container. As long as the file is not corrupted and all parts of a split volume are in the same folder, VLC will attempt to open the video or audio content within.

On the other hand, taking screenshots of a specific frame with VLC is incredibly easy. During playback, you can use the shortcut Shift + S on Windows and Linux, or CMD + ALT + S on macOS, to get a snapshot of the current frameThe image is automatically saved in your user's default folder for images or videos, depending on your system settings.

Video wallpapers and curious effects (ASCII, puzzles and “Inception”)

Besides all the practical features, VLC also has some funny tricks to show off a bit or play a jokeOne of the most striking is using a video as a desktop background.

To try it, go to Tools> Preferences and go to the section InstitutionalIn the dropdown menu Departure from, Select DirectX (DirectDraw) in Windows (or another equivalent output that allows this function). Save the changes and restart VLC. The next time you play a video, in the menu Institutional The option will appear Set as Wallpaperwhich will place the playback directly on the desktop.

Another cool feature you can activate is playback in ASCII formatwhere the film appears as a mosaic of text characters. To achieve this, it returns to Tools> Preferences, go into Institutional and in the section Departure from choose ASCII-art color video outputAfter restarting VLC, any video will be displayed with this retro effect.

If you fancy a visual game, in the tab Geometry (inside of video effectsYou can activate the Puzzle gameThe player will turn the image into a sliding puzzle that you can solve while the video plays, a curious way to kill time.

And to top it all off, there's the famous "Inception” or “VLC within VLC”: open Medium > Open Network Location or press Ctrl + N and, instead of a normal URL, write Screen://When you press play, VLC will start displaying its own window capturing the screen, creating an effect of infinite windows which is perfect for surprising someone who has left their computer on.

Keyboard shortcuts to master VLC without a mouse

VLC also stands out for the number of keyboard shortcuts it offers for very quick control, without having to fiddle with menus every other minute.

Among the most practical shortcuts you can memorize are, for example, F to switch to full screen y Esc to exit, or the Spacebar to pause and resume playback. Using the arrow keys and combinations with Shift, Alt or Ctrl You can jump forwards or backwards for a few seconds or even jumps of a minute.

The key V It is usually used to activate or deactivate subtitles, while with B You switch audio tracks if the file has multiple languages. With M You mute or unmute the sound, and Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow It allows you to raise or lower the volume.

To go to a specific moment, Ctrl + T Open the "Go to Time" window where you can enter the minute and second you want. Shortcuts like Ctrl + O, Ctrl + R, Ctrl + D, Ctrl + F are designed for open files, advanced conversions, disks or folders instantly.

There are plenty of combinations for more advanced handling: Ctrl + E It directly opens the effects and filters, Ctrl + B manages the markers, Ctrl + L displays the playlist and Ctrl + Y The save. You can even change the playback speed with the keys + y -or alternate different aspect ratios and zoom levels with C y Z.

With this arsenal of options, from the simplest to the most hidden, VLC becomes much more than just a simple player: it's a multimedia Swiss Army knife capable of covering conversion, recording, streaming, light editing and even curious entertainment tasks, always with the advantage of being free, cross-platform and open source.