Anoop Verma
WHEN it comes to versatility, no other media player comes close to VLC media player. The software is available for free, and it is an Open Source and Cross Platform. The VLC media player supports many audio and video compression methods and file formats, including DVD-video, video CD and streaming protocols. It is able to stream over computer network and transcode multimedia files. You can use the VLC to play any video or audio file.
Download and installation
For downloading VLC to your computer, you have to point the browser at: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html. You can download with complete peace of mind, as the VLC is reputed to be completely free of any spyware, Ads and other user tracking systems. Once you have downloaded the file, you can install the software on your system by following all the prompts. You will have to reboot the computer for the new software to become completely effective.
Once the software is installed, the VLC icon will appear on the desktop. Double click on it in order to open it and then use the file menu to navigate to the media file that you wish to play. The movie will start playing immediately. For full screen viewing, right-click on the player window and select “Full Screen Mode” from the content menu.
Network streaming
Using VLC as a streaming solution for your media gives you one of the best cross-compatible media sharing set-ups around, especially useful if you have a variety of PCs and operating systems in your household. You can use the VLC to stream to the Internet to take care of your needs while you are away from home. However, in this case you will have to sort out your DNS settings beforehand for a hassle-free connection.
Download videos
One great thing about VLC is that it can also be used as a downloading solution for YouTube videos and some other video sites. To do this you have to go to the YouTube video and copy its URL. After that you have to start VLC on your computer, Click on Media and then go to Open Network Stream. In the box you have to paste the URL and click the Play button in the player.
Now the VLC Media Player will start streaming the video. When you click Tools – Codec Information, at the bottom of the window you will see a Location Box. Copy the long URL in the box and paste it on your browser’s address bar. The browser will now start playing the video file. You can download the video file to your desktop by doing a Save As. You also have the option of recording the video.
Recording from webcam
The VLC software can serve as a versatile tool for recording from the webcam. You can use it to capture your entire video chat session. For this you have to Go to Media – Open Capture Device. The Capture Device screen will open; here you can select the video device and also the audio device like the system microphone. You can configure the recording options by going to the Configure menu. You will get options to specify the Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Saturation (and other) controls.
Playing audio files
You should not forget that VLC can also be used for playing audio files. The software is incorporated with a pretty good graphic equaliser. The newer versions of the VLC provide you with Dynamic Range Compression, which is capable of subduing loud sounds and amplifying quiet sounds by compressing an audio signal’s dynamic range. This kind of system can prove to be really handy if you are living in an apartment.
