Difference between revisions of "Documentation:VLC for dummies"

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(Unlink File:Icon.png, scaled to 30px. We have {{VLC icon}} that inserts a 22-px image. Why make them different?)
 
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{{Languages}}
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{{Languages}}  
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Thank you for visiting this page to find out what {{VLC}} is all about. '''Please Note''': this page is ''Under Construction'' and might change in the near future.
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VLC media player (or VLC for short) is a FREE and Open Source Software Media Player. Features that make VLC the preferred media player for a lot of people are its excellent support for various Audio and Video codecs, the fact that it's cross platform and the open way of development.
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This page describes the basic use of VLC. See [[Documentation:Play HowTo|VLC Play HowTo]] for a user guide and [[Documentation:Streaming HowTo|VLC Streaming HowTo]] for advanced streaming features.
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== Prerequisites  ==
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To use VLC you need:
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*A computer with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet Internet] access and an internet (web) browser (to [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/#download download VLC]).<br />[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrXPcaRlBqo What is a web browser?]
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*Media (audio or video) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_file files] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_disc Disc] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_disc_drive optical drive] required to play discs).
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*Audio output hardware (speakers, headphones) for audio playback.
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*Knowledge about working with computer files and folders.<br />[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Working-with-files-and-folders Working with files and folders] ([http://windows.microsoft.com MSFT Windows])<br />[http://support.apple.com/kb/PH3725 How to open documents and folders] ([http://www.apple.com/macos/ macOS])<br />[https://help.ubuntu.com/11.10/ubuntu-help/files.html Files, folders & search] ([http://ubuntu.com Ubuntu])
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== The main interface ==
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=== Interface overview ===
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The following picture shows the names of the main controls in the VLC interface:
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[[File:Interface1.png|800px]]
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'''Note:''' This picture corresponds to the Windows XP version. In other systems, VLC might look slightly different.
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=== Menu bar  ===
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[[Image:Menu bar.png|430x22px]]
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The menu bar at the top contains commands that control VLC.
  
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= VLC for dummies =
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=== Track slider  ===
  
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== Introduction ==
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[[Image:Track slider.png|433x16px]]<br> The track slider is on top of the control buttons. It shows the progress of playing of the media file. You can drag the track slider left to rewind or right to forward the track being played.
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Thank you for visiting this page to find out what VLC is about. Please note that this page is in construction and might change in a near future.
 
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VideoLan Client (or VLC for short) is an free and open source software media player. Features that make VLC the preferred media player for a lot of people is its excellent support for various audio and video codecs, the fact that it is cross platform and the open way of development.
 
  
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This page will describe the steps to perform the basic steps of using VLC. For more advanced uses see the [[Documentation:Play HowTo|VLC Play HowTo]] for a complete user guide, or [[Documentation:Streaming HowTo|VLC Streaming HowTo]] for the advanced streaming features that VLC is capable of.
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Two timers at the left and right ends of the track slider show the current playing position (left) and the total time (right) of the current track.
  
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== Understanding the VLC interface (in progress) ==
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'''Note:''' When a media file is streamed (live), the position indicator of the track slider does not move because the total duration of the streaming is not known until it finishes.
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When you start VLC, two things will change on you screen. First there will appear a small icon in your taskbar (note that these screenshots are taken from the MS Windows XP version, on other systems they might appear slightly different):
 
  
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[[Image:Vlc-win-taskbar.png]]
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=== Control buttons  ===
  
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The other, more prominent change to your screen will be the appearance of the main interface:
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[[Image:Control buttons.png|285x34px]]
  
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[[Image:Vlc-en.png]]
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The buttons below the slider control the playback.  
  
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The icon in your taskbar can switch the main interface on or off by left clicking on to it. Also, if you close the main interface by using the close button in the window, you will be able to open the screen again by using the icon in the taskbar. Features like stopping or pausing playback or change track are also possible by right clicking the icon. This will give a popup menu where you can perform your wanted action.
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From left to right they are:
  
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The main interface contains a couple of sections:
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*Play/Pause.
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*Previous media in the playlist.
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*Stop playback.
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*Next media in the playlist.
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*Toggle fullscreen (video only).
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*Show extended settings: Audio effects, Video effects and Synchronization.
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*Show playlist.
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*Repeat: toggles among loop all, loop one, no loop (default).
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*Random: Plays the files in the current playlist in a random order.
  
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'''Menu bar'''
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=== Volume control  ===
  
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The menu bar in the top provides easy access to all features that VLC is capable of.
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[[Image:Volume control.png|104x34px]]
  
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'''Track slider'''
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The volume control is located in the bottom right corner of the window. The small speaker icon is a button that mutes ([[File:Vlc 098a mute on.jpg]]) or un-mutes ([[File:Vlc 098a mute off.jpg|17x17px]]) the sound. The triangle to the right is a slider that shows the current playback volume. Clicking this slider modifies the volume. The playback volume is also displayed as a percentage number on top of this slider.
  
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Just below the menu bar is the track slider. It will progress during playback of a song or video from left to right. When playing a video, the video will be displayed between the menu bar and track slider. When reading a stream the track slider will not progress as VLC can't know how long the stream will take.
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== Windows notification area (system tray) icon  ==
  
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'''Control buttons'''
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When you start VLC media player, the application appears on the screen and a small icon {{VLC icon}} appears in the notification area (system tray). Clicking once this icon will hide VLC, and clicking it again will show it again. Hiding VLC does not close it, it continues to run in the background. Right clicking this icon brings up a menu with the following controls:
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*''Hide/Show VLC media player''.
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*''Play/Pause/Stop playback''.
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*''Switch to Previous/Next track''.
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*''Speed control''.
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*''Increase/Decrease volume''.
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*''Mute''.
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*''Open media''.
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*''Quit''.
  
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Below the slider, to the left of the interface, are the control buttons for play/pause, previous track, stop, next track, fullscreen mode, playlist and extended options.
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== Tutorials  ==
  
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'''Volume control'''
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*[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC|Installing VLC]]
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#Windows|Windows]]
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#macOS|macOS]]
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#Linux|Linux]]
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*[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Interface|Basics of VLC]]
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**Windows
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***[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Interface#Starting_VLC_Media_Player|starting VLC]]<br> Double click the VLC icon {{VLC icon}} on the desktop or from the start menu: select ''Programs'', select ''VideoLAN'' and select ''VLC media player''.
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Open#Play_a_file|Playing media files stored in the computer]]
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***Queuing files<br /> You can queue files by selecting multiple files at a time.
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Open#Play_a_CD.2FDVD.2FVCD|Playing media from your optical reader]] (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray)
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Interface#Stopping_VLC_Media_Player|Closing VLC]]
  
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To the right of the control buttons is the volume control. The small speaker icon is a button to quickly mute or un-mute all sound. The slider to the right of it allows you to modify the volume to louder or softer. The percentage gives the amount of amplification.
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== See also  ==
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*[[VLC HowTo]]
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*[[Documentation:Play HowTo]]
  
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'''Data field'''
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*[[Common Problems]]
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*[[Hotkeys]]
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**[[How to set global hotkeys]]
  
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In the bottom of the window, some additional information, like track name and length of the track, will be displayed for convenience.
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== External Links ==
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*[http://www.videolan.org/support/faq.html F.A.Q.]
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*[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help Windows Help and How-to]
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrXPcaRlBqo What is a web browser?]
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*[http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCCCDDDC322A8AA82 Video tutorials (selected by Jan)]
  
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== Playing a media file (to be written) ==
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{{Languages}}
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Basic steps to play an audio file or movie.
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[[Category:Documentation]]
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[[Category:Stubs]]

Latest revision as of 01:46, 23 March 2019

Languages: English • Deutsch • Nederlands

Thank you for visiting this page to find out what VLC media player is all about. Please Note: this page is Under Construction and might change in the near future.

VLC media player (or VLC for short) is a FREE and Open Source Software Media Player. Features that make VLC the preferred media player for a lot of people are its excellent support for various Audio and Video codecs, the fact that it's cross platform and the open way of development.

This page describes the basic use of VLC. See VLC Play HowTo for a user guide and VLC Streaming HowTo for advanced streaming features.

Prerequisites

To use VLC you need:

The main interface

Interface overview

The following picture shows the names of the main controls in the VLC interface:

Interface1.png

Note: This picture corresponds to the Windows XP version. In other systems, VLC might look slightly different.

Menu bar

Menu bar.png

The menu bar at the top contains commands that control VLC.

Track slider

Track slider.png
The track slider is on top of the control buttons. It shows the progress of playing of the media file. You can drag the track slider left to rewind or right to forward the track being played.

Two timers at the left and right ends of the track slider show the current playing position (left) and the total time (right) of the current track.

Note: When a media file is streamed (live), the position indicator of the track slider does not move because the total duration of the streaming is not known until it finishes.

Control buttons

Control buttons.png

The buttons below the slider control the playback.

From left to right they are:

  • Play/Pause.
  • Previous media in the playlist.
  • Stop playback.
  • Next media in the playlist.
  • Toggle fullscreen (video only).
  • Show extended settings: Audio effects, Video effects and Synchronization.
  • Show playlist.
  • Repeat: toggles among loop all, loop one, no loop (default).
  • Random: Plays the files in the current playlist in a random order.

Volume control

Volume control.png

The volume control is located in the bottom right corner of the window. The small speaker icon is a button that mutes (Vlc 098a mute on.jpg) or un-mutes (Vlc 098a mute off.jpg) the sound. The triangle to the right is a slider that shows the current playback volume. Clicking this slider modifies the volume. The playback volume is also displayed as a percentage number on top of this slider.

Windows notification area (system tray) icon

When you start VLC media player, the application appears on the screen and a small icon LargeVLC.png appears in the notification area (system tray). Clicking once this icon will hide VLC, and clicking it again will show it again. Hiding VLC does not close it, it continues to run in the background. Right clicking this icon brings up a menu with the following controls:

  • Hide/Show VLC media player.
  • Play/Pause/Stop playback.
  • Switch to Previous/Next track.
  • Speed control.
  • Increase/Decrease volume.
  • Mute.
  • Open media.
  • Quit.

Tutorials

See also

External Links

Languages: English • Deutsch • Nederlands
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