Difference between revisions of "Documentation:VLC for dummies"

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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.  
 
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 the [[Documentation:Play HowTo|VLC Play HowTo]] for a complete user guide, or the [[Documentation:Streaming HowTo|VLC Streaming HowTo]] for advanced streaming features.  
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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.  
  
 
== Prerequisites  ==
 
== Prerequisites  ==
  
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*A computer with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet Internet] access.
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To use VLC you need:
 +
*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?]
 +
*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).
 
*Audio output hardware (speakers, headphones) for audio playback.
 
*Audio output hardware (speakers, headphones) for audio playback.
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*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?]
 
 
*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/osx/ Mac OS X])<br />[https://help.ubuntu.com/11.10/ubuntu-help/files.html Files, folders & search] ([http://ubuntu.com Ubuntu])
 
*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/osx/ Mac OS X])<br />[https://help.ubuntu.com/11.10/ubuntu-help/files.html Files, folders & search] ([http://ubuntu.com Ubuntu])
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*Media (audio, 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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== Interface overview ==
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== The main interface ==
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[[File:Interface1.png|800px]]
 
  
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== Windows notification area (system tray) icon  ==
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=== Interface overview ===
 +
The following picture shows the names of the main controls in the VLC interface:
  
−
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:
+
[[File:Interface1.png|800px]]
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*''Hide/Show VLC media player''.
 
−
*''Play/Pause/Stop playback''.
 
−
*''Switch to Previous/Next track''.
 
−
*''Speed control''.
 
−
*''Increase/Decrease volume''.
 
−
*''Mute''.
 
−
*''Open media''.
 
−
*''Quit''.
 
  
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== The main interface of VLC media player  ==
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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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[[Image:Interface 2.0.png|Windows 2.0 GUI|frame|c|none|'''Note:''' This screenshots is from the Windows XP version. In other systems, VLC might look slightly different.]] 
 
  
 
=== Menu bar  ===
 
=== Menu bar  ===
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=== Track slider  ===
 
=== Track slider  ===
  
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[[Image:Track slider.png|433x16px]]<br> The track slider is below the menu bar. 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. When a video file is played, the video appears between the menu bar and the track slider.  
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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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Two timers at the left and righ ends of the track slider show the current playing position (left) and the total time (right) of the current media.
+
Two timers at the left and righ 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.
 
'''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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[[Image:Volume control.png|104x34px]]  
 
[[Image:Volume control.png|104x34px]]  
  
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To the right of the control buttons is the volume control. 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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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.
 +
 
 +
== Windows notification area (system tray) icon  ==
 +
 
 +
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:
 +
*''Hide/Show VLC media player''.
 +
*''Play/Pause/Stop playback''.
 +
*''Switch to Previous/Next track''.
 +
*''Speed control''.
 +
*''Increase/Decrease volume''.
 +
*''Mute''.
 +
*''Open media''.
 +
*''Quit''.
  
 
== Tutorials  ==
 
== Tutorials  ==

Revision as of 15:51, 19 March 2013

Languages: English • Deutsch • Nederlands

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.

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 righ 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 between 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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