Documentation:Advanced Use of VLC

Use the command line

TODO: completely outdated

All standard operations of VLC should be available from the GUI. However, some complex operations can only be done from the command line and there are situations in which you don't need or want a GUI. Here is the complete description of VLC's command line and how to use it.

You need to be quite comfortable with command line usage to use this.

Note: Windows users have to use the --option-name="value" syntax instead of the --option-name value syntax.

Getting help

VLC uses a modular structure. The core mainly manages communication between modules. All the multimedia processing is done by modules. There are input modules, demultiplexers, decoders, video output modules, ...

This chapter will only describe the "general" options, i.e. the core options. Each module adds new options. For example, the HTTP input module will add options for caching, proxy, authentication, ...

By using vlc --help, you will get the basic core options. vlc --longhelp will give all the basic options (core + modules). Adding --advanced will give the "advanced options" (for advanced users). So vlc --longhelp --advanced will give you all options. You can also append --help-verbose if you want more detailed help.

Also, you might want to get debug informations. To do this, use -v or -vv (this will show lower severity messages). If your console supports it, you can add --color to get messages in color.

Opening streams

The following commands start VLC and start reading the given element(s):

Opening a file

Start VLC with:

% vlc my_file

VLC should be able to recognize the file type. If it does not, you can force demultiplexer and decoder (see below).

A list of all video and audio codecs supported by VLC is available on the VLC features list.

Opening a DVD or VCD, or an audio CD

Start VLC with:

For a DVD with menus:

% vlc dvd://[device][@raw_device][@[title][:[chapter][:angle]]]

In most cases, vlc dvd:// or vlc dvd://[device] will do. [device] is for example /dev/dvd on GNU/Linux or D: on Windows (complete path to your DVD drive).

or

(DVD without menus):

% vlc dvdsimple://[device][@raw_device][@[title][:[chapter][:angle]]]

or

(VCD):

% vlc vcd://[device][@{E|P|E|T|S}[number]]

or

(Audio CD):

% vlc cdda://[device][@[track]]

Receiving a network stream

To receive an unicast RTP/UDP stream (sent by VLC's stream output), start VLC with:

% vlc  rtp://@:5004

If 5004 is the port to which packets are sent. 1234 is another commonly used port number. you use the default port (1234), vlc rtp:// will do. For more information, look at the Streaming Howto.

To receive an multicast UDP/RTP stream (sent by VLC's stream output), start VLC with:

% vlc rtp://@multicast_address:port

To receive a SSM (source specific multicast) stream, you can use:

% vlc rtp://server_address@multicast_address:port

This only works on OSs that support SSM (Windows XP and Linux).

To receive a HTTP stream, start VLC with:

% vlc http://www.example.org/your_file.mpg

To receive a RTSP stream, start VLC with:</para>

% vlc rtsp://www.example.org/your_stream

Modules selection

VLC always tries to select the most appropriate interface, input and output modules, among the ones available on the system, according to the stream it is given to read. However, you may wish to force the use of a specific module with the following options.

• --intf <module> allows you to select the interface module.
• --extraintf <module> allows you to select extra interface modules that will be launched in addition to the main one. This is mainly useful for special control interfaces, like HTTP, RC (Remote Control), ... (see below)
• --aout <module> allows you to select the audio output module.
• --vout <module> allows you to select the video output module.
• --memcpy <module> allows you to choose a memory copy module. You should probably never touch that.

You can get a listing of the available modules by using vlc -l

Stream Output

The Stream output system allows vlc to become a streaming server.

For more details on the stream output system, please have a look at the Streaming HowTo.

Other Options

Audio options

• --noaudio disables audio output. Note that if you are streaming (ex: to a file) this has no effect (streaming copies the audio verbatim). Use --sout-xxx instead (ex: --no-sout-audio)
• --mono forces VLC to treat the stream in mono audio.
• --volume <integer> sets the level of audio output (between 0 and 1024). Also only applies to local playback (like --noaudio).
• --aout-rate <integer> sets the audio output frequency (Hz). By default, VLC will try to autodetect this.
• --desync <integer> compensates desynchronization of audio (ms). (If audio and video streams are not synchronized, use this setting to delay the audio stream)
• --audio-filter <string> adds audio filters to the processing chain. Available filters are visual (visualizer with spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope), headphone (virtual headphone patialization) and normalizer (volume normalizer)

Video options

• --no-video disables video output.
• --grayscale turns video output into grayscale mode.
• --fullscreen ( or -f) sets fullscreen video.
• --nooverlay disables hardware acceleration for the video output.
• --width, --height <integer> sets the video window dimensions. By default, the video window size will be adjusted to match the video dimensions.
• --start-time <integer> starts the video here; the integer is the number of seconds from the beginning (e.g. 1:30 is written as 90)
• --stop-time <integer> stops the video here; the integer is the number of seconds from the beginning (e.g. 1:30 is written as 90)
• --zoom <float> adds a zoom factor.
• --aspect-ratio <mode> forces source aspect ratio. Modes are 4x3, 16x9, ...
• --spumargin <integer> forces SPU subtitles postion.
• --video-filter <string> adds video filters to the processing chain. You can add several filters, separated by commas
• --sub-filter <string> adds video subpictures filter to the processing chain.

Desktop/Screen grab options

You can see the various options for "grabbing the desktop" (VLC's built-in screen grabber capture device) by using the GUI. See http://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=46971

Playlist options

• --random plays files randomly forever.
• --loop loops playlist on end.
• --repeat repeats current item until another item is forced
• --play-and-stop stops the playlist after each played item.

Network options

• --server-port <integer> sets server port.
• --iface <string> specifies the network interface to use.
• --iface-addr <string> specifies your network interface IP address.
• --mtu <integer> specifies the MTU of the network interface.
• --ipv6 forces IPv6.
• --ipv4 forces IPv4.

CPU options

You should probably not touch these options unless you know what you are doing.

• --nommx disables the use of MMX CPU extensions.
• --no3dn disables the use of 3D Now! CPU extensions.
• --nommxext disables the use of MMX Ext CPU extensions.
• --nosse disables the use of SSE CPU extensions.
• --noaltivec disables the use of Altivec CPU extensions.

Miscellaneous options

• --quiet deactivates all console messages.
• --color displays color messages.
• --search-path <string> specifies interface default search path.
• --plugin-path <string> specifies plugin search path.
• --no-plugins-cache disables the plugin cache (plugins cache speeds up startup)
• --dvd <string> specifies the default DVD device.
• --vcd <string> specifies the default VCD device.
• --program <integer> specifies program (SID) (for streams with several programs, like satellite ones).
• --audio-type <integer> specifies the default audio type to use with dvds.
• --audio-channel <integer> specifies the default audio channel to use with dvds.
• --spu-channel <integer> specifies the default subtitle channel to use with dvds.
• --version gives you information about the current VLC version.
• --module <module> displays help about specified module. (Shortcut: -p)

Item-specific options

There are many options that are related to items (like --novideo, --codec, --fullscreen).

For all of these, you have the possibility to make them item-specific, using ":" instead of "--" and putting the option just after the concerned item.

Examples:

% vlc file1.mpg :fullscreen file2.mpg

will play file1.mpg in fullscreen mode and file2.mpg in the default mode (which is generally no fullscreen), whereas

% vlc --fullscreen file1.mpg file2.mpg

will play both files in fullscreen mode

% vlc --fullscreen file1.mpg :sub-file=file1.srt :no-fullscreen file2.mpg :filter=distort

will play file1.mpg in windowed (no-fullscreen) mode with the subtitles file file1.srt and will play file2.mpg with video filter distort enabled in fullscreen mode (item-specific options override global options).

Advanced use of filters

Filters

These are the old style VLC filters. They only apply to on screen display and thus cannot be streamed. However, on version 1.1.11 you are still able to apply these filters in transcode module using parameter vfilter. More information can be found on Advanced Streaming Using the Command Line.

Deinterlacing video filter

Module name: deinterlace

• --deinterlace-mode {discard,blend,mean,bob,linear,x,yadif,yadif (2x),phosophor,ivtc} choose a deinterlacing mode.

Invert video filter

Module name: invert

Image properties filter

Module name: adjust

• --contrast <float> Image contrast in the 0-2 range.
• --brightness <float> Image brightness in the 0-2 range.
• --hue <integer> Image hue in the 0-360 range.
• --saturation <float> Image saturation in the 0-3 range.
• -gamma <float> Image gamma in the 0-10 range.

Wall video filter

Module name: wall

This filter splits the output in several windows.

• --wall-cols <integer> Number of columns.
• --wall-rows <integer> Number of rows.
• --wall-active <string> Select the windows you want to display. To select windows 2 and 4 you would write --wall-active 2,4. When this option isn't specified, all windows are displayed.

Video transformation filter

Module name: transform

• --transform-type {90,180,270,hflip,vflip} Select rotation angle or symmetry.

Distort video filter

Module name: distort

Clone video filter

This filter clones the output window.

Module name: clone

• --clone-count <integer> Number of clones.
• --clone-vout-list <string> Comma separated string of video output modules.

Crop video filter

Module name: crop

• --crop-geometry <string> Set the geometry of the zone to crop. This is set as <width> x <height> + <left offset> + <top offset>.
• --autocrop Enable automatic black border cropping.

Motion blur filter

Module name: motionblur

• blur-factor <integer> Blur factor in the 1-127 range.

Video pictures blending

Module name: blend

Video scaling filter

Module name: scale

Subpictures Filters

These are the new VLC filters. They can be streamed.

Time display sub filter

Module name: time

• --time-format <string> Time format string. You can use the following special characters %Y = year, %m = month, %d = day, %H = hour, %M = minute, %S = second.
• --time-x <integer> X offset from the left in pixels.
• --time-y <integer> Y offset from the top in pixels.

Marquee display sub filter

Module name: marq

• --marq-marquee <string> Marquee text to display.
• --marq-x <integer> X offset from the left in pixels.
• --marq-y <integer> Y offset from the top in pixels.
• --marq-timeout <timeout> Defines the time the marquee must remain displayed in milliseconds. Default value is 0 (remain forever).

Logo video filter

Module name: logo

This filter can be used both as an old style filter or a subpictures filter.

• --logo-file <string> Full path of the PNG file to use.
• --logo-x <integer> X offset from the left in pixels.
• --logo-y <integer> Y offset from the top in pixels.
• --logo-transparency <integer> You can set the logo transparency value here (from 0 for full transparency to 255 for full opacity).

Note: You can move the logo by left-clicking on it.

The HTTP interface

VLC ships with a little HTTP server integrated. It is used both to stream using HTTP, and for the HTTP remote control interface.

To start VLC with the HTTP interface, use:

% vlc -I http [--http-src /directory/] [--http-host host:port]

If you want to have both the "normal" interface and the HTTP interface, use vlc --extraintf http.

The HTTP interface will start listening at host:port (<all interfaces>:8080 if omitted), and will reproduce the structure of /directory at http://host:port/ ( vlc_source_path/share/http if omitted ).

Use a browser to go to http://your_host_machine:port. You should be taken to the main page.

VLC is shipped with a set of files that should be enough for generic needs. It is also possible to customize pages. See Documentation:Play HowTo/Building Pages for the HTTP Interface.

Available pages for 1.0.3 :

• http://host:port - Main Interface
• http://host:port/vlm.html - VLM Interface
• http://host:port/mosaic.html - Mosaic Wizard
• http://host:port/flash.html - Flash based remote playback

ADDENDUM - HTTP COMMAND LIST

COMMANDS WHICH MAY BE USED OVER THE HTTP REMOTE-CONTROL PORT

There is a fulsome set of remote-control commands for VLC which are for some reason not documented on the site - hence I have added them here. This seems the most convenient and reliable interface for developers to use. The commands ARE listed - but the list is tucked away in a README file, in the http subfolder of the little HTTP server under the VLC executables folder.

How the Commands & Status Queries Work

The commands below are all applied by submitting an HTTP-GET for one of the xml files stored in the VLC http/requests folder. For example, VLC will report back the current playlist when you submit a URL of the form

 http://127.0.0.1:9090/requests/playlist.xml     (that is for a VLC which was started, listening on port 9090). 

Similarly,

 http://127.0.0.1:9090/requests/status.xml

will report back the player status. Commands TO the player are sent by appending a trailing command parameter (following a '?' separator) to this latter status query command.

A few examples:

SHOW CURRENT PLAYLIST:

 http://127.0.0.1:9090/requests/playlist.xml

SHOW STATUS:

 http://127.0.0.1:9090/requests/status.xml

STOP

 http://127.0.0.1:9090/requests/status.xml?command=pl_stop

CLEAR PLAYLIST

 http://127.0.0.1:9090/requests/status.xml?command=pl_empty

PLAY AN RTSP STREAM URL:

 http://127.0.0.1:9090/requests/status.xml?command=in_play&input=rtsp://user:pass@somewebcameraaddress.com:9552/cam1/mpeg4

By the bye: to start VLC's control HTTPD service on a specific port, use the syntax

 vlc --intf http --http-host 10.1.1.156:9090

HERE IS the FULL http-remote-control command list (as listed in README.txt in the VLC http subfolder) :-

Commands available through the requests/ path:

Lines starting with < describe what the page sends back

Lines starting with > describe what you can send to the page

All parameters need to be URL encoded. Examples:

# -> %23
% -> %25
+ -> %2B
space -> +
...

status.xml:

< Get VLC status information, current item info and meta.

> add <mrl> to playlist and start playback:

 ?command=in_play&input=<mrl>

> add <mrl> to playlist:

 ?command=in_enqueue&input=<mrl>

> play playlist item <id>:

 ?command=pl_play&id=<id>

NB: ?command=pl_play also works (no ID needed).

> toggle pause. If current state was 'stop', play item <id>:

 ?command=pl_pause&id=<id>

NB: ?command=pl_pause NB: seems largely ignored ? stream often continues. (May depend on whether camera obeys pause command - NB this command may only cause a PAUSE to be sent out to the video stream source, so result will depend on whether source obeys.)

> stop playback:

 ?command=pl_stop
                           NB:   seems not to clear the playlist.    If in doubt clear the playlist and reload to start.

> jump to next item:

 ?command=pl_next

> jump to previous item:

 ?command=pl_previous

> delete item <id> from playlist:

 ?command=pl_delete&id=<id>

> empty playlist:

 ?command=pl_empty

> sort playlist using sort mode <val> and order <id>:

 ?command=pl_sort&id=<id>&val=<val>
 If id=0 then items will be sorted in normal order, if id=1 they will be
 sorted in reverse order
 A non exhaustive list of sort modes:
   0 Id
   1 Name
   3 Author
   5 Random
   7 Track number

> toggle random playback:

 ?command=pl_random

> toggle loop:

 ?command=pl_loop

> toggle repeat:

 ?command=pl_repeat

> toggle enable service discovery module <val>:

 ?command=pl_sd&val=<val>
 Typical values are:
   sap
   shoutcast
   podcast
   hal

> toggle fullscreen:

 ?command=fullscreen

> set volume level to <val> (can be absolute integer, percent or +/- relative value):

 ?command=volume&val=<val>
 Allowed values are of the form:
   +<int>, -<int>, <int> or <int>%

> seek to <val>:

 ?command=seek&val=<val>
 Allowed values are of the form:
   [+ or -][<int><H or h>:][<int><M or m or '>:][<int><nothing or S or s or ">]
   or [+ or -]<int>%
   (value between [ ] are optional, value between < > are mandatory)
 examples:
   1000 -> seek to the 1000th second
   +1H:2M -> seek 1 hour and 2 minutes forward
   -10% -> seek 10% back

playlist.xml:

< get the full playlist tree

browse.xml:

< ?dir=<dir>

> get <dir>'s filelist

vlm.xml:

< get the full list of VLM elements

vlm_cmd.xml:

< execute VLM command <cmd>

 ?command=<cmd>

> get the error message from <cmd>

Other control interfaces

VLC includes a number of so-called interfaces that are not really interfaces, but means of controlling VLC. Nevertheless, they are enabled by setting them as interface or extra interface, either in the Preferences, in General/Interface, or using -I or --extraintf on the command line.

Hotkeys

This module allows you to control VLC and playback via hotkeys. It is always enabled by default. You can use hotkeys in the video output window, you can't in the audio dummy interface.

Hotkeys can be hacked by:

% vlc --key-<function> <code>

Code is composed by modifiers keys (Alt, Shift, Ctrl, Meta,Command) separated by a dash (-) and terminated by a key (a...z, +, =, -, ',', +, <, >, `, /, ;, ', \, [, ], *, Left, Right, Up, Down, Space, Enter, F1...F12, Home, End, Menu, Esc, Page Up, Page Down, Tab, Backspace, Mouse Wheel Up and Mouse Wheel Down). Main controls are available from hotkeys, such as : fullscreen, play-pause, faster, slower, next, prev, stop, quit, vol-up, etc. (use the --longhelp option for full list of functions). For example, for binding fullscreen to Ctrl-f, run:

% vlc --key-fullscreen 'Ctrl-f' 

The list of the default hotkeys is available here.

RC and RTCI

These two interfaces allow you to control VLC from a command shell (possibly using a remote connexion or a Unix socket).

Start VLC with -I rc or --extraintf rc. When you get the Remote control interface initialized, `h' for help message, press h and Enter to get help about available commands.

To be able to remote connect to your VLC using a TCP socket (telnet-like connexion), use --rc-host your_host:port. Then, by connecting (using telnet or netcat) to the host on the given port, you will get the command shell.

To use a UNIX socket (local socket, this does not work for Windows), use --rc-unix /path/to/socket. Commands can then be passed using this UNIX socket.

The RTCI interface gives you more advanced options, such as marquee control for the marquee subpicture filter (See filter section).

Ncurses

This is a text interface, using ncurses library.

Start VLC with -I ncurses or --extraintf ncurses. You will then get something like that:

The ncurses interface

Press h to get the list of all available commands, with a short description.

There is also a filebrowser available for the ncurses interface in order to add playlist items. Press 'B' to use it.

The ncurses filebrowser

You can set the filebrowser starting point by launching vlc with the --browse-dir option:

% vlc -I ncurses --browse-dir /filebrowser/starting/point/

Gestures

Gestures provide a simple mouse gestures control. TODO

The Mozilla plugin

VLC can also be embedded in a web browser! The following browsers are supported Mozilla, Firefox and Safari.

Install the plugin

GNU/Linux Debian, Ubuntu, etc.

Install the mozilla-plugin-vlc package using your preferred package manager. For example, at the command line enter:

# apt-get update
# apt-get install mozilla-plugin-vlc

Windows

Quit Firefox or Mozilla.

Select the Mozilla Plugin option when installing VLC Media Player. The installer will then automatically detect your browser and install the plugin.

Restart Firefox or Mozilla.

MacOS X

The Mozilla/Safari plugin for MacOS X is only available from vlc version 0.8.5.1 and onwards.

Quit Safari browser.

Download the Mozilla/safari plugin package from MacOS X download page.

Run the installer from the dmg image.

Compile the sources yourself

Please look at the developers page for information on how to do this.

Use the Mozilla plugin

If in the browser you open a link to an audio or video URL handled by the VLC plugin, or if a web page has HTML code that embeds audio or video handled by the VLC plugin, then the plugin should start and play the audio/video. Note the plugin (as of version 1.1.9) does not present any user interface — it has no default control panel and no keyboard shortcuts.

To get the list of the media types handled by the VLC plugin, browse to about:plugins. Conflicts will arise if you have more than one plugin installed that supports the same media type.

See the Web plugin documentation to create HTML pages that use JavaScript to control the plugin.

This page is part of official VLC media player Documentation (User Guide • Streaming HowTo • Hacker Guide • Modules)
Please read the Documentation Editing Guidelines before you edit the documentation

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Snapshot Tool

Did you know you can use special codes to automatically generate filenames in the Snaphot Tool?

Specifying Streaming Options

The dialog will show various option to set the output to stream.

First there is an input text called Source, where you'll find your media path and the its type.

If you'll click on Destination you'll see the destination of stream that could be: File, HTTP, MS-WSMP, RTSP, RTP/MPG, RTP, Audio/Video, UDP and Icecast.

File:Stream-destination.png

You can abilitate Transcoding to transcode your video to one in the list or in a one you can specify by clicking on the proper icon.

Last you have the option of stream you'll share.

By clicking stream it will return to VLC main user interface and the playbar will scroll as the video will play.

Audio Bar Graph over Video

This section specifies how to enable the audiobargraph audio filter and video overlay, (mostly) via the GUI. This displays an audio meter overlaid on the video.

There are three parts - an audio filter, which sends it's output via TCP to the Remote Control (RC) Interface. This information is then picked up and displayed by the Audio Bar Graph video subpicture filter (OSD).

To enable this, VLC needs to be started with the --rc-host command-line switch - e.g.

"C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --rc-host localhost:12345

In the GUI, set the following (this example from VLC v1.1.9 on Windows 7):

• Preferences:Show settings:All
• Audio/Filters > Enable "Audio part of the BarGraph function"
• Audio/Filters/audiobargraph > use defaults, change "Sends the barGraph information every n audio packets" to 1 to enable see a more accurate display
• Interface/Main interfaces > Enable "Remote control interface"
• Interface/Main interfaces/RC > Enable "Do not open a DOS command box interface"
• Video/Subtitles-OSD > Enable "Audio Bar Graph Video sub filter"
• Video/Subtitles-OSD/Audio Bar Graph > Set the following settings:
  • "Value of the audio channels levels" = 0 (setting this to 0:1 crashes VLC v1.1.9)
  • "X coordinate" = 0
  • "Y coordinate" = 0 (this doesn't seem to affect anything)
  • "Transparency of the bargraph" = 128 for 50% transparency which looks ok
  • "Bargraph position" = Left (seems to only work Left,Center,Right - can't go top or bottom)
  • "Alarm" = 1 (enables the silence alarm - puts a red border around the bargraph if silent for too long)
  • "Bar width in pixel" = 10 (20 if you want it to be really visible)