Difference between revisions of "Documentation:VLC for dummies"

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{{Languages}}  
 
{{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 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.
  
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== Introduction  ==
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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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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 is 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 will describe the steps to perform the basic steps of using VLC. For more Advanced Users 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.  
 
  
 
== Prerequisites  ==
 
== Prerequisites  ==
  
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*Computer
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To use VLC you need:
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*Audio output hardware (speakers, headphones) for audio playback
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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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*Internet Browser (to download VLC)  
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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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*Internet Connection (to be able browse to that dowload page)
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*Audio output hardware (speakers, headphones) for audio playback.
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*How to browse computer files and folders
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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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*Media&nbsp;(audio,video)&nbsp;files or Disc (optical drive required to play discs)
 
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== Understanding the VLC interface  ==
 
  
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=== Windows  ===
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== The main interface ==
  
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==== System Tray Icon  ====
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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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When you start the VLC media player, the application appears on the screen and a small icon [[Image:Vlc-win-taskbar.png]] appears in the system tray. Clicking once on the icon in the &nbsp;will hide the VLC media player, and clicking on it again will show it again. Hiding the icon does not close the application which continues to run in the background.&nbsp;By simply right clicking on this icon brings up a list of things to do:&nbsp;''stopping''&nbsp;or&nbsp;''pausing playback''&nbsp;or&nbsp;''change track''.'''<br>'''
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[[File:Interface1.png|800px]]
  
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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]] '''Note:''' These screenshots are taken from the MS Windows XP version. On other systems, they might appear slightly different.
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=== Menu bar  ===
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===== Menu bar  =====
 
  
 
[[Image:Menu bar.png|430x22px]]  
 
[[Image:Menu bar.png|430x22px]]  
  
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The menu bar at the top contains commands accessible from the interface.  
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The menu bar at the top contains commands that control VLC.  
  
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===== Track slider  =====
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=== 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 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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Timers on each side show the elapsed time (left) and the total/remaining (right) time.  
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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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'''Note:''' When a media file is streamed (live), the track slider will not move because you are streaming at real time. Unlike a track which will end in a predetermined time.
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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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===== Control buttons  =====
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=== Control buttons  ===
  
 
[[Image:Control buttons.png|285x34px]]  
 
[[Image:Control buttons.png|285x34px]]  
  
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The buttons below the slider help in controlling the playback.  
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The buttons below the slider control the playback.  
  
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From left to right:  
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From left to right they are:  
  
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*Play/Pause  
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*Play/Pause.
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*Previous Media in the Playlist
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*Previous media in the playlist.
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*Stop playback  
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*Stop playback.
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*Next Media in the playlist  
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*Next media in the playlist.
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*Toggle the Video in fullscreen  
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*Toggle fullscreen (video only).
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*Show Extended Settings<br>Audio effects, Video effects, Synchronization  
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*Show extended settings: Audio effects, Video effects and Synchronization.
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*Show playlist  
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*Show playlist.
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*Repeat: toggles between loop all, loop one, no loop (default)  
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*Repeat: toggles among loop all, loop one, no loop (default).
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*Random (Shuffle)<br>Plays the playlist randomly
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*Random: Plays the files in the current playlist in a random order.
  
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===== Volume control  =====
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=== Volume control  ===
  
 
[[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 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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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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== Windows notification area (system tray) icon  ==
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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:
 +
*''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''.
  
 
== Tutorials  ==
 
== Tutorials  ==
  
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=== Tutorial for Microsoft Windows users ===
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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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== See also ==
 +
*[[VLC HowTo]]
 +
*[[Documentation:Play HowTo]]
  
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*Installing VLC
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*[[Common Problems]]
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*Basics of VLC
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*[[Hotkeys]]
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**starting VLC<br> Double click the VLC icon on the desktop or from the start menu: select ''Programs'', select ''VideoLAN'' and select ''VLC media player''.
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**[[How to set global hotkeys]]
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**playing a media file stored in the computer <br>Click on the menu button on the top left of the program and choose one of the first four options, all of the options allow you to play media files. The fourth allows you to play media files directly from CD or DVD.<br>
 
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***Queuing files
 
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**Playing from your optical reader (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray)
 
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**Closing VLC<br> Right-click on the icon in the system tray and select '''Quit''' OR Click the Close[[Image:Close.png|27x29px]] button in the main interface of the application.
 
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*Interface
 
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**elapsed time, remaining time
 
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**volume
 
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**fullscreen
 
  
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== See also  ==
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== External Links ==
 +
*[http://www.videolan.org/support/faq.html F.A.Q.]
 +
*[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help Windows Help and How-to]
 +
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrXPcaRlBqo What is a web browser?]
 +
*[http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCCCDDDC322A8AA82 Video tutorials (selected by Jan)]
  
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*[[QtHotkeys]] (Qt is the default graphical interface)
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{{Languages}}
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*[[Hotkeys table]]
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[[Category:Documentation]]
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*[[How to set global hotkeys]]  
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[[Category:Stubs]]
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*[[Documentation:Play HowTo]]
 

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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