Difference between revisions of "Documentation:VLC for dummies"

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(Completed the list of controls shown in the system tray icon menu)
(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}}  
 
{{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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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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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 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.  
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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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*Computer with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet Internet] access
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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 (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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*You know how to work 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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*Audio output hardware (speakers, headphones) for audio playback.
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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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*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])
 +
 
 +
== The main interface ==
  
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== Understanding the VLC interface  ==
 
 
=== Interface overview ===
 
=== Interface overview ===
 +
The following picture shows the names of the main controls in the VLC interface:
 +
 
[[File:Interface1.png|800px]]
 
[[File:Interface1.png|800px]]
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=== Windows notification area (system tray) Icon  ===
 
−
 
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When you start the 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 the VLC media player, and clicking it again will show it again. Hiding the icon does not close the application, which 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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=== The main interface of VLC media player  ===
 
  
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[[Image:Interface 2.0.png|Windows 2.0 GUI|frame|c|none|'''Note:''' These screenshots are taken from the MS Windows XP version. On other systems, they might appear slightly different.]] 
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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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=== 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 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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Timers on each side show the elapsed time (left) and the total time (right).  
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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 does not move because the streaming happens in real time, unlike a track, that ends 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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*Show extended settings: Audio effects, Video effects and Synchronization.
 
*Show extended settings: Audio effects, Video effects and Synchronization.
 
*Show playlist.
 
*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): 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 that mutes ([[File:Vlc 098a mute on.jpg]]) or un-mutes ([[File:Vlc 098a mute off.jpg|17x17px]]) all sound. The slider to the right modifies the volume. The percentage number is the amount of volume 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.
 +
 
 +
== 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  ==
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*[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC|Installing VLC]]
 
*[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC|Installing VLC]]
 
**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#Windows|Windows]]
 
**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#Windows|Windows]]
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#Mac_OS_X|Mac OS X]]
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**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#macOS|macOS]]
 
**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#Linux|Linux]]
 
**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Installing_VLC#Linux|Linux]]
 
*[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Interface|Basics of VLC]]
 
*[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Interface|Basics of VLC]]
 
**Windows
 
**Windows
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***[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Interface#Starting_VLC_Media_Player|starting VLC]]<br> Double click the VLC icon [[File:Icon.png|32px]] 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/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''.  
 
**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Open#Play_a_file|Playing media files stored in the computer]]
 
**[[Documentation:Play_HowTo/Basic_Use/Open#Play_a_file|Playing media files stored in the computer]]
 
***Queuing files<br /> You can queue files by selecting multiple files at a time.
 
***Queuing files<br /> You can queue files by selecting multiple files at a time.
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*[[Common Problems]]
 
*[[Common Problems]]
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*Hotkeys
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*[[Hotkeys]]
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**[[QtHotkeys]] (Qt is the default graphical interface)
 
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**[[Hotkeys table]]  
 
 
**[[How to set global hotkeys]]
 
**[[How to set global hotkeys]]
  
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{{Languages}}
 
{{Languages}}
 
[[Category:Documentation]]
 
[[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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