7 Top Secret Features of Free VLC Media Player

A few months ago, VLC Media Player got support for Chromecast and 360-degree video views. It's just another small notch in the popularity of the open source player that can handle anything you throw at it (as long as it's a media file!).

The Windows version of the player is closing in on 50 million downloads, and that's discounting all other platforms it can be installed on. Perhaps the secret to its longevity is the modular design that gives it a rich set of features. Today, let's focus on the few “secret” features under the hood that you can use every day.

1. Use VLC as a video downloader for YouTube

There are several free downloaders available for YouTube. But, VLC has this feature built in. Although it is not a one click downloader and you will have to take the help of your browser.

1. Click on Media> Open Network Transmission .
   
2. Paste the YouTube URL and click the Play button on the player.
   
3. VLC Media Player starts streaming the video. Now, click Tools> Codec Information and at the bottom of the window you will see a Location cash register.
   
4. Copy the long URL in the box and paste it into your browser's address bar. The browser will start playing the video file. You can download the video file to your desktop by doing a Save video as With a right click on the video. Or you can choose to record the video.

2. Convert videos to any format

Downloading a video is often the first part. Converting that video so you can play it on a device of your choice is the second part. VLC Player can do this too.

1. From the toolbar, click Media> Convert / Save .
   
2. In the Open Media dialog box, click the Add button and choose the media file for conversion. Then click the Convert / Save >Convert dropdown .
   
3. Open the dropdown menu for Profile and select the file format you want to convert your file to. You can also click the gear icon next to it and edit your chosen profile.
   
4. Click Browse and select a location to save the converted file. Then click start to start the conversion and monitor its progress in the bar below.

3. VLC as a graphic equalizer for your music

You may be using VLC only as a video player, but VLC is also a cross-platform standalone media player and it comes with full audio effects with playlist support. VLC doesn't just display the cover, it also has a pretty cool graphic equalizer hidden inside it.

Show with shortcut keys Ctrl + E (or go to Tools> Effects and Filters> Audio Effects ). Adjust the sound quality with the available presets, or fine-tune it with the Matched , Compressor , and Spatializer Tabs .

4. Turn on audio normalization to protect your hearing

General audio settings for the VideoLan player are found in Preferences. One of the key features called Audio Normalization helps to optimize the volume of any media by a fixed amount and improve sound quality.

Go to Tools> Preferences> Audio> Enable Normalize volume to . The value you set here will help adjust the decibel levels of dialogue, music, explosions, gunshots, etc. in the movies you see. Please restart VLC after enabling the setting.

In fact, set it right after downloading and installing VLC player. It will make your audio sound better Want to make your audio sound even better? Here are 5 top tips Want to make your audio sound even better? Here are 5 top tips When you're recording and editing your own audio, chances are you want the output to sound as good as possible. Here are five top tips that will help. Read more.

5. Play Internet Radio and Podcasts on VLC

One of VLC's underutilized features might be its ability to find and play Internet radio. VLC Player can satisfy all your audio needs as it can not only stream radio but also play podcasts.

1. Launch VLC and open the Playlist sidebar.
2. Under Internet , You can browse through the two radio servers-Jamendo and Icecast -and choose a station of your choice by clicking on it. Also, make sure the Playlist view mode is set to List (Go to View> Playlist View Mode> List ).
   
3. If your favorite internet radio station is not listed, use the station's URL to stream it through VLC. Go Media>Open Network Stream... Enter the URL and press Play to start listening.

And to play podcasts in VLC:

1. You can manage your favorite podcasts through the same playlist interface.
2. Go Playlist and in the Internet section, select Podcasts .
3. As soon as your cursor is over the Podcasts section, click the plus sign.
4. Copy and paste the RSS feed URL of the podcast you want to listen to and click OK . The podcast will be added to the sidebar and you can choose the episode you want to listen to.

6. Loop a section of a video or audio file

Most media players can play a full video or soundtrack. With VLC, you have the added benefit of looping through any specific section of a media file.

1. Open the video or audio file with VLC. Go View> Advanced Controls .
2. Now, a few more buttons will be displayed above the normal play and stop controls.
   
3. To start the loop from a specific part of the video, move the playhead to the part where you want the loop to start (Point A ).
4. Click the loop button once. The “A” mark on the button will turn red. To end the loop, bring the video to the end point and click the same button again. You will see that both points A and B of the button are red.
   
5. Now play the video and the section will repeat. Click the loop button one more time if you want to disable it.

This is a useful feature when you want to review an instructional video or listen to an audio file over and over to get it right. I often use this feature to study Photoshop tutorial videos.

7. Add features with VLC plugins and extensions

For everyday use, the default VLC feature pack may be enough. But if you're looking for extra functionality, there's a whole catalog of plugins you can install at the same time. Remember, VLC has a large open source community behind it and they've helped create extensions, skins, playlist analyzers, and assorted other tools.

These extensions will help you add more. “secret” features for the player like tools that will help you search for subtitles from the player. Extensions can also work on macOS and Linux, so double-click the instructions on the plugin page.

1. Visit the VLC Addons page and browse the two views-Top or Last .
2. Click the Download on the plugins page and download the ZIP file. Extract the file. (VLC plugins have the LUA extension.)
3. On Windows, put the .lua files in this Windows directory:

   C: \ Users \ NAME \ AppData \ Roaming \ vlc \ lua \ extensions carpeta.

4. Restart VLC. You can access all your installed extensions from the View menu.

Some of the best extensions to consider include:

• VLCSub
• Resume Media
• Moment tracker
• Introduction and Skipper Credits
• TuneInRadio
• Information Tracker
• SyncPlay

VLC is full of cool tricks

If you know these features, VLC hides some secrets from you. Now flex your muscles and explore the more advanced possibilities of this fantastic player that has stood the test of time. Maybe Create a Streaming Media Server for Your Home How to Create a Linux VLC Streaming Media Server for Your Home How to Create a Linux VLC Streaming Media Server for Your Home Enjoy music or movies via Netflix or YouTube is great, but what happens when the Internet is down? With a VLC media server, you'll never have to go without entertainment again. Read More Now you can watch that movie on your tablet in bed or listen to your music collection in another room. Read more.