VLC Media Player, play everything anywhere

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VLC media player is a free cross-platform media player for various audio and video formats available today. VLC media player support streaming protocols and also can be a streaming sever with Ipv6 support. VLC comes with built-in support for most of the video and audio codec as well. In other terms, VLC media player can play any format, play any codec, play any media and stream any protocol from any platform (Windows, MAC, Linux)

VLC Media PlayerI discovered VLC media player few years back when I was researching for an alternative player to play my media file that refused to play in most popular players. VLC Media Player alone helped me that situation. I didn’t have to install any extra codec to play the media file. I believe everyone here might have already discovered VLC player. If not, make sure you give a try today. VLC Media player can be downloaded from VideoLAN VLC Homepage.

Another main feature I love with VLC player is the ability to play any broken media file (say partially downloaded file). I use this feature to preview the media before downloading the entire content and save my effort 🙂

Few Interesting Facts about VLC Media Player

Here are few interesting facts I found about VLC Media Player.

  • VLC (VideoLAN Client) was initially client for Video LAN project; Later they combined both server and client into VLC media player.
  • Google’s Video search uses browser plugin based on VLC player.
  • Democracy Player, an Internet player uses VLC media player as a back-end on Windows
  • The code name of VLC Media player is based on character name from the movie golden eye
  • There are bunch of project that uses VLC; see complete list here.
  • VideoLAN enhancement projects are featured in Google Code.

VLC Media Player Screenshot

Key Features

  • Play Anything – As said this is the main feature of this player you can play whatever you want. Be it any format or any codec no bar; they got to play in VLC. They have ability to read disk images (iso) and play directly.
  • Simple – It can be used by any novice without any hitch.
  • Network Streaming – It can stream internet video over HTTP, UTP protocol more over it support IPv6.
  • Steaming Server – you can broadcast video using unicast or mutlicast in high bandwidth network.
  • Equalizer -VLC has an equalizer for both audio and image.
  • Filters -VLC comes in with dozens of audio and video filter that you can apply to alter the output.
  • Skins – This is not much attractive, but yes you can change the default skins.
  • Portability – This works with all operating system, which include Windows, MAC, Linux, BEOS, Win CE. etc. The latest version is compatible with Windows VISTA as well.

Possible Improvements

I have couple of suggestions probably here for VLC Player. VLC also doesn’t have support for real format, which they can add in feature version.

1. Interface
Sadly, this needs some serious attention. They have easy to use interface though their interface and not that attractive. They have skin support but it is not effective too.

2. Playlist
VLC provides you the ability to manage your play list. I think that can be improved a bit to allow option to effectively manage and have some tagging and rating features. Also the play list is not integrated well with the main area.

3. Real Format support
Unfortunately, VLC player doesn’t have support to Real format till now. It would be great if they add support to them as well. Thanks to CyBer$|x for pointing this out.

Other than this I really don’t see much on improvement track. VLC almost rocks already!

Bottom line, VLC Media Player might not be my favorite media player but I use it really extensively.

Have you tried VLC? Share your experience with VLC.

Update : Haris has compiled a list of best skins for VLC player. Deepak has his own list of beautiful skins.

62 thoughts on “VLC Media Player, play everything anywhere”

  3. benedict herold

    Mayank – Thank you. you’re always nice and generous 🙂

    CyBer$|x – Ooch, you got me… Well I really forgot to tell about that… It doesn’t support real format till now. I missed that previously, I have added it in Improvement section. Thank you.

  4. Ken Xu

    Nice Post, Benedict! Stumbled! 🙂
    I also use VLC a lot! Introduced by my Australia Friend around 1 year ago. He Told me that VLC can play any Media format except the .Real format. At first, I don’t believe what he was saying. But when I try to use it, I was totally fall in love with it!

    Before using VLC, i use the Mega Codec Pack from 2K.

  5. Grace

    I think my favourite feature of the VLC Media Player would be the ability to play partially downloaded files, or corrupted files. 🙂 And it’s very sad that they don’t have a good interface. Or else I would have the program right now. 😛

  7. benedict herold

    Ken Xu – Thank you! That’s true none will trust it for the first time.! Yes, Mega Codec is good option but you will not be play broken downloads 🙂 BTW, thanks for stopping here and come back!

    Grace – Very true. That what i use it mainly for 🙂 BTW, VLC is open source and you can contribute for good interface if you like to 🙂

    CyBer$|x – I agree with you… also If it had a good interface.. Wow then it will be my favorite player..

  9. kuanhoong

    VLC player is definitely one of the most powerful player out there. It can practically play all sort of media files, unfortunately the interface is abit too simple.

    Nowadays, I prefer GOM Player. It is definitely worth checking it out. It is cool too.

  11. benedict herold

    dEEPAK – I’ve been using it for years too.. let me try to get in numbers… around past 5 yrs i believe 🙂

    kuanhoong – If it had good interface and support for real format, it would have been a best player around! GOM player seems to be good option. Will give a try for sure. Thanks for sharing.

    Haris – Yes.. expect real format..

  12. Santosh P

    Good morning! HEHE hope you did see my new post..

    Anyways VLC has been a fabulous tool to play anything, I did like Media player classic from K-Lite demo.. I did see high Buffer in Media player classic.. especially helps to forward without any waiting time in certain types of formats

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  16. Shankar Ganesh

    My favourite player is, well, iTunes 😛 but I found many people talking about VLC so thought to give it a try. A simple, but capable media player. Stumbled 😀

  18. benedict herold

    Mr.Byte – True, I have similar habit when I find some media file which fails to play in my media player. I would go ahead and play in VLC 🙂 BTW, Thanks for the link love.!

    Shankar Ganesh – I’m getting used with iTunes little bit these days. BTW, I don’t have anything favorite as such when it comes to media player 😉

    Nirmal – Everyone agrees… glad that you agreed too 😉

  19. Brown Baron

    I’ve known about VLC for a long time but never actually tried it. I think I might give it a try. Of course, a friend’s recommendation is always a deciding factor hehe.

  20. benedict herold

    Brown Baron – I can recognize how lovely friend you’re 🙂 You might to use this when you’re downloading a movie or when you find any media file not supported by your favorite player.

  22. Aaron Cook dot Comâ„¢

    I totally love the VLC Media Player. There have been many many times when a file I’ve downloaded won’t play on anything but the VLC.

    Brown Baron…I definitely suggest using it. I’ve had nothing but great experiences with it.

    Awesome post, Benedict. 🙂

    Shine on,
    Aaron

  23. benedict herold

    Adheeth – Haven’t played around much with Media Player. I would give a try. BTW, Thanks for stopping by!

    Aaron– Wow.. Nice to have you back mate.! Hopefully, baron is writing a review about it by now 🙂 He is a guy who takes in friend’s recommendation and now the count is 2 😉 BTW, Thank you Aaron.

  24. Aaron Cook dot Comâ„¢

    Hi Benedict,

    It’s so nice to be back! And yeah, it’d be nice to get him to try it out and to see how he reviews it. As for me, I’ve always given the VLC player two thumbs up. BTW, you’re welcome 🙂

    Shine on,
    Aaron

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  27. shashank

    although VLC player is cool but i never used it as all format related things are taken care by the K-lite codec pack its cool…
    what s cool about its it allows you to play files in your fav player in wm 10 etc

  28. benedict herold

    Aaron – Agreed. let it shine on everyone 🙂

    Ram – Thank you.

    shashank – Well, even if K-lite lets you play most of the codec. I bet you may want to try VLC since I don’t think K-lite will help you playing broken media files.

  29. Nirmal

    Ben,
    Still searching for queen? 😀
    I have subscribed to your blog through Email. Waiting to read some great posts from you. 😀

  31. benedict herold

    Nirmal – Kind of searching both real and in blogging world 🙂 Well, email subscriptions works better in my blog.. will not fill the Inbox that easily 🙂 Sure, I would try to get some by this weekend. Thank you Nirmal!

    shashank – That’s nice. let us know your feedback too.

  32. Grace

    Benedict- Hmm… Maybe I’ll let other people do the suggesting for now. 🙂 And thanks for the coffee. I love it!

  34. Vijay

    I’ve been using VLC media player along with Media Player classic and those two are all I want to play any videos that I have. Sometimes VLC fails to play videos, playing only the sound. So, then I use MP classic.

  35. benedict herold

    Vijay – Oh… It was surprising for me to hear VLC failed to play few formats. I would give a try to Media player… seems lot of people are suggesting.!

  40. benedict herold

    Sunil Parmar – I have used Jet audio like 4-5 years back. it is a very good player. and no second option about VLC 🙂 BTW, I’m glad that you found it informative and hope to see you back 🙂

    Nirmal – Trust me I’m good at keeping secret 😉

  43. Tech Rant

    I’ve always used VLC as a backup player, it just doesn’t seem to do everything I need to be my main player. I do agree, everytime you throw a file at it, the program will play it. I currently use Media Player Classic alongside FFD Show as my main program for video/music.

    NineThreeNine

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  45. benedict herold

    Tech Rant – VLC is not either my favorite player 🙂 I used it for the purpose! I don’t have any favorite player yet. I used to switch between players time to time. As lot of people are talking about Media Player I may give a try!

  46. T. Evans

    Newbie here:
    I am not computer literate, so what I need to know is probably so simple to you computer experts. I just downloaded the vlc player, but I can't figure out how to download videos and movies into the vlc player. i.e., Youtube videos, or online movies, how do I get them to play in the vlc player since most sites have their own players, i.e. media player. Please help.

  47. benedict herold

    T.Evans – we are glad to help you 🙂 you can't directly play youtube or any online videos directly using VLC player. you have to download those videos into your computer using certain online tools available like vConvert. After downloading the videos you can use to play the content! have fun.!

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