Mastering VLC: Top Tricks and Shortcuts

Mastering VLC: Top Tricks and Shortcuts

VLC, the free and open-source media player, has gained a reputation for its ability to play almost any file format and its robust set of features. While it’s easy to use, mastering VLC can unlock its true potential and make your video-watching experience more efficient and enjoyable. In this article, we’ll cover the top tricks and shortcuts to help you get the most out of VLC.

Navigation and Control

1. Playback speed control: Pressing Ctrl + Shift + F (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + F (Mac) increases or decreases the playback speed. You can also press Ctrl + Shift + > (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + > (Mac) to increase the speed or Ctrl + Shift + < (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + < (Mac) to decrease the speed.
2. Jump to specific time: Press Ctrl + R (Windows) or Cmd + R (Mac) and type the time you want to jump to in the format HH:MM:SS.
3. Loop playback: Press Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac) to loop the playback.
4. Show hidden controls: Press Alt + C (Windows) or Option + C (Mac) to show the VLC controller, which includes controls for playback, volume, and brightness.

Audio and Video Settings

1. Equalizer: Press Ctrl + E (Windows) or Cmd + E (Mac) to access the equalizer settings.
2. Audio delay: Press Ctrl + Shift + A (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + A (Mac) to adjust the audio delay.
3. Video filters: Press Ctrl + Shift + F (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + F (Mac) to access the video filters, which can improve video quality or add visual effects.
4. Subtitle settings: Press Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + S (Mac) to adjust the subtitle settings, including font size, color, and synchronization.

Playlist and Playback Management

1. Playlist management: Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac) to create a new playlist or Ctrl + Shift + M (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + M (Mac) to manage your playlists.
2. Playback queue: Press Ctrl + Shift + Shift (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Shift (Mac) to add files to the playback queue.
3. Repeat playback: Press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to repeat the playback of the current playlist or file.
4. Random playback: Press Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + O (Mac) to play files in the playlist in random order.

Other Tricks and Shortcuts

1. Take a screenshot: Press Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + S (Mac) to take a screenshot of the current frame.
2. Stream from network devices: Press Ctrl + Shift + L (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + L (Mac) to stream video from a network device, such as a webcam or a DVD player.
3. Convert files: Press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to convert files from one format to another using the VLC media converter.

Mastering VLC requires a little practice, but these top tricks and shortcuts can greatly enhance your video-watching experience. Whether you’re a casual user or an avid media enthusiast, VLC has something to offer everyone.