The Best Secrets and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of VLC Media Player on Mac
VLC Media Player is one of the most popular media players for Mac, loved for its vast compatibility, customization options, and flexible functionality. With its robust feature set, VLC can be used to play a wide range of media formats, from audio and video files to live streams and even DVDs. However, to truly unlock its potential, you need to know some of its best-kept secrets and tricks. In this article, we’ll show you how to get the most out of VLC Media Player on your Mac.
1. Customize the Interface
VLC’s default interface can be bland, but you can easily customize it to your liking. Open the "Settings" menu and navigate to "Appearance & Behavior" > "Font" > "Font Size". Adjust the font size to suit your taste, and you can also change the font family, color, and background color.
2. Control VLC with Hotkeys
VLC supports a range of hotkeys that can significantly improve your media-watching experience. Some popular hotkeys include:
- Play/Pause: Spacebar
- Play next track: Spacebar + Shift
- Volume up: F11
- Volume down: F12
- Previous track: Shift + Arrow Left
- Next track: Shift + Arrow Right
You can also remap these hotkeys to your liking by going to "Settings" > "Hotkeys" and assigning custom keys.
3. Access Power User Features
VLC has a range of advanced features hidden behind the scenes, accessible through the "Settings" menu. Some highlights include:
- Subtitle filters: Use these to customize subtitle rendering, such as font, size, and color.
- Audio filters: Alter audio playback, like speed, pitch, and equalization.
- Video filters: Apply filters like grayscale, deinterlace, and deblock to enhance video quality.
- Audio and video codecs: Choose from a range of available codecs, including H.264, H.265, and more.
4. Stream and Cast Your Content
VLC can stream content to other devices or Chrome browsers. Simply go to "Media" > "Convert/Save" > "Convert" and select "Network" as the output. Choose your media file, adjust settings as needed, and click "Convert".
5. Rip CDs and DVDs Efficiently
When ripping CDs or DVDs, VLC uses flexible output settings to ensure high-quality files. Go to "Media" > "Rip/Convert" and choose your media type. Select output settings, such as MP3 or FLAC for audio, or MP4 or AVI for video.
6. Access a World of Online Content
VLC supports a range of online content, including YouTube, Vimeo, and even Netflix. To access these services, go to "Media" > "Open Network Stream" and enter the corresponding URL.
7. Tweak for Better Performance
To improve VLC’s performance, try the following:
- Disable unnecessary modules: Go to "Settings" > "Modules" and uncheck modules you don’t use, such as the "Spectrum" module.
- Adjust the "Video" and "Audio" tabs for optimum performance.
- Restart VLC after making changes to ensure they take effect.
Conclusion
With these secrets and tricks, you’ll be able to unlock the full potential of VLC Media Player on your Mac. From customizing the interface to accessing online content, ripping CDs and DVDs, and tweaking performance, you’ll be enjoying a more seamless media experience in no time. So, go ahead and explore the world of VLC – we’re sure you’ll find even more hidden gems within!
