I <heart> VLC!

[MaxDepth]

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Before a mod decides to throw this in the Software forum, there is nothing technical at all about this post.

Just to say this: copy protection sucks. I have purchased all my DVDs and when I get new ones, I rent them through Netflix.

I've built an HTPC using XP and Ubuntu as dual boot. I cannot get Ubuntu (or any *nix) to work properly with the onboard ATI chipset (R690), so I am XP world for now. So trying to view the DVDs through the HTPC, none of my players will not load certain DVDs. It all comes through the protection schema that I cannot play DVDs through the video out (component cables).

While I do not condone or use 'shared' videos, I hate that I am being blocked from viewing something I bought. That is, until I found VideoLAN!

With this goodness, I really wish that ATI would get off their ass quicker and have a fully functional driver set for something that is already two years old.

I guess you all already know about VLC.

 

[E equals MC2]

VLC rocks. I used to hassle over stupid PowerDVD/WinDVD paid-software to play DVDs that look like crap.

Then I realized VLC fully supports DVD playback as well. And picture quality is GROSSLY better.

VLC = rape.

 

[BassBomb]

I generally use VLC for videos I download that have special codec's

I use MPC-HC though for mkv splittin

 

[TruePaige]

I use the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) to make sure I can play anything under the sun.

VLC is a nice lightweight player though.

 

[Cuda1447]

Yep, VLC is my primary video player as well.

 

[evident]

does VLC have windows media center remote control support yet?

 

[jlee]

I haven't yet figured out how to get surround working in VLC...guess I should try again.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

VLC + AnyDVD = Goodness.

 

[jalaram]

I love VLC too.

My only issue with it is that it doesn't support h/w decoding. That made a difference on my 754 Sempron 3000+ when playing 1080i ts files. PowerDVD was able to use my Radeon card for decoding to play it.

There. I've added some technical stuff so that it gets moved over.

 

[Miklebud]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

VLC = rape.

LOL, is that supposed to be a compliment?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

What are the benefits of it over mediaplayer classic which is what i use

 

[nakedfrog]

VLC kicks ass. I used it to to play the same mp3 playlist on 2 computers in different places in the house at the same time (nice for house cleaning and stuff)

 

[E equals MC2]

One thing I did notice is that when you skip to any part of video, it leaves a nasty artifact for many long (3-5+) seconds until it's refreshed by the 'moving objects' on screen.

WMP doesn't do this. This is really annoying when you're watching porn.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: TruePaige
I use the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) to make sure I can play anything under the sun.

VLC is a nice lightweight player though.

COMMUNIST!

 

[LtPage1]

It's practically my favorite piece of software. Also, trivia! It was written by some grad students at the École Centrale in Paris. A friend of mine studied abroad there.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: TruePaige
I use the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) to make sure I can play anything under the sun.

VLC is a nice lightweight player though.

COMMUNIST!

no - marxist-stalinist!!

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: JLee
I haven't yet figured out how to get surround working in VLC...guess I should try again.

change audio out to waveout.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
One thing I did notice is that when you skip to any part of video, it leaves a nasty artifact for many long (3-5+) seconds until it's refreshed by the 'moving objects' on screen.

WMP doesn't do this. This is really annoying when you're watching porn.

i have the same problem! really annoying, seem to only happen with porn...

 

[ElFenix]

anyone get flv to work in vlc?

 

[Jeff7]

It's sort of ok, I guess. I know it lacked enough handy features that I usually use WMP. For one, if I resize WMP, it STAYS that size. VLC resizes itself each time a new file is loaded.
VLC also doesn't obey the Always On Top setting when it's started up that way. I have to uncheck, and re-check that setting to get it to stick. It also tends to severely garble the video stream for a few seconds after seeking. My best guess is that it doesn't properly pick up on I-frames, and just goes straight to the B-frames at the point you seek to. It should probably be picking up the previous I-frame, then quickly decode the video up to your seek point, and then start displaying distortion-free video right away.

It's about what I've come to expect from open-source freeware: Lots of capabilities, but also a lot of quirks, and not especially user-friendly, kind of like GIMP.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: TruePaige
I use the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) to make sure I can play anything under the sun.

VLC is a nice lightweight player though.

COMMUNIST!

no - marxist-stalinist!!

They lured me into their van with Codecs! T.T

 

[MaxDepth]

Yup, I understand your thoughts completely, Jeff7, the application does need some work. For me, it was just really refreshing to find something out there in the public domain that worked for me right after installation while all the for-sale products did not or unwilling.

Being frustrated wanting to watch a movie and have nothing to play it really, really sucked. It was really hard to justify to my friends why I wanted to build an HTPC instead of getting really cheap, but working components (DVD player, A/V receiver, etc). And I have to admit, the HTPC is still a work in progress. Oh, well, maybe next month or the month after that...

However, it looks like Google's Summer of Code has a few students looking to improve the application. Link

 

[legoman666]

I use VLC for everything except h264 content. VLC's h264 implementation is shit and chokes on high bitrate 720p/1080p. CoreAVC + MPC HC = win.

 

[Chronoshock]

I like the ability to play unfinished downloads/downloads in progress

 

[Cristatus]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
anyone get flv to work in vlc?

IIRC, FLV works OOTB for VLC.

Whoa, that's a boatload of acronyms.

Anyawys, yea, I've played FLV files on VLC before, and that was the main reason for me downloading it, though I can't test it out for you right now since I don't have any FLVs.

(C)