1 Frequentely Asked Questions for VideoLAN Client
2 $Id: FAQ,v 1.18 2003/01/10 09:25:57 lool Exp $
6 1.1 How do I read a DVD?
7 -----------------------
8 Just launch vlc and use the "open disc" command from the graphical
9 interface. In case of trouble, you may want to use the command line
13 1.2 How do I read an encrypted DVD?
14 ----------------------------------
15 It's exactly the same as for a normal DVD. You will need write access to
16 /dev/dvd, because of the key negociation process.
18 If you compiled your VLC by hand, please bear in mind that you also need
19 to install libdvdcss. It can be downloaded from the VideoLAN website. It
20 used to be distributed in the same package as VLC, but now you must install
23 1.3 How do I switch to full screen display?
24 ------------------------------------------
25 Press 'f' to toggle fullscreen mode. Note that not all video output
26 devices support full screen.
28 1.4 How do I hide the mouse cursor?
29 ----------------------------------
30 It should disappear after a few seconds if you stop moving the mouse.
32 1.5 How do I use vlc if I don't want to install Gnome and all this
33 #@!£% *$@&§% !@# bloat?
34 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
36 vlc --intf dummy myfile.mpg
37 Most commands are available from the command line, see vlc --help for
40 1.6 VLC eats my buffer cache, how to I use raw device?
41 -----------------------------------------------------
42 If you don't know what is a raw device, don't even read this answer :-).
43 There is an experimental support for raw devices in libdvdcss. It needs
44 that you set up a raw device pointing to your DVD device (under Linux,
45 use the "raw" utility). Then pass the raw device as second argument, for
47 vlc dvd:/dev/dvd@/dev/raw0
49 1.7 How do I use VLC as a client for VLS/VLMS streaming?
50 -------------------------------------------------------
51 First you must set up a VLS or VLMS stream. Please refer to the
52 documentation of these programs. Then start VLC:
54 You shouldn't need any option. If you're paranoid and want to control
55 everything, here is the exact syntax:
56 vlc udp:[<server>[:<server port>]][@[<bind address>][:<bind port>]]
58 1.8 How do I uninstall / reinstall VLC?
59 --------------------------------------
60 Why would you want to? ;)
62 If you're using a source distribution of VLC, for example a tarball or
63 the CVS, then you have probably used "make install" to install the
64 compiled VLC. To remove it just "make uninstall". If you want to
65 install a newer version than the currently installed one, you should
66 first uninstall the first one. If you deleted the original source tree,
67 a "make uninstall" in the newer tree should still work.
69 For binary packages, remove old packages first and install the new ones
70 (normally this should be handled automagically by your sytem).
72 1.9 Debian: what should I put in my sources.list for videolan?
73 -------------------------------------------------------------
74 deb http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian $(ARCH)/
75 deb-src http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/debian sources/
77 1.10 How can I save my VLC configuration?
78 ----------------------------------------
79 Currently, the only way to save the configuration options in VLC is through
80 the preferences menu in one of the graphical user interface plugins.
82 1.11 Where does VLC store it's config file?
83 ------------------------------------------
84 Currently, a config file is created on a per user basis (there is no global
85 configuration file). If you modify the available options in VLC and save the
86 new configuration, then a configuration file will be created in your user
87 directory. The precise location of this file depends on the Operating System
90 - Unices (linux, etc...): "~/.videolan/vlcrc"
91 - Windows: "Application Data\videolan\vlcrc"
96 2.1 When I start vlc, I don't have any interface coming...
97 -------------------------------------------------------
98 If you installed a binary package, make sure you also installed an
99 interface package such as vlc-gtk or vlc-qt. If you installed from
100 source, make sure the development package for gtk or qt is correctly
101 installed (often gtk-dev or gtk-devel) and recompile.
103 2.2 Clicking on "disc" in the interface doesn't do anything
104 -----------------------------------------------------------
105 Wait a few seconds. Key cracking can take much time on some discs. If it
106 still doesn't work, you can have a more verbose output using "vlc -vvvvv".
107 Here are a few things to check for:
108 * Did you install the libdvdcss package?
109 * Do you have write access to your DVD device? For instance:
111 * Does your kernel log contain line about your DVD device?
112 * Do you have a link from /dev/dvd to your real DVD device? For instance
118 2.4 The video runs but the picture is distorted...
119 -----------------------------------------------
120 There is probably a problem with the output layer. There are several
121 ways of troubleshooting it. First, try with another output plug-in, for
125 Second, change your screen depth and/or definition. It quite often helps.
126 Lastly, have a look at your XFree86 video driver (nVidia for instance
127 releases optimized drivers for its boards).
129 2.5 Video is choppy...
131 Your system is too slow to decode all pictures. It might be that your
132 CPU basically isn't fast enough. It can also be that the subsystem is
133 misconfigured/misdriven, this happens for example under Redhat. Here are
134 some elements to improve speed:
135 * Turn on DMA on your DVD device, for instance:
136 hdparm -X34 -d1 /dev/dvd
137 * Upgrade to the latest XFree86 version and the latest driver for your
138 video board ; check that the xvideo plug-in is effectively used with
140 * Kill other applications running...
142 2.6 Audio is choppy...
144 This is not normal ; it is a known problem and is being investigated.
146 2.7 Audio and video are out of sync
147 -----------------------------------
148 This is not normal. Try using another output plug-in (for instance --aout dsp),
149 kill esd or artsd if they are running... This is a known problem and
150 is being investigated.
155 2.9 Sound volume is too low
156 ----------------------------
157 You can raise it with --volume commandline switch or in the preferences
158 window of your graphical interface.
160 2.10 I have no image under DirectX
161 ----------------------------------
162 Check that your video card drivers are in their latest version and that
163 your DirectX is up-to-date.
167 Increase the verbosity level (either in the preferences or with a
168 "-vvvv" command-line option) and look at the debug messages (on the
169 terminal or in the Messages window).
171 2.12 I can only play a DVD as root
172 ----------------------------------
173 Check that as user you have write access to your DVD drive / device.
175 2.13 I'm stuck with option xxx, how do I reset options?
176 ------------------------------------------------------
177 Under unices, remove your ~/.videolan/vlcrc; for Windows, remove vlcrc
178 in the videolan subfolder of your "Application Data" directory.
180 2.14 I don't have access to the GUI anymore
181 -------------------------------------------
182 If you change the default interface module in the preferences menu to a non
183 GUI module (ie. to a command line interface) and then save the configuration,
184 the only way to get VLC to show a GUI again is to run it directly from the
186 For instance on Windows, you need to open a dos command box, go to the
187 directory where you installed VLC (usually
188 c:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VideoLAN Client) and then type "vlc --intf win32"
189 You will then be able to modify the configuration again and save it.
191 2.15 I have just upgraded to VLC 0.4.5, and now I don't have any sound
192 with the streams coming from the VLS !
193 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
194 This is a known problem. VLC 0.4.5 and later are now compliant to general
195 usage regarding A/52 sound, and the new behavior is incompatible with the
196 previous one. VLS version 0.4.0 and later now fixes this problem. If, for
197 a reason or another, you wish to keep VLS 0.3.3, you can still read those
198 streams if you launch VLC (0.4.5 or later) with --vls-backwards-compat.
200 2.16 NO VIDEO!! or NO AUDIO !!
201 ---------------------------
202 DON'T PANIC! Use the verbose mode of vlc to search the problem, you may
203 either set the verbosity option in the interface preferences or use
204 the "-v" command line switch to increase the number of report/error
205 messages given by vlc. If you are not using a terminal, use the Messages
206 window in the View menu.
209 3. Ports and features
213 3.1.1 Does VLC support the ATI DVD hardware acceleration cards?
214 --------------------------------------------------------------
215 Currently it doesn't. We'd be glad to support them, but we lack technical
223 3.2.2 When moving the focus to another window, VLC network input stops
225 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
226 This is a known problem with Win 95-class systems. Upgrade to an NT-class
231 3.3.1 Do you have plans for a MacOS 9 / OS/2 / &{#!@}~ port?
232 -----------------------------------------------------------
233 No, nobody reported to be actually working on a MacOS 9 port. If you
234 feel like you could write it, we would of course welcome it. Currently,
235 the developers are more interested in supporting the latest Operating
236 Systems and completing the functionalities.
238 3.3.2 Does VLC have dxr2 / dxr3 cards support?
239 ---------------------------------------------
240 This support is currently being developed.
242 3.3.3 Does VLC support RTP?
243 --------------------------
244 Yes. Just use vlc rtp:@<mcast addr>:<local port>.
246 3.3.4 Does VLC support DVD from all zones?
247 -----------------------------------------
248 VLC uses libdvdcss to read all DVD, disregarding their zone. All zones
249 are supported without any constraint. However, libdvdcss might not be
250 legal in your country.
252 3.3.5 How can I take screenshots?
253 --------------------------------
254 This is currently unsupported, but will be in a near future. The latest
255 developments concern recording the video and the audio to a file.
256 However, under XFree, you may use the "x11" video output to take normal
257 screen capture of the video displayed by vlc.
261 4.1 May I use the VideoLAN logo?
262 -------------------------------
263 You may use the VideoLAN logo using the following copyright:
265 Copyright (c) 1996-2002 VideoLAN. This logo or a modified version
266 may be used or modified by anyone to refer to the VideoLAN project
267 or any product developed by the VideoLAN team, but does not indicate
268 endorsement by the project.
270 4.2 May I reditribute VLC?
271 -------------------------
272 You may distribute an original or modified version of VideoLAN as long
273 as you conform to the terms of its license. It is the GNU General Public
274 License Version 2 (referred herein as GPL), and it is in the file named
275 COPYING in our products.
276 The simpliest way to conform to the GPL is to accompany the product you
277 want to distribute with its sources. For example, if you plan to
278 distribute the binary version in its 0.4.6 version you should include:
280 http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/0.4.6/vlc-0.4.6.tar.gz
281 http://www.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/0.4.6/contrib/
283 You don't need to bother explaining where the sources are, but the
284 sources have to share the same media as the products.
286 They are other ways to conform to the GPL, but this should be the
287 simplest because it does not rely on a contract.
289 There is one additional issue you need to take care of. The VLC
290 binary from our website can also read encrypted DVDs with the help of
291 the libdvdcss library. Its use is controversial in a few countries
292 such as the United States because of a law called the DMCA. If you are
293 unsure about the legality of using and distributing this library in
294 your country, please consult your lawyer.
298 5.1 How may I help your project?
299 -------------------------------
300 You might either contribute time, material, or money. We are also always
301 needing some translators. You will find all information you need at
302 <http://videolan.org/contribute.html>.
304 5.2 Why are your mailing-lists and your website in english?
305 ----------------------------------------------------------
306 VideoLAN's developers come from all around the world and english is
307 the only language they can use to communicate together. Although great
308 care is given to the translation of our softwares in various languages,
309 maintaining translations of our documentation and website costs too much
310 time than we can afford.