Easily Transcode Media files with VLC Player

VLC is an universal media player and open source software. It provides a complete software solution for video and audio streaming as well as transcoding audio/video on the fly. Transcoding is the process of changing media files from one format to other format or bitrate.

In this post we show you how to transcode media files using VLC player in Windows platform using wizard as well as command prompt.

Transcoding Media Files using Wizard

1. VLC includes a transcoding and streaming wizard . To transcode a file, select Wizard option in the file menu

2. Select Transcode/Save to file option and click Next to proceed

3. Choose the input file which you want to transcode.

Note: You  can also use partial extract option and time length for the output file

4. Choose the output format you want and choose your desired format along with the bit rate option

5. Finally under the Encapsulation format, select the desired output format.

Give the destination for the target file

6. You can also use the console to see the background process while transcoding is being carry out.

See the sample console screen

Transcoding with the Command Prompt

The following command enable you to transcode a FLV format file to MPEG format

C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC>vlc -vvv “D:\688497.flv” –sout=#transcode{vcodec= mp4v,acodec=mpga,vb=800,ab=128,deinterlace}:standard{access=file,mux=ts,url=”D:\ asd.mpg”}

Here is a breakdown of the agrument used in the command line:

access=file: instructs vlc to store the output in a file (and not stream it)

url: the location of the new (output) file.

That’s it.