VLC Media Player
Sometimes Windows Media Player just doesn’t cut it. I’ve had it hang up when I have tried to play some video files, and other times I get visual but no sound with a video. I had found an alternative, but some glitch always put my speakers on mute each time that I opened a file. Then, a colleague recommended an alternative.
VLC Video Player is a long-time open-source favorite video and audio player. It works on multiple operating systems, and you can install it without any special codecs, which can be problematic in the installation process. However, I found the installation of this player very simple and easy.
Users get frame-by-frame advancement, granular speed controls allowing for on-the-fly slower or faster playback, and live recording of streaming video. The toolbars are fully customizable, so you can have only the buttons you need in the interface. VLC also offers robust support for a wide range of video and audio formats, including OGG, MP2, MP3, MP4, DivX, HD codecs like AES3, Raw Dirac, and even support for playing back zipped files.
And the nicest thing is that VLC is small and is entirely self contained after installation. VLC is a good choice if you format your machine and still want DVD playback (as DVD codecs are normally proprietary and difficult to come by). It’s also a great choice for streaming media of any kind.
VLC’s open-source foundation and community ensures that it evolves quickly and often, with new features and fixes released frequently. Overall, VLC Media Player is a must-have application for its ability to open just about any type of video file you throw at it.
About the Author Donna Gunter
Best-selling author Donna Gunter works with successful business owners who are experts in their fields and established in their industry and are seeking a way to stand out from their competitors. Using her Ideal Clients on Autopilot System©, she helps them determine the exact strategies to generate more qualified leads and better-paying clients with automated systems. This proven system makes all their marketing easier and more effective and they find themselves positioned as the only choice for their clients.
