VLC media player

VLC media player (originally VideoLAN Client, and often referred too simply as VLC) is the best known software from the VideoLAN project. VLC supports DVB and some analog devices in Linux.

Example with an Analog capture device

To record to x264 with VLC, use something like this:

vlc v4l:/dev/video0:norm=ntsc:frequency=77250:size=640x480:channel=5:\
adev=/dev/dsp1:samplerate=32000:audio=0:stop-time=60 \
--sout "#transcode{vcodec=h264,fps=29.97,acodec=mp3}\
:std{access=file,mux=ts,dst=output.mpg}" aspect-ratio "4:3" -I dummy

Note that vlc uses alsactl to find sound devices, so oss devices may not work.

DVB TV with VLC

VLC reads a channels.conf file. When your DVB device is working and you have made a channels.conf file, just use the Open File command to point to your /home/user/channels.conf. To start TV everytime you start VLC, open up Preferences > All > Playlist and enter /home/user/channels.conf in the default stream.

The fastest way to change channels is to view the Playlist (View > Playlist or Ctrl+L) and select the required channel. Channel flickers can change channels with the "Previous media in the playlist" and "Next media in the playlist" buttons.

External Links

• VLC media player homepage
  • VLC media player wiki
  • VLC's How to Create a DVD
  • Codec names
  • Permitted combinations
• Some common VLC parameters explained