VLC Media Player is a free, open-source multimedia player developed by the VideoLAN project. It supports a wide range of audio and video formats, making it a versatile tool for playing media files. Beyond just playing media, VLC also offers screen recording and audio capture features. In this article, we will guide you through how to record your screen using VLC.
How to Record a Video with VLC
You can use desktop screen recording in VLC to capture your entire screen. Here’s a quick guide on how to do it:
Step 1: Download and launch VLC media player.
Step 2: In the VLC Media menu, select Open Capture Device.
Step 3: Go to the Capture Device tab -> set “Desktop” as the Capture mode, and adjust the frame rate.
- For standard quality, 30 FPS is sufficient, but if you want to record in higher quality, set it to 60 FPS.
Step 4: Click Convert from the drop-down menu at the bottom right.
Step 5: Name your file and choose its destination by clicking the Browse button -> click Start to start recording your computer screen.
- You can also choose a profile like Webm or TS.
Step 6: To finish recording, click on the stop icon. You can check the recorded file afterwards.
How to Record Audio with VLC
VLC Media Player also has an audio recording option. You can use it to record audio from your computer or microphone. Follow the steps below to record audio using VLC:
Step 1: Select Open Capture Device in the Media menu.
Step 2: Configure Capture Device settings.
- Set “DirectShow” as the Capture mode.
- Select your speaker or microphone device for the Audio device name.
- Click the down arrow next to Play and select “Convert” in the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Choose an MP3 profile, and then name the audio file and choose its destination by clicking the Browse button.
After setting up everything, click Start to start recording audio.
Step 4: Press the stop button to finish recording and check the MP3 audio file.
How to Record Webcam with VLC
Here is an answer to the question like: How do I record myself with VLC? It’s the same steps as how to record a video, as explained above. The difference, however, is that you have to select DirectShow as the Capture mode and choose your webcam as the video device.
Alternative to VLC screen recorder
VLC Media Player is a versatile tool for video playback, but it has some limitations when it comes to screen recording. On the other hand, Bandicam has all the features you need for screen recording. Here’s a comparison of the differences in features between VLC and Bandicam in terms of recording:
| VLC Media Player | Bandicam | |
| Webcam recording | O | O |
| Full-screen recording | O | O |
| Record your screen with sound | X | O |
| Record part of your screen | X | O |
| Record your screen with webcam (facecam) | X | O |
| Capture mouse pointer | X | O |
As you can see from the table, there are many drawbacks to VLC, such as the inability to record your computer screen and audio at the same time. If you need more advanced features or a more user-friendly interface, we recommend Bandicam as an alternative to the VLC screen recorder.
To screen record, start Bandicam and choose the ‘Select a recording area’ or ‘Rectangle on a screen’ menu.
Summary
Now you know how to record your screen/webcam or audio with VLC. However, VLC is missing some necessary features for screen recording, so it is better to consider more robust screen recording software. As an alternative to VLC screen recorder, you can use Bandicam screen recording program to record your screen for free.
