About VLC
VLC is a free andopen-sourcemulti-purpose tool for audio and video playback and conversion.
VLC can also encode a live feed of your desktop, called a screencast.
On Windows and Mac
Go to thedownload pageand choose the version of VLC for your operating system.
Linux users should use the distribution’s package manager instead.
VLC is open-source, and it’s a Linux favorite.
The package name is usuallyvlc.
Most of the time, though, this is more than you need.
The graphical VLC interface is easier to use.
Launch VLC
VLC is a typical media player with an orange traffic cone icon.
You’ll find it among your other applications; the exact location depends on your operating system.
With the VLC window open, selectMedia.
In theMediamenu, chooseOpen Capture gear.
In theOpen Mediadialog box, select theCapture modedrop-down arrow and chooseDesktop.
Set theDesired frame rate(a number between 10 and 30).
The higher the frame rate, the smoother the video will play, but the file will be larger.
your box hardware determines the video quality that it can handle.
Generally, 24 and 30 are safe; 24fps is the standard for American TV.
SelectShow more optionsto reveal additional parameters.
Then, set theCachingoption lower for less memory usage or higher if your system has enough memory.
go for the drop-down arrow next toPlayand chooseConvert.
This encodes the live desktop into a save file.
In theSourcetext box, enterscreen://.
Select theProfiledrop-down arrow and choose a profile.
This determines which codecs VLC will use to create your file and which devices can play it.
The defaultVideo - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)is a good option for most situations.
VLC has presets for various devices and resolutions.
Don’t choose an audio profile since it won’t contain any video data.
SelectBrowseto locate a destination folder.
Choose an output folder, and enter aNamefor your file in the field at the top.
When you’re ready to start your capture, selectStart.
The smaller window disappears, and the VLC interface displays.
It looks almost like before, but the playback bar at the bottom lights up like it’s playing.
That indicates that VLC is recording.
To stop recording your stream, selectStopin the VLC playback controls.
The example above is the exact command used to record the screencast video included in this article.
When this happens, use video editing software to polish your screencast.
Not all video editors can open MP4 format video files, though.
For simple editing jobs, try the free, open-source applicationAvidemux.
Use this program to cut sections of a video and apply filters such ascrop.
