Unlock Screen Recording on Windows 11/10: A VLC Player Tutorial

Table of Contents

VLC Media Player is renowned for its versatility as a media player, capable of handling virtually any video or audio file format thrown its way. Beyond its primary function of media playback, VLC is packed with a plethora of hidden features that extend its utility far beyond a simple player. Among these less-known capabilities is the ability to record your desktop screen, a feature that can be incredibly handy for various purposes, from creating tutorials to capturing gameplay or documenting software issues. While dedicated screen recording software exists, VLC Player provides a convenient and readily available solution, especially for users who already have it installed on their Windows 11 or 10 systems.

VLC’s screen recording function is surprisingly robust, offering a good balance between ease of use and recording quality. This tutorial will guide you through the process of recording your desktop screen using VLC Player, step-by-step, empowering you to leverage this hidden gem within this popular media player.

Step-by-Step Guide to Recording Your Desktop Screen with VLC Player¶

Step 1: Prepare VLC Player for Recording¶

To begin, launch the VLC Media Player application on your Windows 11 or 10 computer. Once VLC is open, navigate to the top menu bar. Click on the “View” menu option. From the dropdown menu that appears, select “Advanced Controls”. This action will reveal an additional set of controls at the bottom of the VLC Player interface, including a record button, which is essential for screen recording.

Step 2: Access the Capture Device Settings¶

Next, click on the “Media” menu in the top menu bar of VLC Player. In the dropdown menu, select the option labeled “Open Capture Device”. This will open the “Open Media” dialog box, specifically displaying the “Capture Device” tab by default, which is where you will configure the screen recording settings.

Step 3: Configure Capture Mode to Desktop¶

Within the “Open Media” dialog box, locate the “Capture mode” dropdown menu. Click on this dropdown and select “Desktop” from the available options. This selection tells VLC Player that you intend to record your computer’s desktop screen.

Step 4: Set the Desired Frame Rate¶

The “Desired frame rate for the capture” setting determines how many frames per second will be recorded in your screen recording. A higher frame rate generally results in smoother video, but also larger file sizes. For basic screen recording, a frame rate of 10.00 f/s is often sufficient and is the default suggestion in many guides. You can adjust this value based on your needs. For recording fast-paced action on screen, such as gameplay, you might consider increasing the frame rate to 24 or 30 f/s for smoother motion. However, for simpler tasks like recording software tutorials or presentations, 10 f/s should be adequate. Enter “10.00” in the “Desired frame rate for the capture” field.

Step 5: Optional - Include Audio Recording (Voice)¶

By default, VLC Player’s screen recording function captures only the video from your screen and does not automatically record audio. If you need to include audio, such as voice narration, you will need to record it separately and then synchronize it with the video during the conversion process.

To prepare for adding audio, check the box labeled “Show more options”. This will expand the dialog box and display additional settings. Subsequently, check the box next to “Play another media synchronously”. This option allows you to select an audio file that will be played and recorded simultaneously with the screen capture. Before proceeding, you will need to record your voice or any desired audio using a separate audio recording application and save it as an audio file.

Step 6: Select Synchronous Audio Source (If Applicable)¶

If you opted to include audio in the previous step, click the “Browse” button next to the “Play another media synchronously” checkbox. This will open a file explorer window. Navigate to the location where you saved your pre-recorded audio file, select it, and click “Open”. This will link your audio file to the screen recording process.

Step 7: Initiate Conversion Process¶

Locate the “Play” button at the bottom right of the “Open Media” dialog box. Instead of clicking directly on the “Play” button, click on the small downward arrow located to its right. This will reveal a dropdown menu. From this menu, select the “Convert” option. Selecting “Convert” instead of “Play” will initiate the process of recording and saving your screen capture to a file.

Step 8: Configure Conversion Profile¶

Upon clicking “Convert”, the “Convert” dialog box will appear. In this dialog box, you need to configure the output settings for your recorded video. Click on the button labeled “Create a new profile”. This button is usually represented by a small icon resembling a wrench or settings gear.

Step 9: Define Profile Encapsulation¶

The “Profile edition” dialog box will open, initially displaying the “Encapsulation” tab. In the “Profile Name” field, enter a descriptive name for your new profile, for example, “Screen Recording Profile”. Under the “Encapsulation” options, select the “MP4/MOV” radio button. MP4 is a widely compatible and recommended format for video recordings.

Step 10: Set Video Codec Options¶

Navigate to the “Video codec” tab within the “Profile edition” dialog box. Ensure that the checkbox labeled “Video” is checked. This confirms that you want to include video in your recording. In the “Encoding parameters” section, find the “Codec” dropdown box. Click on this dropdown and choose “H-264” as your video codec. H-264 is a highly efficient and widely supported video codec, offering a good balance between video quality and file size. After selecting “H-264”, click the “Create” button to save your new profile settings.

Step 11: Choose Destination File and Location¶

You will be returned to the “Convert” dialog box. Now, you need to specify where you want to save your recorded video file. Click on the “Browse” button next to the “Destination file” field. This will open a “Save file” dialog box.

Step 12: Specify File Name and Save¶

In the “Save file” dialog box, navigate to the folder where you wish to save your screen recording. Enter a desired file name for your video in the “File name” field. Choose a name that is descriptive and easy to remember. Once you have selected the destination folder and entered the file name, click the “Save” button.

Step 13: Start Recording¶

The “Convert” dialog box will now display the chosen destination path for your recorded video. To begin the screen recording process, click the “Start” button.

Step 14: Recording in Progress¶

Once you click “Start”, VLC Player will begin recording your desktop screen. You can confirm that recording is in progress by observing the red-colored record button in the advanced controls at the bottom of the VLC Player window. This button will typically blink or remain highlighted while recording is active. Perform the actions on your screen that you wish to record. If you need to temporarily pause the recording, you can click on the “Play” button in the advanced controls; clicking it again will resume recording.

Step 15: Stop Recording¶

When you have finished recording all the necessary screen activity, click on the “Stop playback” button in the advanced controls. This button is usually represented by a square stop icon. Clicking this button will finalize the recording process and save the video file to the destination you specified earlier.

Step 16: Access and Playback Recorded Video¶

After stopping the recording, navigate to the destination folder you selected in Step 12. You should find your recorded video file in this location, with the file name you specified. Double-click on the video file to open it with VLC Player or any other video player and review your screen recording.

Tips for Optimal Screen Recording with VLC¶

• Frame Rate Considerations: While 10fps is sufficient for basic tasks, consider increasing the frame rate to 24 or 30fps for recording smoother motion, especially for gameplay or videos with rapid screen changes.
• Audio Quality: For professional-quality voiceovers, consider using a dedicated microphone and audio recording software for clearer audio than synchronous recording within VLC.
• File Size Management: Higher frame rates and longer recordings will result in larger file sizes. Adjust frame rate and recording duration to balance video quality and file size.
• System Resources: Screen recording can be resource-intensive, especially at higher resolutions and frame rates. Close unnecessary applications before recording to ensure smooth performance.
• Experiment with Codecs: While H.264 is recommended, VLC offers other codecs. Experiment with different codecs if you have specific quality or file size requirements.
• Review Settings: Before starting important recordings, always do a short test recording to ensure your settings are correct and the recording quality is satisfactory.

Conclusion¶

This tutorial has demonstrated how to effectively utilize VLC Media Player to record your desktop screen on Windows 11/10. While VLC may not be a dedicated screen recording software with advanced features, it provides a readily accessible and functional solution for basic screen capture needs. Its ease of use and availability make it a valuable tool for quick screen recordings without needing to install additional software. By following these steps, you can easily create screen recordings for tutorials, presentations, or simply capturing on-screen activity.

Do you find this guide helpful? Let us know in the comments below! Share your experiences with screen recording using VLC Player or ask any questions you may have.