VideoLAN:VLC HOWTO

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http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-HOWTO/VideoLAN-HOWTO.html

This document describes how to use the complete VideoLAN streaming solution.

v2.0, 2003-09-04

Table of Contents 1. Introduction

1.1. What is the VideoLAN project ?
1.2. What is a codec ?
1.3. How can I use VideoLAN ?
1.4. Command line usage

Install the required software and hardware
```
2.1. Install VLC
2.2. Install VLS
```

Receive and save a stream

3.1. Receive a stream with VLC
3.2. Save a stream with VLC
3.3. Receive a stream with a set-top-box

Stream a file

4.1. Stream a file with VLC
4.2. Stream a file with VLS

Stream a DVD

5.1. Stream a DVD with VLC
5.2. Stream a DVD with VLS

Stream a DVB channel (satellite or digital terrestial TV)

6.1. Install the DVB drivers
6.2. Stream with VLS
6.3. Stream with VLC

Stream from an MPEG encoding card

7.1. Stream with the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250 card
7.2. Stream with the Visiontech Kfir card

Stream from an acquisition card or a webcam

8.1. Install the Video for Linux drivers
8.2. Stream with VLC
8.3. Stream with VLS

Advanced use of VLC's stream output (transcoding, multiple streaming, etc…)
```
9.1. The syntax
9.2. Examples
```

3 Receive and save a stream

3.2 Save a stream with :VLC

VLC can save the stream to the disk. In order to do this, use the Stream Output of VLC : you can do it via the graphical interface, or you can add to the command line the following argument : —sout file/muxer:stream.xyz

where :

muxer is one of the formats supported by VLC's stream output, i.e. :

+ avi for AVI format ,

+ ogg for OGG format ,

+ ps for MPEG2-PS format ,

+ ts or ts_dvbpsi for MPEG2-PS format (the latter uses libdvbpsi for
  the task) .

and stream.xyz is the name of the file you want to save the stream to, with the right extension.

4 Stream a file

4.2 Stream a file with VLS

VLS can stream MPEG files that meet two critera :

the file must be MPEG PS (Program Stream) or MPEG TS (Transport Stream), that contain video and audio multiplexed. VLS cannot stream MPEG ES (Elementary Stream), i.e. a file with only audio or video .

In order to know if an MPEG file is MPEG PS, MPEG TS or MPEG ES, read the file with VLC and look at the messages (select in the menu View / Messages, or use the command line vlc -vvv) .

9 Advanced use of :VLC's stream output (transcoding, multiple streaming, etc)

9.2 Examples

Transcoding

Transcode the input stream and send it to a multicast IP address with the associated SAP announce :

% vlc -vvv input_stream --sout '#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,acodec=mpga,vb=800,ab=128,deinterlace}:standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=239.255.12.42,sap=TestStream}'

Display the input stream, transcode it and send it to a multicast IP address with the associated SAP announce :

% vlc -vvv input_stream --sout '#duplicate{dst=display,dst="transcode{vcodec=mp4v,acodec=mpga,vb=800,ab=128,deinterlace}:standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=239.255.12.42,sap=TestStream}"}'

Transcode the input stream, display the transcoded stream and send it to a multicast IP address with the associated SAP announce :

% vlc -vvv input_stream --sout '#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,acodec=mpga,vb=800,ab=128,deinterlace}:duplicate{dst=display,dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=239.255.12.42,sap=TestStream}}'