I lastly discovered a media app that’s higher than VLC

I’ve at all times been a VLC fan as a result of it simply works and handles every part I throw at it. Different media gamers have come and gone, and I continued to make use of VLC as a result of it performs practically each music and video format and has a easy interface that looks like residence. VLC was in all probability one of many first apps I put in on any laptop or pill, and I even used it on my smartphone to play offline music through Android Auto. Nonetheless, all good issues should come to an finish, and I’ve now discovered a brand new go-to media participant that surpasses VLC in each method.

PotPlayer has been round for ages, however would not get a lot consideration. It is a disgrace as a result of it handles extra file codecs in a glossy and trendy bundle that leaves VLC within the mud. It is not nearly seems to be, and the app is full of helpful instruments like display capturing and audio recording, making it good for content creators.

Xinput contols

Distant management media participant

Xinput management is my favourite PotPlayer function as a result of I can skip tracks or modify the quantity from my sofa as an alternative of sitting at my laptop computer. It turns my controller right into a wi-fi distant management for navigating my media, including one other dimension of flexibility to the participant. Setup takes just a few seconds, and after enabling the function within the settings menu, it routinely detects the controller with out requiring any particular calibration software program.

As soon as my controller is linked, I fine-tune the stick and button settings in PotPlayer to make it extra intuitive. I map the proper thumbstick to maneuver the mouse cursor and the left because the route key to maneuver between the menus. I desire utilizing the shoulder buttons for rising and lowering the quantity and the triggers for leaping ahead and again. The chances are countless, and creating customized configurations is a breeze with PotPlayer’s user-friendly dropdown menus.

Fashionable interface

VLC retains issues old skool with the Media, Playback, Video, and different menus laid out horizontally throughout the highest left of its interface. This method is useful, however requires me to click on on totally different headings and sub-menus to search out what I am in search of. In distinction, PotPlayer takes issues up a notch by having a single vertical menu that comes with all of the options that VLC retains separate.

This method makes it simpler and sooner to search out the settings I am in search of whereas I am watching a video. Other than incorporating all the primary choices right into a single menu, PotPlayer provides quick-access buttons to Facet Ratio, Window Dimension, and different capabilities, so I need not dig into menus to search out them. I must click on on Instruments, then Results and Filters to entry the equalizer in VLC, however it’s accessible with a single click on on the Settings icon in PotPlayer. VLCs menu at all times received the job executed for me, however now feels dated after making an attempt Potplayer’s trendy but easy aesthetic.

Superior subtitle capabilities

Customization and translation

PotPlayer is the higher alternative in case you’re into overseas movies or wish to customise your subtitles. Accessing the subtitles menu is so simple as right-clicking on the display. It permits me to simply change the font measurement, model, and shade. I may also align the subtitles to a particular part of the show or improve their measurement. VLC additionally presents these options, although it is advisable to navigate via the Instruments and Preferences menus.

It is the superior subtitle options, like Translation that set PotPlayer aside and makes it a worthy consideration. This function makes use of AI instruments, like Google or Bing Translate to transform subtitles from one language to a different, primarily based on my choice. If movies do not have subtitles, PotPlayer can create them through the use of Whisper AI to transcribe voices into textual content. This function can also be helpful for creating subtitles for movies I’ve created myself earlier than importing them onto social media platforms.

Display recording

PotPlayer is a incredible alternative for content material creators due to its video seize and recording capabilities. The Video Seize function is right for capturing stills for social media thumbnails, because it permits you to extract single or a number of frames from a video as photos. I can save the captured photos in widespread codecs like BMP or JPEG and replica them on to the clipboard to export into different apps.

Video recording is simply as easy, and lets me seize snippets of flicks or different content material to put up on-line later. I can use the in-depth settings to decide on the file’s location, in addition to the file format, measurement, and bitrate. I may also choose the audio codec kind and pattern charge. After recording a video, I may also break up it at particular time or measurement intervals to keep away from copyright strikes when posting on YouTube. All these options are accessible via the intuitive menu whereas I am watching a video, so I need not waste time searching via settings to search out them.

YouTube playback

No adverts, no downside

One of many causes I attempted PotPlayer was as a result of I used to be having points streaming content material from YouTube through VLC. In PotPlayer, I merely add the URL within the Open menu, and the app can play a single video or playlist. I additionally like to avoid wasting the URLs of movies I typically watch so I can play them in PotPlayer with no need to seek for the hyperlink.

The good thing about enjoying YouTube movies and playlists in PotPlayer is that it would not interrupt my expertise with adverts. I can modify the sound settings to my preferences with the equalizer and use the beforehand talked about function to seize audio and video snippets of sure content material.