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

I’ve all the time been a VLC fan as a result of it simply works and handles every little thing 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 appears like dwelling. VLC was most likely 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 by way of Android Auto. Nevertheless, 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 means.

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 modern 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 amount from my sofa as a substitute 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 a couple of 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 precise thumbstick to maneuver the mouse cursor and the left because the route key to maneuver between the menus. I favor utilizing the shoulder buttons for growing and reducing the amount and the triggers for leaping ahead and again. The chances are infinite, and creating customized configurations is a breeze with PotPlayer’s user-friendly dropdown menus.

Trendy interface

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

This technique makes it simpler and quicker to seek out the settings I am on the lookout for whereas I am watching a video. Other than incorporating all the principle choices right into a single menu, PotPlayer provides quick-access buttons to Side Ratio, Window Measurement, and different features, so I need not dig into menus to seek out them. I have to click on on Instruments, then Results and Filters to entry the equalizer in VLC, nevertheless it’s accessible with a single click on on the Settings icon in PotPlayer. VLCs menu all the time obtained the job completed for me, however now feels dated after attempting Potplayer’s trendy but easy aesthetic.

Superior subtitle capabilities

Customization and translation

PotPlayer is the higher alternative in the event you’re into international 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, type, and shade. I also can align the subtitles to a selected part of the show or improve their measurement. VLC additionally affords these options, although you must navigate by means of 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 useful for creating subtitles for movies I’ve created myself earlier than importing them onto social media platforms.

Display screen recording

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

Video recording is simply as easy, and lets me seize snippets of films or different content material to submit 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 also can decide the audio codec sort and pattern price. After recording a video, I also can break up it at particular time or measurement intervals to keep away from copyright strikes when posting on YouTube. All these options are accessible by means of the intuitive menu whereas I am watching a video, so I need not waste time looking by means of settings to seek 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 by way of 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 save lots of 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 taking part in 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.