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 all the things 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 dwelling. 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 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 approach.

PotPlayer has been round for ages, however does not get a lot consideration. It is a disgrace as a result of it handles extra file codecs in a glossy and fashionable bundle that leaves VLC within the mud. It is not nearly appears to be like, and the app is filled with helpful instruments like display capturing and audio recording, making it excellent 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 regulate the amount 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 mechanically detects the controller with out requiring any particular calibration software program.

As soon as my controller is related, 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 path key to maneuver between the menus. I favor utilizing the shoulder buttons for growing and lowering the amount 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 style with the Media, Playback, Video, and different menus laid out horizontally throughout the highest left of its interface. This technique is purposeful, however requires me to click on on totally different headings and sub-menus to search out what I am searching for. 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 technique makes it simpler and quicker to search out the settings I am searching 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 Dimension, and different capabilities, so I needn’t dig into menus to search out them. I must click on on Instruments, then Results and Filters to entry the equalizer in VLC, but it surely’s accessible with a single click on on the Settings icon in PotPlayer. VLCs menu at all times obtained the job achieved for me, however now feels dated after attempting Potplayer’s fashionable but easy aesthetic.

Superior subtitle capabilities

Customization and translation

PotPlayer is the higher alternative in the event you’re into international movies or need 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 colour. I also can align the subtitles to a selected part of the show or enhance their measurement. VLC additionally gives these options, although that you must navigate by way 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 be useful 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 lets you extract single or a number of frames from a video as photographs. I can save the captured photographs in well-liked 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 also can choose the audio codec kind and pattern price. After recording a video, I also can cut up it at particular time or measurement intervals to keep away from copyright strikes when posting on YouTube. All these options are accessible by way of the intuitive menu whereas I am watching a video, so I needn’t waste time looking by way of settings to search out them.

YouTube playback

No advertisements, 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 avoid wasting the URLs of movies I usually watch so I can play them in PotPlayer while not having to seek for the hyperlink.

The good thing about taking part in YouTube movies and playlists in PotPlayer is that it does not interrupt my expertise with advertisements. I can regulate 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.