#snarky tutorials

Step 1: Set your output destination

If you followed the instructions on most of the tutorials I read, then VLC would throw your recordings into the void as soon as you were done making them. If you actually want to save your recordings properly, you need to tell it exactly where to put them. Here’s the step-by-step.

a) Go to Tools > Preferences in the top menu (or press Ctrl + P).

b) Select the “Input / Codecs” tab.

c) Go to the “Record directory or filename” setting. By default, it’s blank.

d) Click “Browse” and choose the location where you want to put your recordings. As you can see, I made a new folder called “VLC recordings” in my Videos folder. You could put them somewhere else if you like.

e) Save your changes. VLC should remember this, so you shouldn’t need to change it every time you record, but it’s worth checking before you shoot just to be on the safe side.

Step 2: Set up your capture settings

Now that VLC knows where to put your recordings, you can actually start recording stuff. Here’s how to do it.

a) Go to “Media > Open Capture Device” in the top menu (or press Ctrl + C).

b) This is the Capture Devices menu. First of all, you’ll want to choose which webcam/microphone you’re recording with in the “Device Selection” box. Then click “Advanced Settings”.

c) For some stupid reason, VLC defaults to a 4:3 aspect ratio and no locked framerate when you’re making recordings with it. So you’ll want to change that to a 16:9 aspect ratio (or whatever your camera supports) and an appropriate framerate.

d) You’ll also want to check the “Device properties” box. This is supposed to copy your video & audio device settings. I’m not sure whether it works, but better safe than sorry.

e) Click “OK” in the Advanced Settings menu, then “Play” in the Capture Devices menu.

f) Now VLC will bring up a bunch of menus to check your device settings. The first one changes your video settings -- you’re probably better off changing these in your webcam options than in VLC’s options. Just click “OK”.

g) The second menu here is actually really important, because VLC defaults to encoding your videos in something called “YUY2”, which will have either a terrible framerate or a terrible aspect ratio. Click the “Colour Space / Compression” dropdown box and change it to “MJPG”.

h) Check that your framerate and output size are appropriate for your camera, then click “OK”.

i) VLC will bring up one more box to set your audio settings. Once again, you’re probably better off changing these in your microphone options than in VLC. Just click “OK”.

j) VLC will at last show your pretty face in the window! It should say “dshow://” at the top left, and have a timer ticking away in the bottom left. This timer doesn’t actually mean anything important as far as I know.

Step 3: Actually Recording Stuff

You’re almost ready to record! There are just a few things that you have to fix up first.

a) VLC will be playing your sound back on a ~0.3s delay. This is not your friend if your speakers/headphones are anywhere near the microphone. It’s best to mute your speakers so you don’t get horrible feedback. Don’t mute VLC -- this can mute the sound output from your recording as well.

b) You should have a “Record” button (a big red circle) at the bottom left, but if you don’t, go to “View” in the top menu and make sure that “Advanced Controls” is checked.

c) Now you’re ready to record! Click the “Record” button to start a video and click it again to end it (don’t click the “Stop” button yet or you’ll have to start again from Step 2!). 

d) Once you’re done with all your shots, click the “Stop” button to close your webcam view, and go to the folder you chose in Step 1 to find your recordings.