While traditional video contains a single video track and a pair of stereo audio channels, VLC is also able to playback complex video containers carrying multi-camera video, multiple audio tracks and metadata elements such as closed captioning. The list below includes special VLC controls that are particularly useful for monitoring the individual audio and video elements of the source content itself, including artifacts and issues introduced at, or even prior to, the source video encoding. For example, missing metadata, inverted audio pairs, and more.
| Control | Details |
|---|
| Video Track | Disable video or specify which embedded camera element to display at any time |
| Full Screen | Toggle between window frame and full screen |
| Zoom | A zoom setting of 1:1 ‘Original’ is advised for full image monitoring |
| Aspect Ratio | The ‘Default’ setting displays the true aspect, and can highlight an incorrect setting in the source |
| Crop | Ensure ‘Default’ is set, any local cropping is outside of the delivered stream |
| DeInterlace | Set to ‘Off’ to view non-interlaced source, or to determine if the video channel is interlaced as expected. Once confirmed, Set ‘On’ or ‘Automatic’ for general monitoring of interlaced video on an LCD screen. |
| DeInterlace Mode | When in ‘DeInterlace’ mode, a range of software post-processing methods are available. Note that any local post-processing effects are subjective and do not represent the source. |
| Post Processing | Ensure ‘Disable’ is set, local post-processing can affect perception of the true source. |
| Take Snapshot | This tool is useful for providing your support contact with a screenshot when describing a video artifact. |
| Control | Details |
|---|
| Audio Track | Use this control to disable audio completely or specify which embedded audio element to play at any time. |
| Audio Device | Default to the on-board sound system or select external audio monitoring equipment if available. |
| Stereo Mode | Use this control to toggle the stereo and monitor left and right audio channels individually. |
| Visualizations | VLC provides software visualizations that can help with audio monitoring such as the ‘Scope’ and ‘VU Meter’. Set to ‘disable’ or select a visualization to enable the visualization window. |
| Volume | Ensure ‘Mute’ is turned off if you are monitoring audio. |
| Control | Details |
|---|
| Sub Track | Use this setting to disable caption, or specify a specific closed captioning track to overlay on the video. |