How to stream videos and audios using VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player also offer feature to stream media files to local network. At the receiving end VLC Media player or other media player which supports streaming from URL can be used to receive the video and audio stream.

In order to receive the video and audios stream. the receiving computer must be connected to wire or wireless local network in which the computer which is transmitting the stream is connected. The  receiving end must know the IP address assigned to the computer in local network from which VLC media player will transmit the stream.

• Software :   VLC Media Player 3.0.11
  
• Operating System :  Microsoft Windows 10 Pro x64

Guide for setup in VLC media player to stream the media file

Setup VLC media player to be the streaming server using HTTP protocol.

• Open VLC Media Player.
• Select Media > Stream.
  

 

VLC supports opening four types of input.

• File : Open media files stored in local storage media.
  
• Disc : Open media files stored from DVD, Bluray, Audio CD and VCD.
• Network: Open media files from online streaming website.
• Capture Device : Open media files stored from a capture device.

 

To open Media files

• Select File tab.
• Add a single media files that will be streamed by selecting Add button.
  

• Use File Explorer to search and select media files.
• Select Open to Add it to the list of files that will be streamed by VLC.
  

• Select Stream button.
  

• 
  

Destination Setup :

• Set New destination to HTTP.
• Select Add button.

• Select Next button.
  

Transcoding Options

• Select  icon as shown in the image below to add you own custom profile .
  

• Enter a Profile Name.
• Select Encapsulation tab.
• Select MP4/MOV format.
  

• Select Video codec tab.
• Check next to Video to enable video streaming.
• Set Codec to H-264.
• Set Bitrate to Not Used.
• Set Quality to Not Used.
• Set Frame Rate to Same as source.

• Select Audio codec tab.
• Check next to Audio to enable audio track streaming.
• Set Codec to MPEG 4 Audio ( AAC ).
• Set Bitrate to 256 kb/s.
• Set Channels to 2.
• Set Sample Rate to 48000 Hz.
• Select Create button.
  

• Select the newly created profile in the Profile.
• Select Next button.
  

• Select Stream button to start streaming using VLC.
  

 

Note down the IP address of the computer from where VLC is streaming. 

Also note the HTTP port used to  streaming.

Example :  IP address of the computer is 192.168.20.22

Http port used to host streaming server is 8080

Then the network URL of VLC streaming will be http://192.168.20.22:8080

Setup to receive the  Media Stream

VLC player in other computers can receive the stream.

• Open VLC Media Player.
• Open Media > Open network Stream.
  

• Enter the network URL in the text box labeled Please enter a network URL.
• Select Play button to start receiving media stream.
  

 Media player installed in the same computer can also receive the video and audio stream. It is useful for testing the video stream.

 

Network bandwidth usage while streaming

Streaming videos and audio file will consume network bandwidth. 

Streaming audio files should not be an issue because it consumes less data.

Streaming good quality videos can be issue if network router is not fast. Depending on the bitrate of the video file the streaming will consume the network bandwidth.

A good quality 4K resolution 30FPS consumed maximum of approx. 35000 kb/s.

 

 If two media players is receiving the stream then network bandwidth usage will also double.