VLC is a popular media player that allows you to watch videos and listen to music on your computer. One of the features of VLC is its ability to stream media from the internet or a local network. However, some users have noticed that when they stream media using VLC, the sample rate is higher than the transcoded and saved file.
Let's first understand what sample rate means. Sample rate refers to the number of samples of audio carried per second. In simple terms, it determines the quality of the audio you hear. Higher sample rates result in better audio quality, while lower sample rates may lead to a loss of audio details.
When you stream media using VLC, it first receives the audio data from the source. Depending on the source, the audio may be of a higher sample rate. VLC then transcodes the audio to a lower sample rate before saving it on your computer.
Why does VLC do this? Transcoding the audio to a lower sample rate can help reduce the file size and make it easier to stream over the internet or a local network. This is especially important when streaming media over a slow internet connection or when you have limited storage space on your device.
However, this transcoding process comes with a trade-off. By converting the audio to a lower sample rate, some audio details may be lost, resulting in a slight decrease in audio quality. The extent of this quality loss depends on the difference between the original sample rate and the transcoded sample rate.
So, what can you do if you want to stream media with a higher sample rate and preserve the audio quality? Fortunately, VLC provides an option to adjust the sample rate settings.
To change the sample rate settings in VLC, follow these steps:
- Open VLC Media Player on your computer.
- Click on the "Tools" menu at the top of the player.
- Select "Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
- In the Preferences window, click on the "Audio" tab.
- Under the "Audio" tab, you will find the "Output" section. Here, you can select different options for the audio output module.
- Choose the option that best suits your needs. If you want to preserve the original sample rate, select "DirectX" or "WaveOut" as the output module.
- Click on the "Save" button to apply the changes.
By selecting a different output module, you can ensure that VLC streams media at the same sample rate as the original file. However, keep in mind that this may increase the file size and require a faster internet connection or more storage space.
In conclusion, VLC streams media at a higher sample rate but transcodes and saves it to a lower sample rate to optimize file size and streaming capabilities. If you prefer to stream media with the original sample rate, you can change the sample rate settings in VLC. Just remember that this may result in larger file sizes and require a faster internet connection.
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