Friday, June 30, 2017

3 Ways to Play ISO Files with VLC

As a free and open-source cross-platform media player, VLC media player supports many audio and video compression methods and file formats, including DVD-Video, video CD and streaming protocols, etc. ISO files are image files that contain information that is saved on discs, such as DVDs or CDs. These types of files cannot be read on their own, as they must be joined with the tracks or other data associated with the ISO file. Burning an ISO file onto a blank disc just to read the image is a lengthy and unnecessary process. VLC Media Player, the software program that "plays everything," opens ISO files, allows you to preview the file in less than one minute and do so for free.

Part 1: 3 ways to play ISO files with VLC media player
Part 2: Step by step guide to play ISO files with VLC
Part 3: Best VLC assistant to rip ISO files for VLC Playing

Part 1: 3 Ways to play ISO files with VLC media player

Method 1: On the top menu bar of VLC media player, from "Media" drop-down list, choose "Open File" to open a browser-like dialog to choose your desired ISO image, then click "Open" button to play the content in the ISO file immediately.

Method 2: Open your Windows Explorer Window. Directly drag and drop the ISO file into the main interface of the VLC Media Player.

Method 3: Right click on the ISO file to select "Open with" option and then "Choose default program". Then choose "More Programs". If you're unable to do it in your computer at the first attempt, you can choose this media player from the list.

You have to check the most suitable checkbox in the program list. This process lets VLC Media Player to open ISO files usually. This simple method makes this media player as the default program to open every ISO file.

Part 2: Step by Step to Play ISO Files on VLC media player

Step 1: Open VLC Media Player.
Step 1: Click on "File." Choose "Open File." A window will open inside VLC.
Step 2: Click the first "Browse" button on the right side of the window. A VLC "Browse" window will open.
Step 3: Click the name of the ISO file that you want to play. The ISO file will be highlighted.
Step 4: Click "Open." The ISO file will play in VLC Media Player.

Part 3: Best assistant to rip ISO files for VLC Playback

Sometimes, you may fail to open certain ISO files with VLC. The main reason is that ISO is actually an archive file which is used to backup CDs or DVDs. VLC can play ISO files as long as the DVD structure is intact (it also means that the ISO file must have the exact same folders that are in your DVD such as Video_TS folder). If the directory structure of ISO image is not similar to that of DVD, you will fail to play the file on VLC.

When in that condition, you can use a ISO ripper such as Pavtube ByteCopy to facilitate you to rip the ISO image file to VLC media player readable video and audio file formats listed below:

Container formats: 3GP, ASF, AVI, DVR-MS, FLV, Matroska(MKV), MIDI, QuickTime File Format, MP4, Ogg, OGM, WAV, MPEG-2 (ES, PS, TS, PVA, MP3), AIFF, Raw audio, Raw DV, MXF, VOB, RM, DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD, CD Audio, DVB
Video format: Cinepak, Dirac, DV, H.263, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, HuffYUV, Indeo 3, MJPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Part 2, RealVideo 3&4, Sorenson, Theora, VC-1, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP9, DNxHD, Prores and some WMV
Audio formats: AAC, AC3, ALAC, AMR, DTS, DV Audio, XM, FLAC, It, MACE, Mod, Monkey's Audio, MP3, Opus, PLS, QDM2/QDMC, RealAudio, Speex, SCreamtracker 3/S3M, TTA, Vorbis, WavPack, WMA (WMA 1/2, WMA 3 partially).

Tips: To get better output video and audio quality, click "Settings" on the main interface to open "Profile Settings" window, here, you can flexibly choose or specify exactly the profile parameters including video codec, resolution, bit rate, frame rate, audio codec, bit rate, sample rate, channels, etc as you like.

For Mac users, you can download Pavtube ByteCopy for Mac to do the same ripping process on macOS Sierra or macOS High Sierra.

Get Pavtube ByteCopy with 20% off discount, coupon codec: 45K2D47GJH

How to Convert ISO Files for VLC Media Player?

Step 1: Load ISO image file to the program.

Run the program on your computer, click "File" > "Load IFO/ISO" to load ISO image file into the program.

Load ISO files into the program

Step 2: Choose output file format.

Click "Format" bar, from its drop-down option, select one of VLC most playable digital file formats such as "H.264 HD Video (*.mp4)" under "HD Video" main category.

Choose output file format

Step 3: Customize output profile parameters.

Click settings to open "Profile Settings" window, here you can flexibly adjust output video/audio codec, file resolution, bit rate, frame rate, sample rate, etc according to your own situations.

Customize output profile parameters

Step 4: Start ISO to VLC media player converting process.

One click the big button "Convert" on bottom-right corner to start conversion.

Once finishing conversion, you will have no problem to play converted digital files with VLC media player on both Windows and Mac.

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