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VLC player convert does not allow multiple destination files

I want to batch/bulk convert multiple video files from one format/codec to another.

Why does the VLC Media Player application (i.e. the GUI version, the Windows / Mac application) allow selection of multiple source/input files for conversion, but NOT allow the user to to specify the name of the destination file for each of these input files? What's the point of allowing this multiple selection for only the input files? Seems like this is an incomplete feature.

To give more detail on what I am seeing:

I select Media -> Convert / Save
and get the following Window:



I can select multiple input files as shown in the above window.


But then, when I go to select 'convert/save' at the bottom of the Window, another Window appears which only lets me specify ONE file.



I would have expected it to allow me to specify a destination file for EACH of the source input files.

An even better approach would be to have a table UI widget: one column source input files, the other column the destination converted files.

So, what's the point of allowing multiple selection of input source files when you can only specify one output file? Seems like incomplete feature to me.

I've already searched this forum for the issue and found other posts but they don't have an answer:

Transcoding multiple files ?
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=85158

Batch transcode. I dont know how to do it
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=84842


Other answers I have seen are to use the command line and write your own batch script. But why not implement this properly in the VLC media player application (the GUI)?

Using VLC version 2.0.7

No, you need to batch it.

The wizard is already sufficiently difficult to use - more than it should, I think. Your proposal would further reduce usability.

So, indeed, you need to write a batch script instead.

I totally disagree with the earlier comment that it would "complicate" matters if the "Convert/Save" function could handle multiple inputs and multiple outputs.

VLC already supports a "Playlist" which therefore means that a list of multiple inputs is available by default.

All that is necessary is that the "Convert/Save" menu should understand an output Directory for the conversion results, then it can just iterate the Playlist.
... And all those problems with Batch mode disappear! Or maybe it could at least display the appropriate batch mode command which could be cut-and-pasted into a script ....

Naturally one could be more clever and set a prefix/suffix to generate new filenames in case the input and output directories are the same. But it should be sufficient to just insist that the output goes to a different directory.

I'll believe it - that it wouldn't be more intricate - when I'll see it...

This thread is...disappointing. The fact that you can select multiple files as the input means that you *have* to be able to designate multiple files as the output...the feature is (edit:almost) completely useless without being able to do this. The UI not providing this feature is *extraordinarily* confusing. The UI *not* having that feature complicates things immensely. If a compact and simple design can't be thought up by the VLC team, ask a friend for their input. And then another one, or a few more. I guarantee you that it can be done. And it would make VLC a truly legitimate and powerful conversion tool.

It is powerful already - but it's clunky. This is one of the most prominent things that makes it clunky. Batch conversion is a common task, the UI should enable people to do this.

Fixing this would be a very good thing for VLC - it can be done, I promise.

i am also disapointet on how the Windows VLC handels this BATCH conversation thing.
i can select all files in the directory
if i try to convert all the m2t to mp4 - and PUT IT TO THE SAME NAME like the original except from now as .MP4
this thing schoud dont understand me ?

Gentleman , i am not a video profi , and i dont get it to seperate alls Parameters in converting to write such a batch.
all i want is to select an directory and change / convert all files selected to the same name as before in .mpg4



that function shoud be corrected or implented as soon as possible....
the mess how vlc handle it NOW is not suitable for the good name of VLC

remarks :
m2t files i get from my DVB-T video , i like to crunch it smaler to the mp4
but gentleman , im not a profi to know such parameters and at least
i dont like to sit all day before my computer and get EVERY SINGLE FILE AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT to convert
that thing must be automaticaly batch down the whole file list from its own over night....


pls excuse my bad english
greetings pet

I finally found a good alternative to VLC for this - Freemake Video Converter. It seems to handle doing this very well, with an extremely simple interface. Much like what some in this thread have described would be a good way to do it. Just be careful not to install any of the bundled crapware, browser toolbars and stuff. Once you get past that it is smooth sailing.

It can be done, you just have to try.

Wow, seriously? I was banned for "advertising conversion software"?

At least now I know the team has been keeping up with this thread. I'm still disappointed in the lack of response, this is ridiculous. I guess you all just aren't interested in VLC being a legitimate piece of conversion software. It's unfortunate, because the backbones for that feature are there, the UI just hasn't been properly implemented yet.

For now, VLC is only useful for one thing - it's a media player. I've been forced to turn to other programs to handle video conversion.

Ah, beautiful.

Regardless -

I'll believe it - that it wouldn't be more intricate - when I'll see it...

You are displaying an unfortunate amount of doubt in your team. The people who would make it *not* too intricate...are the VLC team. The only way it could be overly complicated is if you/they *make* it overly complicated.

There are many ways to do this simply, cleanly, and efficiently. There are SO MANY. Your comment is extremely pessimistic, and it's pessimistic **about the skills of the VLC team**. If they can't do it, it's only because they lack the skills to do it.

I can tell you, they don't lack the skills. Do you believe they do...?

Eh, I have made well over 10,000 changes to the VLC code base in the course of 11 years. I think I have some clue about what is complicated and what is not.

But code complexity is hardly even the point. GUI complexity would have to increase, and thus ease of use to decrease. Spending efforts to make the GUI worse, no thank you.

There are already two different ways you can stream/convert multiple files: VLC command line scripting and calling the GUI multiple times.

GUI complexity would have to increase, and thus ease of use to decrease.

That is only true if you aren't trying to decrease the complexity. It is complex now. There are many changes you could make to make the UI simpler. This does not have to be a complex-to-use feature. It will only be complex if you make it complex. If you make it simple, it will be simple.

The GUI simply can't do this currently. THAT IS COMPLEX. It is confusing and unexpected. There are SO MANY ways you could do this properly and simply. Command line scripting and sitting there manually converting each and every file are both extremely complex compared to even the lowest-effort ways you could implement this in the GUI.

edit: Also, congrats on your 10,000th post!

While we are discussing GUI complexity can I please request that some attention be paid to the "filters" which can be selected in the "profiles" or in the "preferences".
Many of these seem to be historical hangovers, with little/no documentation and odd bugs.

In particular it would simplify things if:
1) All filters behaved the same regardless of whether the video is being displayed or transcoded to file.
Presently many of them only work on the display (eg. "cropadd", "scale", "logo").
Many completely fail when selected with a conversion to file. Typically messages report that the codec is "missing" if (and only if) a filter is selected.

2) Filters could be applied without necessarily converting the video to another format.
Presently it is only possible to use a filter if the video is converted.
For example it is not possible to filter MPEG2 video input and save it as MPEG2 video output. The MPEG2 must be converted to some other format such as MP4 in order for the filter to be added.

3) Alternatively the "filters" could be removed from the "transcode"/"convert" profiles, and notes could be added to warn that they are only available to use on the display stream.

Unfortunately I don't think anyone's listening...

Convert dialog
Sources: [file:///G:/New%20Folder/3%20of%203%202.mkv file:///G:/New%20Folder/3%20of%203.mkv file:///G:/New%20Folder/1%20o%203.mkv file:///G:/New%20Folder/2%20of%203.mkv]
Output folder: [d:\output\] [Browse]

If there were multiple sources, then the Convert dialog could ask for "Output folder" instead of "Destination file". Then the [Start] button could generate multiple transcoding tracks in VLC playlist with multiple destinations: filenames according to sources' filenames in one output folder with new filename extension prepended according to selected transcoding profile. If there were the same sources' filenames or existing files in the output folder, then the counter could be prepended to filename.

d:\output\
\1 o 3.mkv.mp4
\2 of 3.mkv.mp4
\3 of 3.mkv.mp4
\3 of 3 2.mkv.mp4 <<< if the file already exists, then do not overwrite it, use the counter
\3 of 3 2.mkv[1].mp4 <<< the file with added counter
Then it is not a big problem to rename the output files manually and everybody is happy

Further improvements could contain also the destination filename prefix allowing to use various expansions: filename, counter, date, time. The repeat feature should be disabled automatically before conversion. A checkbox for joining of files could also be possible (to join sources of the same format otherwise transcode them according to the first source file).

To convert a 100 or more files using the graphical interface is just plain stupid and or course vlc is very well able to be used in a batch or shell script, exactly because you can do everything in command line. For examle to transcode all mp3 files inside a given folder I would (in Linux) do a simple script as:
and problem solved (for the details of the "transcoding options" there are about a 1000 help-web-pages easily found by google). I suppose in Windows using batch script this should be of comparable difficulty or simplicity (maybe windows-batch is less powerful than linux-bash but for such a simple script this should not play a role ...). I even suspect that with google one can find in 5 minutes a nearly complete solution for this kind of problem in Windows (there is always a nice guy having already solved a similar problem in the past and who has written the solution in some blog, forum ...) but the real problem is that many Windows users do not even accept the idea of making their hands dirty to write a batch script or to learn how it is done etc. Everything has to be click-click-mouse ...
In that case one should turn to commercial software where the "honest" user pays XXX $ and is entitled to support, functionality etc. provided that even in the commercial video software market you find something which can do this better than vlc.

There are many "free" software solutions for this type of problems where one does not need to pay money but there is still a price to pay: to be willing to do a little effort to learn, to be open minded, not being lazy, especially not being insulted that other people do not work for free for you ...

Changes between 2.2.x and 3.0.0-git:
--------------------------------
Qt interface:
* Batch convert support

You can try VLC nightly build: http://nightlies.videolan.org/

--- EDIT ---
Lua interface can help within the GUI: https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=130354

I just tried the latest build, nightly build.
I cannot get the batch method to work.
if I add one MP4 file, to convert to AUDIO-MP3, it converts OK.
but IF I add two or more files, and select convert, it states "multiple files selected" (correct), and if I hit start/convert, nothing is happening, no blue progress bar, etc.

BUT, if I check to DISPLAY the OUTPUT, it STARTS to convert, and music plays; (but I don't want the music playing continually, as it is converting real-time on the screen, one hour convert to convert 1 hour of playback)
any suggestions appreciated

I had to register to comment on this also. I simply don't understand the resistance to fixing something which "appears" broken. Saying it is "stupid" to try to do something the software can almost do is arrogant and unhelpful.

Here's a case where this would be useful...

I have ripped audio from a concert DVD into a number of mp4 files. All neatly in a directory with consecutively numbered file naming. I want to convert to MP3.

I try to use Convert/Save and I can add the multiple files, but cannot then select a directory as output destination (or e.g. "save to same directory" - with a different file extension for the new container)

The GUI complexity argument makes no sense but perhaps I don't understand why it is possible to add a list of filenames in this dialogue at the moment. If there is a use which actually works with this I could maybe understand how trying to make it do something else would be complex for the UI. I admit I maybe missing that.

At the moment I'm baffled by the response.

Stuart

As someone who is encountering the problem described by srushichef2, I have to second his question: why on earth, if VLC is capable of batch conversion, would you not make the GUI capable of performing this task? And why on earth would you structure the GUI so it seems that you are preparing a batch conversion, only to find out in a very confusing way that such a thing is not possible through the GUI after all. Very frustrating. The argument that it would increase GUI complexity is bananas. Thanks srushichef2 for having pushed this.

I will believe the argument when I see a patch.

I'm glad to see I'm the only one who ran into this problem and completely agree with the complaints, but so many users in this post are acting like asses to the developers.

That said, as awesome as VLC is, it seems unintuitive to allow multiple files to be input into the "Open Media" menu but only allow a single file output.

I'm an illiterate newbie on scripting, so it would be appreciated if someone could post instructions on how to run a batch conversion manually.
edit: https://wiki.videolan.org/VLC_HowTo/Tra ... le_videos/ I'm assuming you just make that into a batch file and run it, but not sure what I'd have to change in the script for different VLC installation directories, different file formats (I need OGV to MP4), and how to set input files/output destination.

Sitting here with a folder of 100+ ogv files I need to convert to get them into my rendering software

VLC allows multiple input files because it makes perfect sense for normal playback... or to gather multiple input files into a single output.

Like the OP and other posters, I'm here because I wanted to batch convert something. Web searches and posts led me to believe I could do this with VLC from the GUI, which led me here after a lot of experimentation and searching trying to figure out what I was doing wrong...

Regardless of everything else in the thread, I'd request that once we add multiple files in the "Convert/Save" dialog and hit "Convert/Save" we be confronted with an option to convert all the files we selected into their original folders with their original names (different extensions). In the interface it could be as simple as a checkbox. I think that would be enough for most situations, since we can just use a batch file renaming utility afterwards if needed...

I'm almost done converting manually, but if I end up making a bangin' script that I can drop 1000 files on and walk away (scripting is the limit of my own coding abilities), I"ll read the forum rules and find a proper way to share it

I hope the devs will consider adding that checkbox to the next version. Thanks for all your hard work