VLC Sync
Utility for synchronize multiple instances of VLC. Supports seek, play and pause.
Motivation
Strongly inspired by F1 streams with extra driver tracking data streams. Did not find reasonable alternative for Linux for playing several videos synchronously. So decided to write my own solution.
Install
pip3 install -U vlcsync
or
- Download binary release for Windows 7/10
NOTE: On some systems there are false positive Antivirus warnings issues. In this case use alternative way to install.
Run
Vlc
players should open with --rc-host 127.0.0.42
option OR configured properly from gui (see how configure vlc)
# Run vlc players
$ vlc --rc-host 127.0.0.42 SomeMedia1.mkv &
$ vlc --rc-host 127.0.0.42 SomeMedia2.mkv &
$ vlc --rc-host 127.0.0.42 SomeMedia3.mkv &
# vlcsync will monitor and syncing all players
$ vlcsync
# Started from version 0.2.0
# For control remote vlc instances,
# remote port should be open and rc interface listen on 0.0.0.0
$ vlcsync --rc-host 192.168.1.100:12345 --rc-host 192.168.1.50:54321
# For disable local discovery (only remote instances)
$ vlcsync --no-local-discovery --rc-host 192.168.1.100:12345
# For help and see all options
$ vlcsync --help
Awesome
Awesome use-case ideas
Demo
Limitations
-
Frame-to-frame sync NOT provided.
vlc
does not have precise controlling viarc
interface out of box. Difference between videos can be up to ~0.5 seconds in worst case. Especially when playing from network share, due buffering time and network latency. -
Currently, tested only on:
- Linux (Ubuntu 20.04)
- Windows 7 (32-bit)
- Windows 10 (64-bit)
Alternatives
- vlc
- There is a netsync but seem only master-slave (tried, but not working by some reason)
- Open additional media. Seems feature broken in vlc 3 (also afaik limited only 2 streams)
- Syncplay - very promised, but little complicated for sync different videos
- bino - working, very strange controls, file dialog not working and only fullscreen
- gridplayer - low fps by some reason
- mpv - with mixing multiple videos in one window. Unfortunally does not support multiple screens
- AVPlayer - only Win, macOS, up to 4 videos in free version
Contributing
Any thoughts, ideas and contributions welcome!
Special thanks to KorDen32 for inspiration!
Enjoy!