VLC is an application that is updated regularly and is available for all platforms on the market, so we can make it our go-to application not only to play any type of video, but also to use the additional functions that it offers us, such as the possibility to rotate videos, download YouTube videos, extract the audio track from a video among many others. With VLC, the limit is in the imagination.
So you can rotate videos with VLC
Once we have downloaded and installed VLC on our computer, we must run it so that its main menu with an intuitive interface completely in Spanish, which will help us move comfortably through all its options. At the top we find the classic taskbar, ordered by tabs.
The first step is add the video that we want to rotate This is something we can do just by dragging and dropping the video on its interface or using the toolbar. To do this, click on the “Media” tab and then on “Open file”. Now we just have to navigate through the folders, select the video and click on “Open”.
Once we have loaded the video in VLC, we will go back to the tabs on the top bar and select the “Tools” option. A drop-down menu will open where we must click on the “Effects and Filters” option. In the next window, we select the “Video effects” tab, and then the “Geometry” tab.
Among the options that we find in the “Geometry” tab is the “Transform” section, which we must select. Once marked we can choose the number of degrees we want to rotate the video to be able to put it straight. The most common and that will surely be the one we use is Rotate 90 degrees, but we can also “Rotate 180 degrees”, “Rotate 270 degrees”, “Flip horizontally”, “Flip vertically”, “Transpose and Anti-transpose ». In the same way, also rotate a certain number of degrees, but not a straight value like the previous ones, we can use the roulette wheel “Rotate”, although, in general, it should not be necessary.
Once the effect has been applied to our video, it will automatically play in the correct direction on our computer, so we must be able to see on the screen how the video has been positioned and if it is already displayed correctly and is not folded. In general, VLC should immediately start the conversion process. If not, press the “Play” button on the main VLC window. This action should immediately start the process.
If this happens like this, we can now save it so that it keeps the new position fixed and looks like this the next time we start it.
Save a rotated video
This rotation effect that we have applied to the video with VLC will always be applied. In this way, each time we open the video, the player will be in charge of applying the rotation effect. But you have to be careful, because the effect is marked for all the videos that we openso we must remember to uncheck the box, so that the playback returns to normal when we go to view other videos that we do not want to rotate.
Therefore, in case we are satisfied with the video once rotated, it is likely that we want to play it on other devices, so for this we must save it so that all changes are applied correctly. To do this, we will need to apply the rotation filter to the video processing task, something that we can do with a few simple steps.
The first thing we must do to record the video that we have rotated is to go to the top bar of VLC to click on the “Tools” tab again. Among the options that are displayed, we choose “Preferences”. A new window will open, with several icons at the top, so we must click on the “Video” icon.
Now at the bottom we see the “Show settings” option, and we must click on “All” so that its Advanced configuration. We will see how the menu becomes part of a tree branch. Next, within the “Video” option, click on the “Filters” option. Finally, on the right side we will activate the box “Video Transform Filter”. In this way, when we process a video to save it, take into account the effect that we have modified. Once this is done, click on “Save”.
Next, from the main VLC window, we will click on the “Media” tab again. Subsequently, we will choose the “Convert” option, in order to open the wizard with which we can process and convert videos with VLC. Once we have clicked on “Convert” a new window will appear where we must add the video we want to convert, and then click on the “Convert/Save” button.
Once we have clicked on the “Convert/Save” button, the different conversion options will appear. From the “preferences” section, we see the “Profile” option that we will use to choose the format to which we want to convert the video. Now that we have the format to which we are going to convert the video, we must click on the wrench icon. A new window appears again in which we will scroll to the “Video codec” section and click on the “Filters” tab. Here, we’ll scroll to the bottom of the list and make sure to check the video morph filter (“Video transformation filter”) and click on “Save”.
We return again to the previous window where we must choose the destination where the video will be saved What are we going to convert? To do this, we visualize the Destination file option and click on Explore to choose the place.
At that moment, a window similar to the usual file explorer that we find in Windows will appear on the screen to choose a specific disk location where we are going to save the final result with which we are working.
Once this is done, click on “Start” to begin the process. Once finished, we will have saved the video rotated correctly. We can only disable transform effect that we have previously activated, to prevent all the videos that we open from being rotated.
With this, in the event that we want to carry out this same process with a good amount of video content, we only have to leave this option that we mentioned marked. to reverse the process later and that all the contents that we load are seen in a conventional way, in the future I only have to deactivate it.
Advantages of converting modified content
The reasons why we need to rotate this video content They can be the most varied. We have already seen that the process is quite simple using a program of the versatility of VLC. And it is that this is a software that goes far beyond the reproduction of videos and audios. However, once we have made the change to the file that we have explained to you, we might wonder about the need to convert it to another format.
It must be taken into account that on many occasions we carry out a rotation in a video to later share it with others or send it by mail. Thus, on certain occasions we are looking to adjust that content to a website for publication. Therefore, one of the main advantages that we obtain when converting the video once processed, is reduce its size. This will allow us to optimize the content as such to publish it on the internet and thus load it more quickly.
Likewise, we can carry out those content conversion processes that we have rotated so that the new video is compatible with a greater number of devices. For this we can choose formats such as MP4 or AVI, among others, so that the new file can be viewed on practically all current equipment.
Alternatives to VLC to rotate videos
Despite the fact that VLC is an application for everything, compatible with all the formats on the market and that, in addition, includes a large number of additional functions, it is likely that we do not really like the user interface or we have simply caught it and don’t like it. want to use it to rotate videos.
Avidemux
The simplest solution, always within the scope of open source applications and completely free to use Avidemux. Avidemux is an application that is based on the same principles as VLC with which we can convert videos to other formats. But, in addition, it also allows us to edit videos in a simple way, that is, rotate them, flip them, apply effects, cut out certain areas of the video, among other functions.
This means that we are facing an extremely useful application to carry out all kinds of changes and modifications to our video content. Furthermore, if there is one thing that characterizes these free programs, it is the ease of use that they offer us to carry out the different functions that they make available to us. A clear example of all this is found with the aforementioned Avidemux that we are talking about now. Therefore, if we want to rotate our own video content in a simple way, here we find another very interesting solution that will not complicate our lives at all.
To rotate a video with Avidemux, we must access the Video menu and select Filters. Within this section, click on Transform and then select Flip to rotate the video vertically or horizontally, depending on the result we are looking for. Once we have rotated the video, click on File > Save so that the editing changes that we have made with the application are stored on our computer.
Handbrake
Another interesting application that we can use to rotate videos for free is to use the application Handbrakean application whose mission is to convert videos between different formats but which, in addition, also allows us to change the orientation of the videos in a somewhat elaborate way, since the option is found in the options section of the codec that we want to use to perform the conversion.
In fact, we could say that this other option in the form of a software solution is characterized, among other things, by all the functions that it offers us when converting between video formats. Here we will not have any problem related to compatibility when working with these specific files. Of course, its mode of operation is not limited to this type of work, but also offers us other editing features such as the possibility of rotating our contents of this type.
Video editor
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