How to download and record any video stream to disk using VLC

You can download, view and record any type of video stream (including Real) VLC 0.8.x can handle. This works perfectly well using Mac OS X as well.

In most cases, you must go for the link inside the site's source code. An example is a news video stream which uses the WMP plug-in: view the page source, copy the MMS link, and paste it in the proper field in the VLC dialog window (see below). Then, assuming VLC is already running:

1. From the File menu choose the Open Network menu option.
2. In VLC, choose Open Network, and paste your MMS (RSTP with Real) link in the appropriate field.
3. Next, check Advanced Output and click Settings.
4. From there, choose File (use Browse to create a new file) and check the "Dump raw input" button.
5. You must also choose Raw in the Encapsulation Method option.
6. Click OK, and you're back to the Open Network dialog window.
7. When you click OK again, VLC will start downloading the stream and recording it to you file.
8. Once downloaded the stream to your disk, you need to add the right extension to the raw file in order to open it in the right player (according to the stream format).

For example, if you recorded a WMP stream (A WMP stream uses the MMS protocol and usually ends in .wmv), assign the file a .wmv extension, and view it with Windows Media Player or Quicktime Player, as long as you have the proper codecs installed.