With easy internet access these days, downloading videos is a lot easier. We may download any video, at any time for personal, learning or commercial use. However, a major concern during the process is the video format. Whether you want to connect an outdated monitor to a new one (or vice versa), download and save videos from social media to watch them later, you want to watch them on all devices regardless of whether it doesn't support all formats, or you want to make some basic changes to the video.
That's when you need a video converter that makes your life easier by converting videos to a working format without wasting time on video quality. Here is a list of some of the best video format converters for video enthusiasts.
Handbrake is a widely known and widely used video format conversion tool that converts videos of almost any format to a range of the latest and most commonly supported codecs. This free and open source tool works with all major platforms including Windows, Mac and Linux.
You can select a profile that specifically suits your device or select a common profile for normal or high quality conversions and start using the program in seconds. It is a simple, fast and easy to use tool. However, if you are looking for more selections, you can adjust the basic and advanced choices to optimize the encodings.
It supports almost all major and widely used multimedia file formats and any BluRay or DVD source without any copyright on them. It also comes with other significant features such as title / chapter and interval choices, VFR and CFR support, chapter markers, preview for static and live video, subtitles, continuous encoding for quality or medium bitrate video and more.
Price: free and open source
Wondershare Video Converter offers everything you need to make videos this way, making it the most comprehensive video converter around. All you need to do is download the software and then you can edit, convert and burn the videos effortlessly. As a result, you get the best videos in 3D, VR or Ultra HD with all keyframes intact and without redrawing or crashing issues.
It allows you to convert videos to more than 150 formats which include all major and optional formats. In fact, the converter also supports 4K and VR video formats. Furthermore, the program supports all popular devices such as an Apple device, Android device, Windows device and more, thus allowing you to convert and enjoy videos on all devices.
Most importantly, the program converts videos 30 times faster than any other converter available. You can start downloading or recording videos from popular sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, etc. With just one click. Plus, it lets you download videos in any format from over 10.000 sites. Furthermore, you can also take advantage of the built-in video recorder which helps you to record online streaming content from movie sites like Netflix, Hulu and others.
Price: Free download available; the upgrade starts at $ 29,95
Freemake video converter is another great video format conversion tool that allows you to convert videos to different popular formats like mp4, 3gp, wmv and avi, and also perform various functions like extract mp3, cut, merge, paste, upload photos and YouTube videos, burn DVDs and Blurays and much more. In fact, you can choose to convert movies and videos to over 500 different formats and devices for free.
One of its unique features is that it copies online videos using video links collected from video sites like YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo and more than 50 other similar sites. It allows you to convert YouTube content to different main formats like MP3, MP4, AVI and so on. You can also convert FLV online to MP3 or any format using this online tool. Best of all, this is also compatible with iOS, so you can download YouTube to iTunes.
Price: free
If you are looking for a free and open source video format converter, this can be the solution. Develop libraries and programs capable of handling multimedia data. This excellent media facility helps you encode, decode, mux, demux, stream, play, transcode, and even filter almost anything you can think of. It offers support even for older and more primitive formats that may be on the verge of extinction, up to the most recent formats.
Steps to convert video using FFMPEG: -
- Download the FFmpeg tools from the ffmpeg.org website
- Extract the file and click on ff-prompt.bat.
- A command prompt window will open.
Now to convert a video with a name sample.mp4 to sample.avi, simply try the command given below (provide the full path of both files):
ffmpeg -i /path/to/file/sample.mp4 /path/to/new/file/sample.avi
It is an extremely portable program that offers different tools for developers and end users alike. FFmpeg is a command line tool that helps convert multimedia content to different formats. This offers quick audio and video conversion using a real-time audio / video source. It also allows you to convert content to random sample rates and resize moving videos using an excellent polyphase filter.
Within its library, it includes libswscale which performs image resizing and color space or pixel format conversion, with precision. It also features something called libswresample which does audio resampling, re-matriculation, and conversion of sample formats in a highly enhanced way.
Price: free and open source
This video software helps you create, stream and play your favorite videos up to 4K. It supports a wide range of video formats including DivX®, AVI, MKV and HEVC. This free software comes with three components that offer video conversion, high quality video playback, the ability to stream content from your system or TV.
DivX offers much more than just video playback, for example, you can watch a wide range of video formats which include AVI, DIVX, MKV and MP4. You can also enjoy the smooth FF / RW function or chapter points. The smooth FF / RW function helps you to quickly visit your favorite scenes or search for various scenes using chapter points. If you subscribe to the pro version, you can take advantage of AC3 surround sound, DTS studio or DFX Audio Enhancer.
The pro version also gives you access to Cloud Connect which helps you import videos directly from Google Drive or Dropbox. In addition, the multimedia drive keeps all your videos organized in one place and you can also stream videos, music and pictures to any device that supports DLNA.
Price: Free download available; pro version priced at Rs. 1508. 13
Xmedia Recode is another great video format converter that can convert almost all known video formats which include formats like 3GP, AAC, AVI, AVISynth, DVD, FLV, H.261, M4A, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG- 4, MP4, MP4V, MOV, WAV, WMA, WMV and others. Besides the conversion, the program also offers the usual editing features, output options for video and audio, audio only and video only, copying audio and video tracks from the input file, profile (presets) for different multimedia gadgets like iPhone, PS3, etc., available in various languages and so on.
Although it offers support for up to 2 audio tracks, it also has a bitrate calculator that helps you calculate the required video bitrate which helps you to get a required file size according to different media like CD, DVD, etc. allows you to select a certain media ratio for fine control, show basic multimedia details about individual videos with MediaInfo, or provides support for batch processing of multiple videos are some of its other main features.
Price: free
If you are looking for a free and open source video format converter, Avidemux may be the best. It is designed in such a way that it offers easy ways to cut, filter and code activities. It provides support for different file types such as MP4, AVI, MPEG and ASF files using a wide range of codecs. Plus, automate tasks through options like projects, job queue, and advanced scripting.
The program is compatible with Mac OS X, Linux, BSD and Windows.
Price: free and open source
Any Video Converter, one of the leading video format converters out there, is freemium, known for its ability to convert videos to different file formats (AVI, MPEG1 / 2/4, MOV, MP4, 3GP and others). It is also popular for its fast converting capabilities and high quality video. This universal and resourceful tool is an all-in-one video converter that comes with a range of preset options compatible with different devices.
It also offers the function for batch processing and customization of several files at the same time. Although it supports ripping audio tracks from CDs into different formats (MP3, WAV, WMA, etc.), it can also extract audio, audio or background scores from videos. The option to download videos from YouTube or the built-in media player are some of its other significant features.
Price: freemium
It is an easy to use video format converter that allows you to convert videos to different formats. All you need to do is simply paste the link of the video to convert or upload a file from your system or cloud storage. You can then choose the format to convert and configure the settings. Now, press the "Start" button and the conversion process begins. Once the conversion is complete, you can download the file and enjoy it anywhere, anytime.
This free online media converter doesn't even require software installation on your device. It works perfectly with all major browsers and is known for its fast, high-quality conversions to different audio formats like .mp3, .wma, .m4a, .wav, .aac, etc.) and video formats like .mp4,. avi, .mpg, .mkv, .3gp and more. It also supports a wide variety of video websites which includes names like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
Price: free
MakeMKV
This program helps you convert your videos with just one click to a free and patent-free format supported by all major platforms to play. This transcoder converts video clips from the patented and encrypted state to a collection of MKV files. Memorize most of the details without changing them. The program allows you to save many audio or video tracks along with all saved metadata and chapters.
In addition, the program can stream decrypted video content instantly with no need for transient conversion for a wide variety of players. If so, you can also watch Blu-ray and DVD discs using your favorite player on your desired operating system on your favorite device.
Reads DVDs and Blu-ray discs, reads Blu-ray discs encrypted with up-to-date AACS and BD ++, save chapter details, no additional software required for conversion or decryption, save all video and audio pieces along with audio HD or fast conversions among its main features.
Price: free
Conclusion
Downloading and watching videos has become part of our life for several reasons. Whether it's for personal use to entertain or educate yourself, or for business related to demonstrating an idea or for marketing purposes, there couldn't be a better way than visual content these days. Therefore, having a video converter is almost a must nowadays. We have listed above some of the best video format converters that make it easy for you to convert for all your devices. So, choose wisely and don't let the format stop you from watching your favorite videos anymore.
