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| Video Converter Software - Not Just for Professionals! |
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| By Erin Johnson, Updated on Jan, 2011! |
The concept of converting video files sounds daunting and scary. The file formats, containers, codecs, bitrates, extractions, inputs, outputs, WMV, AVI, MP4, iPod, PSP, Zune… it sounds like a different language from outer space. Who needs it?
If you use a computer or MP3 player, the truth is eventually you will need to understand how to convert digital media. However, the beauty of innovation means that complicated processes have been made simple and are readily available to the public. Don’t think that conversion software is only for tech heads anymore.
30 years ago, the personal computer barely existed. They were reserved for scientists, researchers and the military. In 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 62% of American households have one or more personal computers. It’s safe to assume that number has risen steadily over the last few years. And as of October 2007, Apple had sold more than 119 million iPods since it’s introduction in 2001.
With so many people utilizing digital technology, eventually digital media will take over the world, and we want you to be ready. Here is a guide to help you through the video converter process. |
1. Choose a video converter software that suits your needs!
If your main purpose is to convert home videos directly to your personal computer, via USB, or to your portable media player look for simple, familiar formats like .wmv and .mpg. If you have a Mac or iPod look for .mov and .mp4.
Here is a quick way to decide which media formats you might need.
If you have... Look for...
- PC with a Windows Operating System - WMV(Windows Media Video), WMA(Windows Media Audio)
- Mac - MOV, QT (QuickTime)
- Apple iPod, iPhone, Apple TV - MP4, MPEG-4, M4A, MP3
- Sony PlayStation(PS), PlayStationPortable(PSP) - MP4, MPEG-4
- Microsoft Xbox, Zune - WMV
- Creative Zen Media Player - WMV, AVI, WMA
- PMP Archos Media Player - WMV, AVI
- Video capable mobile phones, PPC, PDA, Blackberry - 3GP
- YouTube - Flv
- MP4 Players - MP4, MPEG-4, M4A, MP3
- MP3 Audio Players - MP3
- DVD Burner - MPEG-2, VOB
- SVCD Burner - MPEG-2
- VCD Burner - MPEG-1
For media players like iPod, PSP, Creative Zen and others look at the specifications section or supported video formats section of your guide book. Remember, if you’ve downloaded a movie from a service like iTunes, chances are, even with a converter, your movie won’t play on your PSP. iTunes movies have embedded encryptions that most video converters won’t accept.
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2. Understanding Configurations
After you’ve decided which video you would like to convert and have selected the appropriate output format, a few located in the chart above, you might be asked to configure some settings. Don’t let the language scare you. Here are some of those terms simply translated.
Codec - Most file types, like MP4, 3GP, MPG, AVI, FLV and WMV can be converted and compressed via a codec, such as H.264, AVC, MPEG-4, MPEG-2, Xvid, H.263 etc,. A fancy name for the “coder-decoder” algorithm used to make your video play on your computer or personal portable device. When selecting a codec, just choose one your portable device says it supports. To the novice there is very little difference between one codec and another.
If your computer does not have your chosen codec already installed, you can easily download it from the Internet using a simple Google search. Keep in mind that while most codecs are free, some of the more obscure ones can be quite expensive.
Video Resolution - Sometimes called “Video Size” or “Video Dimensions” your video resolution tells the software how big a screen the video will eventually be displayed on.
- 320x240 is the standard 2.5 inch portable media player size, can be played on iPod.
- 480x272 is the best video resolution for PSP Video.
- 640x480 is about the size you would need for a normal computer screen, it is the best video resolution for iPod Video.
- 720x480 is the size of a standard television set in the United States, used for NTSC DVD.
- 720x576 is the size of a standard television set using PAL, which is most of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, used for PAL DVD.
- 1280x720 is the size of a 720P digital wide television, used for Blu-ray DVD or HD DVD.
- 1920x1080 is the size of a 1080P HD wide television, used for Blu-ray DVD or HD DVD.
Bitrate - Without going into details, bitrate on audio and video files denotes quality. The higher the number the higher the quality; however the higher the quality the more memory (room) the file takes up on your computer or portable media device.
- Video bitrate - Most video converter softwares will have a default video bitrate of between 300 kbps and 1500 kbps (in kbits/s). With concerns to quality, 300 is a little on the low side, but will take up less space, whereas, 1500 will produce a better picture, but use more memory.
- Audio bitrate - The all around standard audio bitrate is 112 - 160 kbps and operates on the same principle as video bitrates. Most video converter software defaults to 128.
- CBR-Constant Video Bitrate or VBR-Variable Video Bitrate(Quality Factor), VBR is better than CBR, the better quality and the lower size. Most video converter softwares only set CBR, few excellent video converter software can set VBR.
Video Frame Rate - The frame rate is essentially the number of frames the movie goes through per second. Don’t touch this unless you really know what you are doing. If adjusted improperly you could throw the sync between the video and audio off leaving you with what looks like a poorly dubbed movie.
Sample Rate - Specifies the frequency of the output audio stream(in samples/sec, Hz), this is especially useful if you need to convert a media file to a media file format that support a limited range of audio frequencies.
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3. Enjoy the Video and Audio!
After all your conversions are completed, transfer the files to your appropriate media device or email to friends and family just like a song from your iPod, and you are ready to go.
Don’t let the scary anagrams, extensions and computer speak throw you off a very easy process. The digital age is here and it’s not leaving any time soon.
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| Choosing the Best Video Converter for You! |
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| By Erin Johnson, Updated on Jan 1, 2009! |
Choosing the perfect video converter software is like choosing the perfect car, it all depends on what you need the software to do and how far you want to go. In some cases, all you need is the basic sub-compact without luxury upgrades to get you from point A to point B. Others need a powerful, feature-filled, mega-software that will convert just about every file format under the sun.
The main purpose of most video converter softwares is to convert media already on your computer to a more compatible format on other computers or digital devices. There are three main types of uses for video converter software; to convert home video, online video and DVD or VCD video.
This is not the kind of software you need if you are trying to copy home movies from your camcorder to a DVD, although some support this function, most video converter programs are not designed for it. If that is the kind of software you are looking for, Please mail to us for help!
Before paying for the right video converter software, ask yourself these two specific questions: What do I need to convert? Which formats do I need to convert to?
Here is how video converter software can work for you:
Home Video- Capture the Moments
Video converting software is particularly handy in two home video situations. Emailing special clips friends and family and uploading to a format compatible with your personal media device, like iPod or Zune.
Emailing and sharing home videos with relatives near and far is a great way to keep in touch. However, the camcorder or video editing software you use is usually partial to certain file formats and you don’t always know the software your relatives will use to play the video back. Frequently, a well meaning birthday hello or introduction to the new baby turns into a lengthy technical phone call. With video converter software you can simply change your Windows Media Video to .avi or another friendly format.
Video converter software is particularly useful when you own an iPod, but have a computer that uses Windows. A conundrum many are running into is they are uploading and editing their home videos on their home computer, but they can’t transfer and play them on their iPod. Although iTunes works with Windows, most other Mac based software doesn’t; including video files.
Online Video- People in Cyberspace
According to Quantcast, YouTube attracts more than 50 million unique visitors a month, making it one of the most popular websites on the Internet. Most videos you see on YouTube, company websites or personal blogs are displayed using a Flash (.flv) file format. In conjunction with a flash downloader like RealPlayer, some video converter software can change your .flv file to a .mp4 or .avi file compatible with your iPod or other portable media device.
If your main purpose for purchasing a video converter program is you want to share clips of yourself singing along to JLo either on YouTube or your blog, look for a converter that supports a .flv input and output. Warning, only select applications supports this function.
DVD, VCD and SVCD - Home, not encrypted!
Video converter software can be extremely useful when converting short clips from your home video DVDs or videos recorded on your media center. A video converter program allows you to choose specific files from DVDs to convert to compatible formats and play on your iPod, Zune, Creative Zen, Archos or other media player.
We’d like to emphasize this software is impractical for copying entire DVDs to your portable device. That said, most video converter programs comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and can not break DVD encryptions.
Know what files you have and which device you want them converted to before paying for a video converter software, If you don’t know, please read our guides to choose an all-in-one video converter software!
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| Here's The Video Converter Software You Can Trust... |
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| By Testing and Consumers Reports, Updated on Jan 1, 2009! |
| Rank |
No.1 - Best Choice |
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No.10 |
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 Very Good
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RZ Video Converter
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Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate
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Total Video Converter
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Digital Media Converter Pro
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Wondershare Video Converter Platinum
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ImTOO MPEG Encoder Ultimate
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Cucusoft Ultimate Video Converter
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Any Video Converter Pro
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AVS Video Converter
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Movavi Video Converter Personal
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| Price |
$39.99 |
$55.95 |
$40.95 |
$49.95 |
$35.00 |
$55.95 |
$45.95 |
$29.95 |
$49.00 |
$29.95 |
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| WMV(WMV-1,2,3) |
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| WMV(WMV-1,2) |
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| WMV(WMV-3, VC-1) |
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| MP4(AVC, H.264) |
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| FLV |
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| Video Codec(Encoder) |
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| Video Bitrate(CBR-Constant Video Bitrate) |
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| Batch Convert |
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| Audio Convert |
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| Extract Audio |
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| Performance |
| Output Quality |
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| Help and Support |
| Speed of Service(We received a reply in...) |
Two Days |
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Five Days |
Three Days |
Five Days |
Three Days |
Five Days |
Five Days |
Five Days |
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| Telephone Support |
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| Forum |
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| Supported System |
| 64bit Vista |
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| 32bit Vista |
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| Windows XP |
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| How to... |
| Download |
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$40.95 |
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$49.95 |
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$55.95 |
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$45.95 |
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$29.95 |
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$49.00 |
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$29.95 |
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$23.96 |
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RZ Video Converter |
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It is the easy way to get your video and audio in the format you want!
For more info, you can access author website
|
The RZ Video Converter was the last one product we have tested, but we really like it, becasue:
- 1. So easy to use.
- 2. Support VBR-Variable Video Bitrate(Quality Factor), only RZ Video Converter.
- 3. offer the best combination performace, the better conversion speed and the best target video quality.
- 4. CPU multi-core and 64bit technology Optimize, the lowest CPU utilization, at the same time, converting video and enjoying video via built-in fullscreen media player, let conversion become fun.
- 5. The Cheaper, and offer all-in-one video converter solution.
Why not choose RZ Video Converter? We are all satisfied with it, and highly recommend RZ Video Converter.
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Comments:
"System hang up, don't convert, poor quality, I've tried more softwares and had almost given up on getting my videos to play on my PSP and iPod. Needless to say I found your webpage and took one more chance with the RZ Video converter. I also really like it, Thank you!"
"I needed to convert some wma music to play on my iPod at the last minute for a long car ride. I bought RZ Video Converter and it did the job well. Thanks!"
"Thanks for the guides, I took your advice and now I'm proud to say I just finished converting my first download video to play on my iPod and it's working flawlessly."
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