When creating a video, whether it’s a corporate film, a video for a social network or simply a souvenir from your vacation, there are several video formats. This is a fact that must be taken into account so that the film can be seen by as many people as possible. Indeed, a film played on a Windows player will not necessarily be visible with an iOS tool. To avoid having to remake a film adapted to each format, you can then use a video converter. But it is important not to choose just anyone.
The importance of choosing the right video converter
The heart of the matter here is encoding. An AVI film, for example, cannot be read by all players. It will then be necessary to think of “transforming” this format so that it can be read by other tools. But converting AVI to MP4 online is not a snap.
This is where the video converter comes in, a software that will modify the encoding format.
There are many formats, and many are widely used. Social networks, blogs, personal sites… not all use the same format. If you want the proposed film to be seen by everyone regardless of the medium used, you will therefore have no choice and you will have to opt for a converter.
But above all, it is important to make the right choice. Because there are a lot of them!
You must first make a list of your needs and first of all the video formats accepted by the platforms used to play your creation. It is also important to choose the appropriate quality for your needs. The MP4 format is the most used but does not offer a high definition.
It remains a great choice for posting on social media. WMV files, on the other hand, offer excellent quality but they are only read by Windows. AVI can be read by all media and offers excellent definition. But the files are very large.
The criteria to consider when choosing the right video converter
The purpose of the converter is to allow you to play a video on many media. It is therefore essential that the converter can support many formats. It must obviously target the source formats as well as the target formats.
Video formats
A basic converter should support these formats at a minimum:
- MP4,
- AVI,
- MKV,
- MOV,
- WMV,
- MPG,
- WEBM,
- SWF or even FLV.
If you always work with the same supports, you can be satisfied with these formats. If, on the contrary, you have to offer your video on different media, it is better to opt for a larger converter (some support more than 180 formats).
Audio
You can then prefer a conversion software allowing you to work separately image and sound to obtain a perfect result.
Image format support
Even if it is video, it is also possible that it includes still images (JPG or PNG format) or even animated images such as GIFs. If this is the case, do not forget to check that these images are taken into account by the chosen software.
Conversion speed
Another important criterion for choosing the right video converter is the conversion speed. A particularly useful item if you are working with large files. If your software is not efficient, then you could spend long hours before seeing the conversion completed.
It will then take a look at the compression algorithm used by the converter. Some are without loss of quality, others have small losses and still, others have larger losses. It is therefore important to check this criterion so as not to be disappointed.
Image definition: 4K
The definition of the image must also be taken into account. To maintain the quality of your video, it is best to use a converter that supports 4K. Note that free software does not support this option.
Other criteria to take into account
The points previously seen are unavoidable, but other factors can also guide your choice.
Video converter interface and preview
It is necessary that the interface of the video converter is simple and easy to use. Your tool should be easy to use so you don’t waste time. And this is especially true if you are just starting out.
If so, choose software that supports keyboard shortcuts. The preview is also a key tool to be sure to see what you are doing before saving your work.
Another interesting tool, the creation of profiles makes it easy to adapt your video to devices.
The integration of editing tools
Editing tools can also be included in the video converter. And it must be admitted that it can be very useful. You will be able to edit the video from the converter software: add captions, rotate the image, improve the quality…
Opting for a converter that integrates these editing tools is a good solution for those who work with videos very regularly. So they don’t have to buy additional editing software.
OS compatibility: Windows and/or Mac
A converter can be adapted to a single medium (Windows or Mac) or can be used on both. It is then an ideal choice if you regularly use both operating systems.
The price
The price is finally a criterion not to be neglected. We have already noted that a free converter does not support 4K. But if you don’t need to present a video of exceptional quality (even if it must be admitted, the video is your image and therefore must not present a “sloppy face”), you can opt for free software.
However, if you need more advanced features (for professional use), it is better to turn to paid software.
