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Introduction
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There are many different audio and video formats out there, and most devices (such as the iPod) and programs (such as Windows Media Player) will only take a few specific formats. A DVD or WMV movie will not play on an iPod, for example, without being converted into an MP4 file. Many commercial programs will do this conversion for you, but there are a few good ones that will do it for free. None of these programs are quite perfect. Some support more formats and devices, some are easier to use, and some are more stable. While some are better than others overall, which one is best for you will depend on your specific needs. Note: I don't own DVDs, so I'm not qualified to review DVD rippers. If you want to review them, or have software suggestions, leave them here. |
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Discussion
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Tested and not recommended Any Video Converter: FormatFactory with less options |
My favorite iPod/device converter is 
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1.90 
Unrestricted Freeware 
NT/2000/XP/Vista
This category is maintained by volunteer editor Arithmomaniac. Registered site visitors can contact Arithmomaniac by clicking here.
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What about XMedia Recode?
Thank you. I'll give it (and DVDVideoSoft Free) a look by next week.
Maybe it's just me, but it took me awhile to uncover all the format choices in FormatFactory. For example, to make a video Xbox 360 compatible, you have to go to All Mobile Devices!? > Microsoft > Xbox 360.
At first glance FormatFactory appears to have far fewer options than it actually does!
It's not you. That's probably its main weakness.
Pazera Video Converters Suite is very cool!!!
and portable = no radish to my registry ....
i love gizmo site!!!
excellent suggestions :))))
thanks very much
This article has been rewritten - hope you like it. A DVD converter pick, and more Quick Selection info will follow in the following weeks.
I'm not going to be able to read the whole comment archive, so if I missed anything, just repost the comment.
Great article, thank you.
The only thing that annoys me about Format Factory a little, is that it's built in preview/video player turns off windows aero effects when it's running for some reason. Anyone else notice this?
Yes I realise this as well. Some things just aren't compatible with aero, like a game that I played a couple of months ago which did the same thing. Rather annoying and I hope Format Factory sort it out soon.
My computer's too slow for Aero. Sorry.
The newest version of FormatFactory (1.90) contains ad-ware from ebay.com and shows an adware bar inside the program - so it's ADWARE and NOT FREEWARE :(
incase you didn't know this is no different than any previous version of the prog.
You sure about that?
(Nice rewrite by the way)
In that case it never was freeware.
Adware = a program that displays adds, FormatFactory displays adds, therefore it's adware, not freeware.
first off Sir... at least I assume your a guy... look at it this way the "adware" they use is NOT dangerous in any way shape or form however alot of the freeware developers look there programs with the simple line:
"Someone's gotta pay for it" so if they want to have an ad to ebay or brothersoft then let'em as brothersoft is there favorite distributor since it's how they make money.
No doubt they're an affiliate of ebay... besides your on this site just like everyone else including me who wants freeware and wants to run there computer off freeware since they don't want to pay for programs is there is a freeware alternative for it... so let'em post a banner ad (as long as it doesn't harm the user), if you dislike it then perhaps for EVERY piece of "Freeware" that you have on your computer then I suggest you DONATE a minimum of $10 to make the creators happy.
One also quick edit....
If your so much scared to have a program that shows ads then I suggest if you have avast home on your system then... run, run away because they have ads on there product but it's simply to promote the pro version and does not harm the user... which once again is FINE...
- Shane -
http://4Einc.vze.com
I know that FF's adware isn't dangerous to your computer in any way (unlike spyware, for example). My point was that it's not freeware, that's all.
Freeware is given to you by the developer for free (with no cost), while adware is given to you in an exchange for permission to display adds in your computer. While i don't mind to see a small message about a pro version of the same product, i don't like to see adds from third parties every time i run the software.
We try not to quibble over definitions of freeware but we do try to alert users if they contain ads. Your view is perfectly fine with us, but if we rule out a product that uses ads, aren't we depriving those users who don't mind. we try (often we fail) to give users information, so THEY can choose. Best of all is when we exchange info, which is exactly what's happened in this little post cluster. Thanx.
You put our rationale well Shane, although in our reviews we try to indicate if advertising is involved.We exchange information and try to give users a free, but informed, choice.
I know you do peter, but it seems that the guy who posted that wants to run away from anything that may display some sort of ad...
Since they want to look at ads and all ads are bad...
So I thought I would fire off some logic...
Sorry shane, its opinion not logic (but you're welcome to express opinions). Some people really don't want, for example, their children to watch or see any adverts.(it's quite an issue in eg. Sweden)
so what's the problem ?
the ad isn't dangerous... it doesn't have spyware or any form of malware in it. It simply says the products name "format factory" on the right side of it it says "ebay" on the left it says "brothersoft"
there is nothing harmful about it...
so why make such a big fuss over it Peter ?
4einc, it's just a matter of taste, some of us are freeware purists that doesn't like to install adware, in any form or shape, even if it's not dangerous. But to each his own i guess, i only gave my point of view on this freeware vs. adware thingy.
Great site BTW - i do appreciate the chance you gave me to express my feelings
:)
No fuss from me. I want to know the details of the advertising; you've told me, that benfits everybody.
I am posting this here cause it seems the likeliest place for this question.
I have some movies, documentaries, etc. (all legal, of course :P) that I want
to copy to blank dvd's so they will play in dvd players for friends that
don't bother with computers. I am looking for a tutorial/free software to
help me do this. I already have a multi-burner and use imgburn to backup data
onto dvd's. Can anyone direct me to an explanation of how to do this?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
If you're using Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, Windows Movie Maker is included. Alternatively, give DVDBuilder a try. Just a piece of info, I've not tried them thoroughly though.
You can also find a lot of information by googling "copying dvd movies". We hope publish our own "How to" Article soon.
Any Video Converter has now updated to version: 2.7.4 feel free to update the info
- Shane -
With the new version (2.7.4) you can't convert anymore from mp4 format to other formats - instead it will give you a message about their commercial version. I had to re-download 2.7.3 from FileHippo and re-install it:
http://www.filehippo.com/download_any_video_converter/5569/
So if you're using Any Video Converter DON'T UPDATE it - unless you want a crippled version!
2.7.5 is out and it seems they fixed that bug/crippled functionality/whatever it was - now it can convert mp4 again - yay!
"What about the very popular Quick Media Converter? http://www.cocoonsoftware.com/" +1
I have to agree. What about Quick Media Converter. It is a very good converter and it covers a lot of different formats. Please evaluate.
Any of these that will keep a directory structure, or that perhaps can be run from a command-line / is available for scripting?
My problem is that I need to convert my podcasts to different media for different players, and I would like to keep the directory structure.
(I have tried Format Factory
I believe MediaCoder does, if you tell it to. Both MediaCoder and SUPER will put it into the original directory.
Arithmomaniac
PS. Expect a rewrite of this article soon!
I just tried Handbrake (latest 0.93, on Windows XP Pro SP3), but with numerous attempts to rip a portion of a DVD into a mobile-viewable video, all I got was various errors (mainly corrupted video and program crashes). Not a single decent output in almost 10 tries, using various settings and output formats. It's gotten such a good reputation lately, with Windows & Mac users both, I figured it was a no-brainer that it would be excellent, but it has been completely awful in my experience. Just another in a long list of hyped vid-tool disappointments over the years.
So having found this list, I just tried Format Factory (v1.85) next. Very nice! Perfect rip on the first try. And one of the cleanest, nicest interfaces I have seen in a long time. Also very impressive features, format support (though I haven't tried much of them yet). Great recommendation, thank you...I can certainly second it.
Ok, just to follow up on my note, FF actually does have two annoyances that I've noticed so far. First, it seemingly isn't able to distinguish chapters when ripping a DVD; the user has to manually enter time points. And second (and related), the little built-in viewer, which is meant to allow the user to drag and scan to the correct point in the movie, doesn't work that well. Clicking at points or dragging the slider has unexpected buggy effects (basically moving to unexpected spots or hardly moving at all).
Not showstoppers (yet) but not insignificant either...makes ripping a DVD more of a headache. FF is still nice, but might try MediaCoder...
Ok, (maybe) last post. Following up, tried MediaCoder. It. Is. A. Mess. Lasted roughly 20 minutes on my system. Try running the shortcut, and instead of actually running the program (or more specifically with the program running covertly in the tray), it brings up an intro webpage, with a webpage-based setup wizard. Annoying in itself, although it was also problematic...didn't save a damn thing, had to go to the client and manually input my options anyway. Next, the interface is all over the place...the "simple" mode is too ridiculously simple, the "normal" and (heaven help us) "advanced" modes are overly complicated. Trying just a basic DVD rip...it doesn't even seemingly have a DVD option. Seems to call them "tracks"? In any case, I wouldn't know for sure...I tried that, and partway through scanning the DVD, it crashed. And that, as they say, was that. Bad taste from this program right from the get-go (have a look at the convoluted download "versions" they have and you'll get the idea).
MediaCoder is awful...another in a long line of awful tools of this sort that we've endured over the years. Doesn't belong on this list.
I guess I lied. One more. Tried a couple more on this list. Firstly: "Any Video Converter" and Format Factory are too similar to be truly independent. For better or worse, the same individual(s) are behind both products. Not sure which is newer or better but I'm betting it's FF. AVC seems to be more of an older lead-in to a commercial suite of products. Leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth over FF though (and something I haven't mentioned is that FF does try to install unwanted extra software although this is easily bypassed).
And secondly: the Pazera suite seems ok, but it is limited in terms of input/output and seems extremely weighted toward a couple of mobile platforms (mainly the iPod and PSP). This article is rather accurate about that. Didn't go too in-depth with it but will keep it around in case FF fails me. It didn't leave bad enough a taste in my mouth that I would recommend against it entirely (for now).
So in summary, there are only really two noteworthy ones from this article's list that I would recommend: Format Factory, and Pazera, in that order. The others are not recommendable. (And although my mini-reviews here have not mentioned Super, it is only because I already know/tried it from before, and frankly it sucks, for numerous reasons outlined in other posts already.)
I'm trying to play a DVD downloaded from Itunes. It won't play anywhere except in Itunes, not even windows media player. Can anyone help a non-techie here?
pjaatpdx
Have a look here:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/understanding-codecs.htm
What about the very popular Quick Media Converter? http://www.cocoonsoftware.com/
Hi Mick, it looks like Mr Pazera has combined most of his conversion tools into one Pazera Video Converters Suite 1.2 (http://www.pazera-software.com/products/vcsuite). Maybe it's worth updating/replacing his 'Video to iPod' recommendation with this one. I'm just downloading it now, but it appears to be a user-friendly control interface that is used to call each of the different converters -- all from one place. Thanks, Steve.
Has anyone had the problem when about to convert a movie that Super refuses to do so and shuts down.
I downloaded and installed the so-called SUPER and it won't even run. I use Vista 64-bit. Is that the problem? If so, there's not even a whisper of Vista64 incompatibility in your recommendation.
I also have had problems with SUPER on my 64-bit system. It would take forever to load up. It also would not convert a FLV no matter what I tried. A better media converter is Quick Media Converter www.cocoonsoftware.com. This converter is 64-bit compatible. Loads up lightning fast.
I have Vista 64-bit and Super. I haven't had problems with the program at all.
It worked fine for me on 32-bit Vista and Win7, I dig it. So maybe the 64-bit is a problem (which seems to be the case more often than not).
how can I change audible formated files to mp3??
If you are talking about encrypted files from audible.com, their site says this:
Makes their product pretty unsatisfactory to me.
This article tells how to convert, supposedly legally, but it is a long process.
Unlocking Audible Books Legally
I use this great free programme - First item down on this site: http://www.softwarecybersleuth.co.uk
Also check out Handbrake further down the page.
I've tried them all. I always return to the freeware MEGUI. Difficult to use, crappy help and tutorials but the quality and breadth is amazing!
Videos : I use Any video converter
Audio : I use Switch Sound File Converter
I use also : online converter Media Convert : http://media-convert.com/convertir/