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Best Free Audio-Video Format Conversion Program
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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 perfect, and they tend to fall into a few general categories:
While some are better than others overall, which one is best for you will depend on what sort of program you need. Note: If you want to rip video directly from a DVD, click here to view the Best Free DVD Ripper page.. |
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Discussion
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Device-oriented ProgramsPazera Video Converters Suite
Also recommended:
Hybrid Programs
NOTE: When installing Format Factory, watch out for the bundled toolbar. It is installed by default if you don't uncheck the box on the first screen of the installer package. A portable version of this software is also available at LiberKey, which is a superb portable application manager.
Freemake Video Converter has recently been updated, and the new interface is about as polished as it gets. You can convert most any format of video or audio with this handy piece of freeware, along with DVD's, photos, and even web embedded media from sites like YouTube, Google, and Vimeo. The visual cues are easy to follow, pretty much guiding you from start to finish on any conversion task. There are lots of presets and quite a few options, giving the software similar capabilities to iWisoft. Likewise, you won't find advanced encoding settings anywhere in this interface, so if you're looking to fine-tune your output, I recommend moving on to something like Handbrake or Format Factory.
This software can make use of DXVA and CUDA (two methods of hardware accelerated encoding) to boost speeds. I was only able to use DXVA on my computer, so you may get faster encodes with your machine. Freemake took 39 minutes to produce its output using an Auto Bitrate setting, with a two-pass encode. It took under 15 minutes to do a one-pass encode. Handbrake took 33 minutes using a Constant Quality RF:20 setting. The quality of all three test encodes was excellent, with no apparant difference from the original.
There were also some negative aspects to Freemake Video Converter, such as the bundled FaceMoods Toolbar that is set to install by default unless you choose otherwise on the first page of the install wizard. To their credit, the Privacy Policies are easily available for both Freemake and FaceMoods. I installed FaceMoods into a dedicated Sandboxie sandbox, and didn't see anything out of the ordinary pop out of the install package. Just the same, I reinstalled onto my system without the toolbar and would recommend you do the same unless you genuinely want to make use of the FaceMoods features.
Although their website defaults to an "online installer", they do host offline installers, available here.
A final word of warning about Freemake's otherwise great software is that it has the specific capability of grabbing videos from adult websites. Unfortunately, the author decided to advertise this fact in the "Help -> Supported Sites" menu, where it gives you a list of 11 adult websites by name. The names are not clickable links, as is the case with the advertised mainstream video sites like Metacafe and Dailymotion, however they are technically being "advertised" as features.
Also recommended:
Custom-Oriented ProgramsIf you need to make complex, custom jobs, FFCoder is the standout choice for its coherence. Like most programs in this review, it has an excellent device preset list, the ability to convert multiple files at once, and a simple, sleek interface. Where FFCoder stands out is its support of highly advanced configuration for each of the dozens of video formats and codecs, down to lighting and rendering settings. Despite a few dependencies (listed below) and a steep learning curve for any tweaks past the presets, this is the best converter for almost any power user, device owner or not. One of my favourite FFCoder features is the Directory Watch. You can setup FFCoder so that it monitors a folder for files matching a filename pattern, which will be automatically converted using the selected settings. It can be a bit confusing to set up, however I found I got the best results when setting the wildcard filename pattern to something other than *.* (such as *.avi). There were two things I didn't like about FFCoder. The first is that is always creates Start Menu entries in the Administrator account, regardless of which non-admin account is being used to install it. This is fairly minor though, contrasted with all the powerful features. The second drawback is that it seems to be less stable on 64-bit Windows systems every now and again. I ran into .DLL errors and missing presets, which strangely were intermittent problems. I've spoken with the author and it looks like many of these bugs will be worked out in the next release. Also recommended:
Audio-only ProgramsXRecode II is the most feature-rich audio converter you're likely to find. One thing I noticed is that the speed of conversion is literally amazing compared to other software I've used in the past, and I think this is because it makes full use of each of my CPU cores. It can also edit the metadata of MP3 files before you convert with is a really cool feature. There is a portable version available as well. You can extract audio from video files, and you can convert from a single source file to multiple outputs at once which is really unique. This is highly recommended if you've got time to wade through the hundreds of options and settings. The only downside to it is a short nag-screen when you open it, asking you to Register. There is no time limit, and there is no functionality loss. Pazera Free Audio Extractor is the audio-only program in the above-mentioned Pazera Video Converters Suite. It supports both video and audio input and output to many formats, and is slightly simpler than some of its sibling programs. Otherwise, it is perfectly identical.
Online Conversion WebsitesZamzar is an excellent website when you're on the run. It doesn't allow you to customize the encoding settings, however it makes up for that somewhat with its portability and flexibility. If you have a browser with internet access, you have Zamzar. If you have any file, you can convert it to any other type of file in the same class. For example, you can convert video files, audio files, photos (ex: .JPG to .PNG), archives (ex: .RAR to .ZIP), documents (ex: .PDF to .DOC), and eBooks (ex: .LIT to .EPUB). You can even paste a URL (ex: YouTube) and it'll download the embedded video for you and convert it. Once the conversion is done, they email you a link to download the finished product. This email-based file retrieval can be either a pro or a con depending on how you look at it. It's more fuss than there really needs to be in the process, however it gives you the flexibility of converting a Youtube video from a computer where you can't download the content, such as when at work behind a proxy or at a public library. When you get home, you can then download the finished conversion immediately using the email link. I first used Zamzar over a year ago, and to this day I have never received unsolicited email from them. There is a 100MB file limit for free use, but you can upgrade that to 200MB and get about 5GB of online storage if you want to pay their fairly steep monthly prices. For most users, the free services are more than adequate.
Tested and not recommended:
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is really a package of several separate device converters with a common launcher. Each converter is powerful, with several presets for device, custom tweaking/profiles, multiple-file support, all in a simple text-based interface. If you don't mind the launcher, you could effectively use it as a hybrid converter.
To Be Reviewed:
- Avanti
- DVDVideoSoft (re-review)
- Miksoft Mobile Media Converter
- Mediacoder
- Motion Man by Blink Solution
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Related Products and Links
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You might want to check out these articles too: |
Portable version available here.
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Editor
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| This software category is maintained by volunteer editor DrBaker. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or suggestions they might have by clicking here. |
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Tags
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| free audio converter, free video converter, best audio video converter, top audio video conversion program, free av converter, free av conversion. |
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Comments
BEWARE Format Factory 2.80. I have been a long time user of this program, but the latest update does NOT give you the option to opt out of the toolbar, and it switches your home page to Ask.com without ASKING.
Hijacking the homepage is BAD.
They should change their name from Ask.com to WeDontAsk.com.
Anyway, I strongly recommend lowering the number of stars or removing it from the list. That kind of is unacceptable.
Thanks for the tip.
After testing the current version of Format Factory, which is version 2.80, downloaded from the developer's website and using the "Local" download link (rather than a hosted mirror, although normally these are all identical), I can confirm that I was indeed provided with the option to opt out of the Toolbar install, as well as to opt out of the "hijacked homepage".
Unless I'm missing something here, Format Factory should still be in line with TSA's policies regarding bundled software. For now, I'm going to leave the rating as-is. If another piece of software comes along which is equally powerful and feature-rich but without this rather annoying opt-in/opt-out aspect for the bundled software, I'll definitely vote in favor of the more "pure freeware" alternative.
Somewhere I read TechSupportAlert mods where deleting comments that didn't go along with them, in spite of being critical contributions* Not sure how true is that.
But there's one thing that I'm certain and kind of worries me. I've used TSA for years as a reference / source for applications, but as the time has passed I've come to realize that while usually "best of" reviews are good (I've to acknowledge that some are exceptionally good!), more often than it should, they miss key applications that any carefully best-of for newbies shouldn't. I would let it pass if we were talking about very new and/or obscure programs but that's not the case.
How is it possible for example that in the audio-conversion oriented section there's no mention to CueTools or Foobar2000??
Other examples i'm missing too CueRipper/Cuetools, XLD in Best Free CD Ripper. Check Out: //wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Comparison_of_CD_rippers
What I dislike most, is that this guides are supposed to be a first reference for newbies in the topic, whose are unlikely to know about this tools like say users that frequently hang on audio-related forums such as HA. Most likely Foobar is listed in the audio-players section, well then if the application has been already reviewed and their features noted, why isn't listed here?
Well, this is supposed to be a constructive critic, that's the whole point of this post.
Firstly, do you want to make a suggestion, or do you want to talk about moderation on TSA? We do not delete, anything which should not be deleted.. but if something is not in compliance with the rules, or are troll comments, then of course, we will delete such comments.
On to the main matter now. You are posting in the wrong section. We have a separate article for CD Rippers, and this comment should have been posted there, not here. So, this comment is out of place, and therefore, will be deleted after a few time.
Also, Foobar is essentially, a music player, and not a cd ripper. Yes, it has ripping capabilities, but it cannot be called as a CD ripper.. it will remain a music player, and therefore, wont be considered for the CD ripper article.
I think you may now understand, on the basis of this discussion, why we delete some comments.
Ok... well I didn't suggested F2K for CD Ripper, but for conversion. If I could I would edit the above post and post the audio ripper related part to the cd ripper article (maybe I just have to signup?), If I understood correctly that's the reason for the deletion; the other part of the post if in compliance with the rules. I've to ask too can't it be moved? It's quite frequent that people post in a wrong section, if all those comments get deleted...
Another question, let's take two different categories. Web Browsers and Website Monitors. If I recap correctly UpdateScanner is in the later article, though Firefox is eminently a web browser. Anyway I wouldn't suggest F2K for the audio rip, because it's quite basic. (especially if you compare; consider the features listed in the above table). But for audio conversion, it matches XRecode II capabilities and has even support for custom formats. While Cuetools is my choice for converting audio image formats to audio tracks or viceverse, which includes to convert to a different audio codec in the process (say audio image in ape to separated flac tracks). It can recursively and automatically batch convert audio files via drag-n-drop.
We can't move comments from one article to another, on the main site here. There is no capability to do that. Its possible on the forum, but not here.
But, similar comment about Foobar2000 having ripping capabilities had been posted in CD Ripper article too, and there too, we have said that it cannot be considered, because it is essentially a music player. Same goes for conversion too. It just cannot be considered as a converter, or ripper. It remains a music player.
New one: FreeSmith Video Converter
Download+Features: http://www.freesmith.com/free-video-converter.html
Video Converter = YouTube Video Downloader + Video Editor + DVD Burner
Not recommended. It pops up the OpenCandy license agreement, although I was not able to find the software actually installed in my sandbox afterwards. It automatically checks for an update, and finds a new version. The site it sends you to is a completely different website, and the title of the program itself matches it, which is, low and behold... Any Video Converter! Made by AVC Software according to the website, but made by ANV Software according to the directory created in the Program Files(x86) folder.
There are just way too many inconsistencies with this software for me to even bother testing out its actual functionality. First and foremost, I believe that good freeware should earn (and deserve) the user's trust, since they don't have any future sales revenue to lose if they are not a secure piece of software and the word gets out. Stay AWAY from this one, and I'd say stay AWAY from "Any Video Converter" as well. Mostly I say that because I am not sure how many versions of it are out there and not sure which one is the original, if there even is one.
Super Media File Converter - http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html
Another audio-video convertion suite, supports large number of formats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_free_video_converters
Super is actually listen above (just a one-liner which briefly describes it as a less recommended alternative, mostly if you need to do something very specific as it's got a lot of options.)
It's bundled with OpenCandy, which isn't too good for impressing frequenters of this site.
I use Any Video Converter Free and i find it very good. Converts many formats (including rmvb) an also allow to insert subtitles in the movie.
As I mentioned above, I do not recommend this software,
@DrBaker, I enjoyed your paragraph about zamzar, partly because your description--including the statement about email--is so similar to what I write to friends who ask about downloading video or audio from youtube. I'd suggest that you add an explanation to that email statement, as to why they have your email address: that zamzar sends you an email containing the link to your download (unlike most other websites in this category, which give you your download link online while you wait). This has its own pros & cons: to me, the two main advantages are that I don't have to monitor the site's progress or even keep my PC running while they process my request, and I could make the request from any computer--including one on which I can't receive the download (such as at a library)--and get the download later (within the 24-hour limit) from my PC; and the two main disadvantages for are that I have to do more work to get the download (going to my email to get the link), and I might not get the download as quickly. A friend told me that zamzar's main disadvantage for him was the initial confusion as to which link in the email was the download link, but that was a one-time issue.
Thanks for the great tip about public computers and downloading later on from home. I've added this to the review.
Freemake now does not provide offline installers. Instead, it now provides online installers, which not many people like, including myself.
I found offline installers of their products on VideoHelp. Might be worth mentioning as alternate download site, in case people are interested in the offline installers.
Freemake Video Converter : http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Freemake-Video-Converter
Freemake Audio Converter : http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Freemake-Audio-Converter
Or from softpedia
Thanks for that. Last time I had checked, Softpedia was holding online installers too. Seems like they are now hosting offline setup files. That's great!
Freemake now hosts their own offline installers, which I have updated the download link to point to in the review :)
Didn't know about that. Thanks a lot!
FFCoder crashed repeatedly on my 64-bit Win7 machine.
The current version of Freemake Video Converter includes an unwanted toolbar, and a Firefox and Chrome plugin.
You have to deselect them if you don't want them.
You may not recommend XRecode II because it's a nagware but I still think that besides the nagging, it's an excellent software. The fact that it supports almost all audio formats totally outweighs the less than 3 second nagging you have to deal with each time the program starts. I feel that it's a bit unfair to put the program in the "not recommended" section just because it nags you for a little bit.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. The old review was written by someone else, but after taking a look at the software, I highly recommend it and agree with your point about the "nag" screen. The new review is posted above.
All I wanted was a WMA to MP3 converter that can handle directories and a list of conversions. I couldn't figure out how to do that with iWisoft Free Video Converter, Pazera Free Audio Extractor doesn't support WMA (WMA not on the website list of formats) and Zamzar is not appropriate for bulk conversions.
From the Tested and not recommended list, I tried Koyote Soft mp3 wma Converter, which was described as clunky. I thought that the interface was simple and straightforward, with just a bit of clunkiness on one of the file selection methods. Based on my limited experience, it also seemed reasonably fast. The only drawback is that the default is to also install searchqu, but that can be deselected.
You can try audio converters, specifically for audio conversion. Some of them are :
MediaHuman Audio Converter : http://www.mediahuman.com/audio-converter/
Helium Audio Converter : http://www.intermedia-software.com/products/helium-audio-converter/
I don't seem them mentioned in the article. Dr.Baker, please consider them for the review :).
BTW, Freemake also has an audio converter.
I'll definitely look into more Audio only programs soon. I've added XRecode II because after testing it I was amazed at its utility.
You should try XRecode II then. Just ignore the fact that it's under the "not recommended" because it's a nagware. It can handle everything that wanted with handling directories, converting multiple formats, and can also handle unicode (I convert a lot of foreign music).
Pazera Free Audio Extractor is not meant to be used to convert music though but rather to extract music from videos and does a very very good job at that.
Koyote software always confused me for some reason since they look just exactly like iWisoft. Eitherway after I found iWisoft and even if during that time they look exactly the same, it seems that iWisoft is much better so that sort of lead to me to believe it's the original but I'm still not sure.
Pazera Free Audio Extractor supports WMA.
Quote from http://www.pazera-software.com/products/audio-extractor/, "The most important features" section:
Audio conversion: WAV, MP3, AC3, AAC, M4A, MPC, MPA, MP2, WMA, FLAC, SHN, APE, OGG, WV, AMR to MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, FLAC, OGG Vorbis, OGG FLAC or WAV.
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