An Overview of Video Converter - Review and download of video converters

Whenever your media platform requires a specific video format, a specific bitrate or a specific resolution, you might be frustrated to find out that the video file you have will not play at all with that particular requirement. Then you shall resort to video converter to solve the problem.

Further more, nowadays consumers are already demanding "content on the go," and they are starting to understand how difficult it can be to manage their digital content on multiple devices. Video content is now required to be easily transferred and available on any media-playing product, whether in the home or on portable devices.

The ability to seamlessly move video content to any particular device is made possible through video converter. The popularization of portable media devices, such as iPod, Zune, Sony PSP, Creative Zen, Archos, is the major force driving the demand of video converters.

To put it simple, the reason we need video converter is just like why we need translators and interpreters. Video converter bridges between different types of video formats just like translators and interpreters communicate different languages and cultures.

What can video converter do?

Generally, the functionality of video converter encompasses three types:

1. Converting one video format to another video format, such as from avi to mp4.
2. Converting video content from one frame rate (bitrate) to another frame rate (bitrate). Frame rate (Bitrate) is sometimes changed to meet the requirements of particular media device.
3. Changing the resolution of the content. Resolution is sometimes changed to meet the requirements of particular media device.

Specifically, video converter is mostly demanded to be able to:

• Convert avi, DivX, asf, mpeg, mov, rm, rmvb and vob to mp4 for portable devices, such as iPod, Zune, PSP, Archos, etc.
• Convert avi, DivX, asf, mpeg, mov, rm, rmvb and vob to flv, m4v and asf for Internet usage;
• Convert avi, DivX, asf, mpeg, mov, rm, rmvb and vob to mp4 and 3GP for mobile phones;
• Convert avi, DivX, asf, mpeg-1, mpeg-2, mov, rm, rmvb, vob, mp4, flv, asf to DVD Video (PAL and NTSC)
• Convert Internet content, such as flv, asf and m4v, to mp4, wmv and 3GP for portable devices.
• Convert between other video formats;
• Extract audio tracks from video file;
• And save moving pictures as individual images.

What makes an excellent video converter?

• Picture Quality

All popular video formats widely used use compressed coding technology. Conversions between these already lossy video contents will cause further lose of picture quality. With the increasing concern of picture quality of the converted video, video converter has to play its best to deliver satisfying quality, if not excellent.

• Audio-video Sync

Video file is constructed with moving pictures and streaming audio. Either the pictures move slower or quicker, the art of video will be totally destroyed. Any capable video converter shall sync sound tracks exactly with moving pictures.

• Supported Formats

Adding one type of codec to the application is easy. However, incorporating the codec with the whole program perfectly and defectively is not that easy. For video converter, it’s required to support a wide range of video formats, such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, avi, DivX, asf, mov, rm, rmvb, vob, flv, m4v, 3Gp and wmv, etc.

• Converting Speed

Converting speed is one of the critical capacities any video converter shall qualify. Without the advantage of converting speed over rivals, one video convert would be less preferred in the market.

• Stability

Users hate system crash and task abortion, because these malfunctions cost their time and labor, and disappoint them. So any video converter shall better be smart and stable. Do the job quickly without crash and abortion.

• Additional Features

While focusing on the capacity of converting between video formats, video converter is expected to provide additional features, though limited, like cutting and splitting, playback, video effects, and auto-shutdown, to make the program a more useful and convenient utility.

• UI/ UE

Video converter shall not be judged by its appearance at all. However, user interface and user experience play a important role in making an excellent video converter. Friendly interface enables users to manage the video converter without great effort.

• Support service

One video format can be not supported, one feature can be missing, nonetheless, support service shall never, ever, be neglected. The absence support service will cause convenience for users, and finally, cost the reputation of the software and revenue of the developer. Any developer of video converter shall deem software and stick to its promise of helpful and efficient support service, free of charge, for every user.