DonsDeals Blog: Best Free Audio / Video Format Conversion Program

Search My Blog

Monday, June 7, 2010

Best Free Audio / Video Format Conversion Program

Updated Sat, 06/05/2010 - 00:10 by Arithmomaniac

In a Hurry?

Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide

Introduction

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, and they tend to fall into a few general categories:

Device-oriented programs users have very easy-to-use settings and many device presets, but few (if any) user-editable settings. They are meant for converting audio and video so it can play on a portable device, such as an iPod.
Custom-oriented programs have lots of settings and the ability to save custom formats, but fewer device presets and more complicated interface. They are meant for odd devices or compressing audio and video.
Hybrid programs make compromises to handle both types of jobs well.
Audio-only programs use their narrow focus to make the interface simpler.

While some are better than others overall, which one is best for you will depend on what sort of program you need.

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.