Converting From "x" -> .mp4

[zythyl]

Been using Format Factory to convert my videos to .mp4 (H.264 / ACV), and have also stumbled accross 'SUPER'.

Can't seem to get my head around the options for encoding. Format Factory only allows .mp4 conversion up to 720p - why doesn't it go up to 1080p? (I am aware that is a really stupid question, but I'd like to know the stupid-answer :oops: )

Id also like to know what the general consensus is here about the two: which one is generally better / handles the H.264 codec better, etc.

Cheers. :wink:

[Baldrick]

Both two are based on ffmpeg so you should get same quality.

But I would try handbrake,xvid4psp or hdconverttox instead. Uses also ffmpeg and x264 so you will get similar quality but I think they have 1080p settings or more customized options.

[zythyl]

Thanks Baldrick, I'll look into HandBrake as my g/f has already used that for her DVDs.

Also, what are the benefits, if any, of converting all my videos on my PC (avi, mov, wmv) to .mp4? Will the quality increase or anything like that? Does it work like a decoder, then recoder?

Thanks again.

[yoda313]

Main benefit of converting the videos is two fold - space saving and portability. If they are all from dvds or whatever you can shrink them in size and save more space as apposed to ripping them in iso form and not compressing. The other benefit is moving them to portable players like a zune, iphone or psp or something similar.

The only downside to mp4 is some devices have specific requirements for playing back mp4 files.

If you run into that issue you may consider something like divx or xvid that has a little less strict profile requirements (on certain devices - again you may never run into it but if you do you may need to tweak the mp4 settings or try a different format).

edit - also quality will never increase on a conversion. At BEST you will retain the same quality - other times you will lose some from one format to another. Main factor of course being bitrate and resolution. - edit 2 - of course you can use filters to remove things like noise and grain and what not but this won't make it dramatically better, it will limit weakeness in the video but not make it "perfect".

You should also consider going back to the original source to convert to mp4. Converting from say divx to mp4 can work but your best option is to use the original dvd or whatever the format was first and then going to mp4. Since divx and the like are already "lossy" information has been lost. By using the original source you are increasing the quality of the final output by not using an intermediate step.

Think of it like copying a copy. Each time you make a copy (say using a photocopier to copy a picture) you are losing a little bit of quality. If you copy from the master each time your are getting the best "one off" you can. If you copy from the copy it will not look nearly as good.

[usta]

Format Factory only allows .mp4 conversion up to 720p - why doesn't it go up to 1080p?

Format Factory can encode 1080p videos.
The fact that it is not in the presets, doesn't mean you can't enter the video resolution manually. Just type the custome resolution you want and it will encode it.

I ditched Super (recent build) after it started to behave strangely on my system.
Handbrake does quite good work, but sometime it crashes, especially at mkv to mp4 conversions. Then, I give the job to another converter...

[zythyl]

Thanks everyone for the really helpful answers.