FREE converter WEBM to MPG, MP4, etc.?

[RowRowYourBoat]

The only program I've seen convert WEMB to something useful is VLC Media Player, and it does the job poorly.

I've looked for a while now, but have only found overpriced fly-by-night converters, converters that will watermark output, and malware disguised as legitimate converters. I don't want something that is "free to download." I want something that is free.

UNLESS the feature set and support is so astounding a purchase is fully justified—something else I've not yet seen.

Can someone help me find software to convert WEBM into something I can work with?

Please.

[jagabo]

If VLC didn't deliver good quality it was probably your fault, not VLC's.

Another free program with a GUI try Handbrake.

ffmpeg is free, but you'll have to learn some command line usage. For example, to just remux the compressed contents of the webm file to mkv:

ffmpeg -i input.webm -c copy output.mkv

To convert the video to AVC (x264) and the audio to AAC, both at the default settings:

ffmpeg -i input.webm -vcodec libx264 -acodec aac output.mkv

Create a batch file and you can just drag/drop webm (or any other container) files onto the batch file to perform the remux/conversion. Put that batch file in your SendTo folder and you can right click on any A/V file and select Send To -> BatchFIlename.bat.

[PabstBlueRibbon]

The Pazera Audio ANd Video Converter Package is free and portable and relies on FFMPEG encoding and because of the graphical user interface it's easier to learn.

However MP4's can be encoded on so many ways. Recent encoding profiles can create better looking videos than older profiles with the same bitrate. However the more recent the decoding format is the harder it gets to decode and play the video. Devices from a couple of years back can't decode those MP4s.

If the WEMB-files already have the correct codec - you just have to store it into another file format - then Pazera can do it really fast because the video doesn't have to be re-encoded.

[DB83]

Where do all these WEBM files come from anyway ?

I have only ever seen one and then I used on of those online yt downloaders since I did not think my usual programs were working.

But use the right software and you get your downloaded file as mp4 anyway. No need to convert.

[usually_quiet]

Where do all these WEBM files come from anyway ?

I have only ever seen one and then I used on of those online yt downloaders since I did not think my usual programs were working.

But use the right software and you get your downloaded file as mp4 anyway. No need to convert.

I believe that you are correct in thinking that some downloaders provide the option to choose from a selection of containers/codecs. Some websites offer a large number of options.

I recently obtained some UHD demo files from YouTube (The World in HDR in 4K (ULTRA HD)) to test my new 1080p monitor, which is able to accept UHD resolution input and downscale it to 1080p. 4K Video Downloader gave me the choice of mkv (with VP9 video and Vorbis audio) or mp4 (with H.264 video and AAC audio) for 2160p video. A different downloader, Youtube DLG provided options for webm (with VP9 video and Vorbis audio) and mp4 for 2160p video. 3gp, flv, mp4 and webm were available options for lower resolution streams.

[davexnet]

Vidcoder seems to work well with webm.
vp8/vorbis > avc/aac