How to convert vlc media player to mp4: VLC Media Player is one of the most popular and versatile media players available today. It supports almost all video formats and has a built-in feature to convert videos into different formats, including MP4. Whether you need to convert a video for better compatibility, reduce its size, or make it easier to share, VLC can do the job efficiently. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of converting videos using VLC Media Player.
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Why Convert Videos to MP4?
MP4 is one of the most widely used video formats because of its high compatibility with different devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. It also provides a good balance between video quality and file size, making it a preferred format for online streaming and social media uploads. If you have a video in an unsupported format or want to compress a large file, converting it to MP4 using VLC Media Player is a smart choice.
Step-by-Step Guide to Convert Videos Using VLC Media Player
Step 1: Open VLC Media Player
Ensure you have VLC Media Player installed on your computer. If not, download it from the official website (www.videolan.org) and install it. Once installed, launch the VLC application.
Step 2: Open the Media Conversion Tool
Click on the “Media” tab in the top-left corner of the VLC window. From the dropdown menu, select “Convert/Save.” This will open a new window where you can add the video file that you want to convert.
Step 3: Select the Video File
In the “File” tab of the Open Media window, click on “Add” and browse to locate the video file you want to convert. After selecting the file, click on “Convert/Save” at the bottom of the window.
Step 4: Choose the Output Format (MP4)
A new window will appear. Under the “Profile” section, select “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4).” This ensures that your video will be converted into the MP4 format using H.264 encoding for better compression and quality balance.
Step 5: Select Destination Folder
Click on “Browse” under the “Destination” section and choose where you want to save the converted MP4 file. Give it a name and ensure the file extension is “.mp4” before clicking “Save.”
Step 6: Start the Conversion Process
After setting everything up, click on the “Start” button. VLC will now begin converting your video to MP4. The progress bar at the bottom of the VLC window will show the conversion status. Depending on the video length and your computer’s processing power, the conversion process may take a few minutes.
Step 7: Play and Verify the Converted Video
Once the conversion is complete, navigate to the destination folder and open the MP4 file to ensure it plays correctly. If the video quality meets your expectations, you’re good to go!
Alternative Settings for Better Quality
If you want to fine-tune the conversion settings, click on the “Settings” icon next to the selected profile before starting the conversion. Here, you can adjust the video codec, bitrate, resolution, and audio settings to optimize quality and file size.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
1. VLC Conversion is Too Slow
If VLC is taking too long to convert a file, try reducing the video resolution or bitrate in the settings. You can also ensure that no other heavy applications are running in the background to speed up the process.
2. No Sound in Converted MP4 File
If your converted MP4 file has no audio, check the “Audio Codec” settings in the conversion profile and ensure that “Keep original audio track” is selected.
3. Video Quality is Poor After Conversion
To maintain high video quality, increase the bitrate and resolution settings before starting the conversion. However, note that higher quality settings will result in larger file sizes.
4. VLC Crashes During Conversion
If VLC crashes while converting, try updating to the latest version or reinstalling the software. Additionally, converting a large file may require sufficient free storage space, so check your disk space before starting the conversion.
Final Thoughts
Converting videos to MP4 using VLC Media Player is a simple and effective process. Whether you want to make your videos compatible with different devices, reduce their file size, or share them on social media, VLC’s built-in converter makes it easy. By following the steps outlined above, you can convert any video file to MP4 format effortlessly. If you face any issues, tweaking the conversion settings or updating VLC should resolve them. Now that you know how to use VLC for video conversion, give it a try and enjoy your MP4 videos on any device!