If yous've ever tried to search for software that tin can convert sound and video files on Windows, you might know how hard it can exist to find defended solutions that are really free and office every bit advertised.

Nosotros recently tested many of the Windows-based media converters listed at the top of search results for queries such every bit "MP4 to MP3 converter," merely to discover that most all of them have limited licenses without paying for the full program. The master issue with nigh of these applications beingness that the trial editions could only convert files a few minutes long or a few megabytes in size -- useless for our purpose of converting lengthy sound clips from YouTube.

After trying many applications, nosotros learned that VLC Media Thespian is capable of converting audio and video files, too, which is great news considering we already had the software installed and nosotros bet most of you practise, as well.

VLC is completely free, can play nearly media file types, is available on macOS and Linux in addition to Windows, and recently fabricated our list of essential apps to install on a new PC.

When Would Y'all Catechumen a File?

You might need to convert a rarely used file type to a more popular format, which could make it easier to share with others, salve it to a mobile device, or arrive uniform with your media actor.

For instance, converting those YouTube clips from MP4 to MP3 reduced their sizes by nigh half (600MB vs. 300MB in the case of one file -- much better suited for mobile devices or uploading online), and some of the downloads were of the M4A file type, which couldn't be played in Foobar 2000 without an add-on.

How to Convert Sound and Video Files with VLC

If you've never encoded a file in VLC, this volition probably seem surprisingly elementary.

With VLC open, go to: Media > Convert / Save ... or printing Ctrl + R on your keyboard.

On the side by side window you tin can add the file(s) you want to convert and yous can include many at once, even if they are dissimilar file types, as long as yous desire them to be the aforementioned output file blazon. For case we included both MP4 and M4A files in the same workload to be encoded as MP3 instead.

Afterward selecting the files you're going to convert, click Catechumen / Save at the lesser of the Open Media window to choose the output file type and other settings.

Note that going to Media > Open Multiple Files... launches the same "Open Media" window but the drop-downwards menu pick on the bottom of the screen is gear up to Play instead of Convert -- you can select Catechumen after choosing your files.

Hither's a brief explainer on the Catechumen screen options:

  • Profile: Cull the profile with the encoding that you'd like your new file to be. For instance, if you selected a .MP4 file for converting to .MP3, you'd employ the "Audio - MP3" profile.
  • Display the output: Plays/shows the output in the player every bit the conversion happens.
  • Deinterlace: For converting interlaced video formats such equally 1080i, 720i.
  • Dump Raw Input: Keeps all the file sizes the same and just changes the file format.
  • Edit or Create Profile: Lets y'all set up your own parameters for conversion.

Supported file types as of VLC 3.0.iv

  • H.264 video format + MP3 (MP4)
  • Video - VP80 + Vorbis (Webm)
  • Video - H.264 + MP3 (TS)
  • Video - H.265 + MP3 (MP4)
  • Video - Theora + Vorbis (OGG)
  • Video - MPEG-2 + MPGA (TS)
  • Video - Dirac + MP3 (TS)
  • Video - WMV + WMA (ASF)
  • Video - DIV3 + MP3 (ASF)
  • Audio - Vorbis (OGG)
  • Audio - MP3
  • Sound - FLAC
  • Audio - CD
  • Video for MPEG 720p TV/device
  • Video for MPEG4 1080p TV/device
  • Video for DivX compatible player
  • Video for iPod SD
  • Video for iPod Hd/iPhone/PSP
  • Video for Android SD Low
  • Video for Android SD High
  • Video for Android Hard disk
  • Video for YouTube SD
  • Video for YouTube HD

After the conversion starts, the software'south progress bar will await like it's playing a file equally whatever other time. VLC'south interface isn't the most complete as far as conversion applications go, but the media thespian's built-in feature is functional enough for most situations.

Free Alternatives with More Interface Options

If you prefer defended conversion software with more than options, HandBrake can encode direct from DVDs (even encrypted ones) or from VIDEO_TS folders, supports AC3, LPCM and MPEG sound tracks, outputs MP4, AVI or OGM files as well as AAC, MP3 or Vorbis audio, supports 2*pass encoding and encoding of ii audio tracks amongst other features...

Download: Handbrake available for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu.

More VLC Tips & Tricks

If for some reason y'all'd adopt to run VLC's conversion operation from a control line, Videolan and others effectually the web offer a series of instructions for encoding files with the Windows Control Prompt, PowerShell and Unix/Linux.

  • VLC can play files from ZIP or RAR archives without extracting them.
  • Tape your desktop:
    • Media > Open Capture Device > Choose Desktop as the Capture Manner > Set your frame rate > Click the drop-down menu on the bottom of the screen and choose Stream > A new window will open where you can select the output file format and location.
  • Add mouse gestures:
    • Tools > Preferences > Modify Show settings on the bottom of the screen from Simple to All > Go to Control interfaces on the left > Bank check "Mouse gestures control interface." Supported gestures are listed on the VLC Wiki folio.
  • Record some of the audio or video you lot are playing:
    • View > Advanced Controls > Options will appear at the bottom of the screen > Click the Tape push button to start and stop the capture. Files are saved to the Windows Music and Videos folders.

  • Play video on your desktop background:
    • Tools > Preferences > Video tab > Change the Output to Direct3D9 or one of the other DirectX options > Salvage & Restart VLC > Open a file > Right click the video > Become to Video & Gear up as Wallpaper.
  • Play video as ASCII fine art: Tools > Preferences > Video > Alter the output to Color ASCII art. (Buggy in testing...)
  • Stream web content in VLC: Go to Media > Open Stream Network > Click Play to begin playing or modify the option to convert to save the content.

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