I have done a lot of video converting over the years and there’s several software out there that would do a pretty good job. What i present you today is what I think is the simplest to get it done with a lot of choices that are your own to make.

There’s many ways to do it but this is just mine. Resistance is futile I can now convert you, easily.

1.Latest version of VLC media player.


I was eager to see this feature come back(to tell you the truth I lost hope). VLC media player simply plays everything so it can convert anything. The choices of output is rather buggy so this is why i will stick with MPEG-2 on this one. You will end up with this universal low compressed codec that is one of the most compatible.


There is 2 Ways.

A.Drag and drop over this batch file.

pause
c:\gbatemp\videolan\vlc -vvv %1 :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=11111,acodec=mp2a,ab=192,scale=1,channels=2,deinterlace,audio-sync}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ts,dst=%1.mpg}}

Or

B.Go manually if batch file fails. This is more complicated but lets just say to choose mpeg and use a crazy bitrate like 11111 dont forget the audio bitrate too like 256.

2. Version 0.8.6 of VLC media player.


This is awesome because it will let you choose a new aspect ratio you want while retaining the same format. Just drag and drop for 16:9.

pause
c:\gbatemp\VLC2\vlc -vvv %1 :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=8888,width=720,canvas-height=405,scale=1,acodec=mp2a,ab=192,channels=2,deinterlace,audio-sync}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ps,dst=%1.mpg}} vlc:quit

Just drag and drop for 4:3.

pause
c:\gbatemp\vlc -vvv %1 :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=8888,width=640,canvas-height=405,scale=1,acodec=mp2a,ab=192,channels=2,deinterlace,audio-sync}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ps,dst=%1.mpg} vlc:quit

The result will be an even more compatible MPEG-2 than option 1. The drawback for this is : newer codec are not supported. With both vlc you can hit stop when you want and i will stop encoding while retaining a good output.

3. Super ©


I now convert all my videos to IPOD setting 480 :320 at 25FPS (because i have both pal and ntsc videos) at maximum bitrate 768. What’s nice about Super is that you can force your aspect ratio into the same resolution resulting in the smallest video file 9MB/per minute still watchable and SUPRACOMPATIBLE with idevices, android , DLNA TV etc.

4.AutoGK


XVID-AVI is where the quality is. It is widely supported and HD-ready with blu-ray ripping we are getting awesome results.
Just go with file size and you get a wonderful 2-pass encoding that has good compatibility with most devices. I recommend about 700mb-1gb per 60 minutes.

5.Virtualdub


Lossless reencoding(aka no reencoding) for XVID-AVI. This is what you use to just do basic editing. You can also fix,remove or add an audiostream.


6.MPEG streamclip


Lossless reencoding for MPEG-2 and MP4.

Thanks for reading I will come back and make a lot of improvement to make this guide better.

Here is all the software in the same archive enjoy!<

To install Super just drag and drop the files in the system32 onto the system32 link.
In order for SUPER to work you have to be on administrator account on WIN8(win7?).
You have to install quicktime alternative 1.81 in order to Mpeg Streamclip to work correctly.
The rest is gonna work without installing except for AutoGK.

 

[Rydian]

I've taken to using Any Video Converter over SUPER in most cases nowadays since it still gives me control over the important aspects like the framerate and bitrates and such, but without having the incredibly-slow launch, annoying locking actions, etc.

Of course if I need to do something like dump the frames as JPEG images, SUPER is still the way to go because it has all those special options without the commandline stuff...

 

[Terminator02]

I'm surprised you didn't mention HandBrake and don't understand your affinity for Xvid over x264. You can then use mkvmerge for adding/removing audiostreams from matroska files (.mkv).

As for the video player, this isn't exactly simple but if you watch videos from your computer/have you computer hooked up to a TV, you'll want to check out MPC-HC w/ madVR and LAV Filters.

 

[JoostinOnline]

I've taken to using Any Video Converter over SUPER in most cases nowadays since it still gives me control over the important aspects like the framerate and bitrates and such, but without having the incredibly-slow launch, annoying locking actions, etc.

Of course if I need to do something like dump the frames as JPEG images, SUPER is still the way to go because it has all those special options without the commandline stuff...

What I don't like about AVC is that it doesn't set things to the same values as the input file by default. I have to check each value like framerate and resolution on the input file, then change the output settings to match. I never want to change EVERYTHING. Often it's just the filetype or perhaps scale the resolution down.

 

[Rydian]

What I don't like about AVC is that it doesn't set things to the same values as the input file by default. I have to check each value like framerate and resolution on the input file, then change the output settings to match. I never want to change EVERYTHING. Often it's just the filetype or perhaps scale the resolution down.

I've seen that changing things to "auto" or "original" (wording depending on the aspect) makes it take in what the original video file is... but yeah if you change those for one encode, they stick for the next time.

Could probably be worked around by using presets, but then again when I just need to recompress something lossily for uploading, Handbrake is by far my converter of choice. Limited output formats, but the ones it supports are modern (and go almost anywhere I need to shove a video file nowadays) and compress very well.

 

[Magsor]

I guess I could add handbrake but what would it do better that the software above? What would I want to do with Handbrake? I don't see the point in this guide.

 

[Rydian]

Handbrake is for quick h.264 compression and DVD ripping. I use it for recompressing my FRAPS/game recordings all the time.

 

[Magsor]

Handbrake is for quick h.264 compression and DVD ripping. I use it for recompressing my FRAPS/game recordings all the time.

Super already does that to a more compatible format that can be forced into wanted aspect ratio with easy drag and drop. It does not do as successfully DVDripping as DVDfab would do.

 

[JoostinOnline]

I've seen that changing things to "auto" or "original" (wording depending on the aspect) makes it take in what the original video file is... but yeah if you change those for one encode, they stick for the next time.

Could probably be worked around by using presets, but then again when I just need to recompress something lossily for uploading, Handbrake is by far my converter of choice. Limited output formats, but the ones it supports are modern (and go almost anywhere I need to shove a video file nowadays) and compress very well.

Well I haven't used it in years, but I'm pretty sure those weren't options then.

 

[TyBlood13]

I always use Format Factory personally. Does 99% of the converting I've needed.
Here.

 

[trumpet-205]

Handbrake should be the go to program for encoding. It is not that hard to use and certainly has the option to stick with original input parameters. I would skip Xvid/Avi now days because it is simply an obsolete format with too many restrictions. Basic go to format these days is 8-bit H264/MP4.

Personally I'm using MeGUI paired with 10-bit x264 & Nero AAC to do all of my video conversion. It does take a while to set up profiles but once I did I can just use "one-click encoder" to do batch encoding.

Also there is no such thing as lossless re-encoding. It is called remuxing.