@Cide: Ditto on the website. Incoherent web garbage. It takes forever just to get to the download link, let alone find it.

davidfbecker

SUPER has one of the worst websites I've ever seen.

Cide

I worked hard at trying to make Super work for the past year. Every time I used it, I got an error on my first try. Then it was up to me to blindly fiddle with the myriad of settings to find a combination that worked. It usually took three tries to get it to finish the project.

FormatFactory works and it works fast.

dchall8

I have used SUPER before and I wasn't very satisfied with the results, there was too many errors. On the other FormatFactory seems to have a nice interface and many different options too.

aaronjs0

Format Factory's website is littered with spam links and WOT gives most of them a red rating.

idyllhands

You guys sure like Dr. Horrible.

equazcion

media coder is not natively available for mac, requires wine... how about some mac specific software other than Handbrake, which doesn't even convert videos to the proper formats.

greenwald3132

@Cide: Yeah, good program, bad website. Here's a download mirror.

Mike

i dont bother with portable media players beyond a simple mp3 player, so the only media conversion i need is to convert from .vob files aquired from dvds i want to back up using dvd-decrypter to .avi to make it smaller, for which i use auto gk, its very processor and ram intensive, about 2hrs on a E7200, 4GB to do a film, but ive yet to find a simpler program, and ive tried a few

wjh31

Just attempting to find the download location for SUPER is a chore, let alone trying to make it work.

othium

After multiple attempts with HandBrake and others, I stumbled upon a converter by the name of RipBot264. Cannot recommend it enough - the interface is clean, you can easily queue multiple files for conversion, will even run cleanly at a lower priority so that you can continue to use your computer while it cranks away in the background. And there is no separate demux process! Note that it is not particular about the input file type, either, making it a prime choice for corralling all of those differing formats available online into the consistent format you have chosen for your personal storage.

There are several user guides available online, I would suggest reading the doom9 forum followed by Ms. Bontrager's excellent guide on RipBot's use. Note that while she uses a PSP for her chosen output device, RipBot has plenty of presets.

Caleb615

But tell me do any of these support my embedded SSA/ASS stylized subtitle files that are in my videos?
The only program I have found that supports them is XVID4PSP.
Please let me know if they have any other programs out there.

CaptainHowdy

@undefined: yes, i highly suggest isquint it's extremely simple but does what you want and puts the files where you want, and asks if you want to keep the old files. i think it's strictly mp4 mov formats though. but that's what most people need.

almostdvs

VLC is the program of choice for me, simple and gets the job done.

geoffcbassett

FormatFactory is the best all round but not the greatest on specific options. Near optimal is often just right.

zolielo

@undefined: I use Visual Hub...There's iSquint for a freebie

cupofjoe84

I have been using Slysoft software for a few years now and have been very pleased with the results. It has a very simple and user friendly GUI. Great for ripping DVD's and converting to several different formats including many mobile formats and aspect ratio's.

cwdeem

SUPER is the best all around format converter, I've yet to find something it won't convert, and it's info window is very useful in determining the best conversion option to choose. I agree it's website is plain awful. I've had no luck finding the download link in FF, and tried at least 5 times to get the full dl to work in IE. But once you get past the DL awfulness, it's a very good program. I just hope the developers would improve the interface a bit, it's quite cluttered and will not remember window position(always revert back to the center of primary monitor after click).

capintro

@almostdvs: Visual Hub or iSquint are no longer available, and a backdated torrent of visual hub does not work either, so is there anything else? I'd hate to have to use a windows partition for converting all videos

greenwald3132

It's funny how the poll results definitely don't reflect the same sentiments as the comments.

As for me (I don't know what your guys' specific uses are), I just like to rip my DVDs to my iPhone and Handbrake gets the job done quickly and easily. No fuss so it gets my vote.

Jordan

@idyllhands: FormatFactory has only one link...the download link. Were you thinking of Super's website full of spam links?

dchall8

I use SUPER, which is good once you manage to survive their website and all the different options.

Now I've started to use WinFF [winff.org] , specially because it is available for Windows and Ubuntu and works very well.

hombrelobo

Don't forget the ffmpeg graphical interface for Mac OS X: ffmpegX.

auctoris

I'm using a customized version of Xvid4PSP, which is essentially an Avis frontend. Still, gets the job done and the videos look nice.

For audio, Audacity. So what if I have to have two converters? That how I like it :3

masterage

I use DVD Catalyst ([www.pocketdvd.ca]) for ripping DVD's to my Zune. It is by far the easiest software I have used, and it does everything for you (No separate program for ripping). It has been mentioned here before ([lifehacker.com]) and I think it is fantastic.

Ditto to those complaining about the SUPER website. Not to mention googling 'super'

cayton

Is there a FairUse Wizard for Blu-ray yet?
'Cos for DVD, that's a one-stop-shop, but doesn't seem to work with hi-def. Help?

longbourne

whatever I use, NPH certainly will never make his way onto anything I own. Sorry Neil =/

discounteggroll

I won't touch MediaCoder. For some odd reason he has seen the necessity to run a server in a media coding program and base it off loading web pages in Firefox. A while back, when I stopped using it, he was embedding adverts in the web pages, and one had to edit the XML to hide or remove them. When you say it is open source or freeware, that's a no-no.

The author is untrustworthy IMHO, as is the program.

Format Factory or Super for me.

y0himba

I had a low rate of succession using super, along with the priceless maze you go through on the website.

SonicJ

I've got to ask, Adam: You appear to be converting Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog to watch on your iPhone. Now, I'm a huge Dr. Horrible fan, and I'm glad you are, too, but the show is available in the iTunes store for $4.99--no conversion necessary. Why convert it (from FLV, I'm guessing) instead of buying it?

Swirlee

@Swirlee: To be honest, I just used it for the screenshot. I didn't convert anything in the end.

Oh, plus the only thing I'll ever buy from the iTunes store is a $1 iPhone app or two.

Adam Pash

Seriously? Why did nobody mention Any Video Converter? That is by far the simplest and best media converter around.

marksman7328

Mediacoder got my vote for having a portable version of its current build: [mediacoder.sourceforge.net]

Super is a better program overall, though.

Arithmomaniac

wait, what can't VLC play?

bharatpatel89

while we talk about video media conversions, got a question that might be slightly off-topic. Is there any freeware that does the same for the above except that it is for music media ? I have a colonel sanders load of .aac , mp3 , flac files and i would like to mass convert them to probably mp3 at 128bitrate.

Thanks.

Serge Norguard

@aaronjs0: Agreed. SUPER was one of the worst software experiences of my life. Frankly, it couldn't DO ANYTHING! Every conversion gave me trouble.

pyromaniac

anyone know where I can find the badaboomit beta 1? the one that could convert wmv and dvix?

VakeroRokero

Freebies are nice, but if you want something to JUST WORK...

1) Slysoft's CloneDVDMobile (must use AnyDVD or DVD43)

2) Magic DVD Ripper (maybe the easiest all-in-one solution)

Gerard Sorme

Looks like ffmpeg and mencoder win as usual. Almost all of the others mentioned are just GUI wrappers around these two workhorses.

nobodyzhome

Well i looked to download that SUPER Video converter. What is up with their website, it is terrible to navigate, and i can't find the stupid download link. Anyway so fuck that program.

dannymalt

VLC!!!!

DavidFromCanada

I like VisualHub on the Mac.

macuser1

@captainhowdy: if you want to hardcode them into your video you can use AVIsynth together with ffmpeg.exe to do that the AVIsynth-filter you are looking for:
[avisynth.org.ru]

rayser

@Cide
I agree. The first time I tried downloading it, it took like almost forever. I can't even get to the link befcause the website says my browser is blocking something, so I had to use IE to get it.

I thought it was worth all the trouble, but IT IS SO NOT! I tried converting videos for my iPod, and none of the converted ones played. (and it was such a memory eater).

Format Factory saved my day. =)

darkstar13

@Caleb615: THX a lot for sharing i was looking for something like this a long time!

rayser

@cwdeem:
"DVDs", not "DVD's"
"ratios", not "ratio's"

RonnyNussbaum

@Serge Norguard: i like db Poweramp; i've got the old version before they made us pay.

And don't convert to 128, go to at least 192 - CDs run at 170-something Kbps, at least get up to that. You may not notice the difference now, but you will in the future.

primer

Timely topic - i've been tearing out my hair trying to find a good straightforward video converter. i used to use an old version of MGI Videowave, but - wait for it - the program no longer works on Vista. So i'm looking.

i've already tried formatfactory, but it's kind of clumsy. It was okay, i guess. i'm just surprised that there isn't something better out there; i'd totally be willing to pay for it. i'll give Super a try, i guess.

primer

@bharatpatel89: Oh.. vinyl , 8 track tapes ...

Serge Norguard

@primer: hot diggity doo-dah!, well judging from the trial limitations of 21 Days Full-Functionality... I can do what i need to do by then.

If I still need it, i might regedit to make the software think it is a new installation and have another 21 Days.

Many thanks.

Serge Norguard

FormatFactory is awesome.

Wubbytoes

okay, here's two things.

one: what movie is that in the first screen shot?

two: what i really need is a converter that doesn't need to be demuxed and can convert form one video codec and audio codec to another. my media player doesn't support qpel, gmc, h264 or mpegX. that's my real need. i have an archos 504 and for most things it's great but those few limitations are really getting to me.

direct replies if possible to lunaciesofhim (AT) gmail

mfusion

@mfusion: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog by Joss Whedon of "Firefly" fame

hxzero

@hxzero: More importantly... it's Neil Patrick Harris wearing welding goggles and dressed like a mad scientist. I'm going to have to get my hands on a copy just for that.

Jason Fitzpatrick

Media Converter SA Edition.

Clean format, easy to use, variety of file types. Video resolution and audio bitrate settings can be changed to try to improve quality. It's reliable for my usual converting, FLV files to AVI for editing.

[www.download.com]

gatoronfire4lord

@greenwald3132: There's always Quicktime Pro, it's kind of sad that Techspansion closed it's doors, I loved iSquint and was looking forward to using AudialHub someday as a CD ripper since I hate using iTunes for anything these days.

*sheds a tear for the lost*

Sebastian

sebastianlewis

Too bad about VisualHub. I hope the developer decides to release it into open source. No sense letting such a great project go to waste.

Avian00

here's the direct download to SUPER © v2008.build.33 (Sep 2, 2008) [www.erightsoft.info] & btw, its not like I'm endorsing them or something. I'm just trying to save you the hassle from finding the download link.

KALMANI

It's funny how when lifehacker asked for viewers opinions on top converting software last week the ones listed in this pole got the most praise.Now everyone is bashing all of them?

xdurus

@KALMANI: ok I tied it but they reset the link...i'm sorry but here's how to find the download link...[www.erightsoft.com]

or you can download directly through rapidshare...[rapidshare.com] scanned & 100% clean

I searched the rules part about posting rapidshare links & didnt find nothing but if I'm not supposed post the rapidshare link, I apologize in advance & please go ahead and delete it.

thank you!

KALMANI

TuneCab - all in one converter for any kind of files, audio and video, DRM-protected or unprotected. It can download, save and convert streaming video like YouTube, rip CD's, convert audiobooks etc. [www.tunecab.com]

FairyTeller

Handbrake for my Mac works great.
I did have problems with Handbrake for Windows though...

Stabio

@DavidFromCanada: +1

bobbo33

I find it funny that nobody has mentioned that Super's name is actually "Super©" ... as in, Super Copy-Right.

If nothing else, that name choice got me to try the program. It's not bad, but I've since moved to mac.

berdandy

@undefined: Why do you hate gay people?

mdmadph

I have tried Super, Mediacoder, and Handbrake. I loved Handbrake but it has a very limited range of files it can convert from, mainly DVDs. Super and Mediacoder were just flaky. If you are having trouble with super and you are sure you have set everything up correctly, try renaming the file you are converting to something basic and do the same with the output file.

If possible I will use VirtualDub. I love the control I get and the ability to see the input and output window at the same time so I can preview the results. The downside is that it is not so user-friendly.

Cid_X

DVD Catalyst 3 ($19.95) just won the Smartphone and PocketPC Magazine Best Software awards for the best DVD converter. While initially created for PocketPC's, it supports 1-click conversions for DVD and Video files for just about any device on the market, and has adjustable options for nearly everything that can be fiddled with to get the best quality files, including 2-pass, black bar removal, subtitles (also in video files) and Closed Caption support.

There is also a free version available, which was mentioned here on lifehacker a month or so ago.

DVD Catalyst

For those that don't want to suffer through SUPER's website maze of crap. This is their direct link.
[www.erightsoft.info]

hdskifreak

I tried FormatFactory based on some comments read here, and I found their presets disappointing. Their HQ preset isn't IMHO. Super seems promising, but the download woes you guys describe make it suspect in my book.

I hate the pain of VirtualDub, but the results are very good. I might just go back to suffering my way through ffmpeg command line :)

hdskifreak

yes, its awful. after 5 minutes I've given up trying to find where to download it from. I'll try one of the others

YuleVespa

QT Amateur for Mac is very good.

sftl99

Common! Handbreak is in first place! It only support like 5 media types:
* File format: MP4, MKV, AVI or OGM
* Video: MPEG-4 or H.264 (1 or 2 passes or constant quantizer/rate encoding)
* Audio: AAC, MP3, Vorbis or AC-3 pass-through (supports encoding of several audio tracks)

Super Video converter supports WAYYYY more than that. Read it all here: [www.erightsoft.com]

georgexu316

@Jordan: I was going to say the same thing. How is Super ahead of MediaCoder and FormatFactory if there are so many complaints about Super?

alaysias

@Adam Pash: Fair enough. Thanks for the reply.

Swirlee

I want to know what Converter an work under the following condidtions:

Multi Core support
x64 Bit (8GB of RAM should be enough)
weather it utilizes the Video Card or not for Video rendering.

strife1012

@pyromaniac:
It took a bit of trial and error, but SUPER is working great for me, now.

I wonder if there are any faster converters out there.

misterwho

I love/hate SUPER.

misterwho

@CaptainHowdy:
Oh, I see you're an ASS man!

misterwho

@darkstar13:
Argh!

That sums up the first and second times I tried to download the program. Talk about a run-around. A (working) built in updater would nice too.

misterwho

Has anyone mentioned Squared 5's MPEG Streamclip?
[www.squared5.com]

Sometimes it's the only conversion tool that has worked for me in wonky files.

fulchiero

no kiddin' - its the Dr. Bronner's of converters

SadhanNermie

AutoGK for xvid conversion for me.

GinevraDove

Don't forget Perian + MPEG StreamClip for the Mac. Very fast and very accurate media file convertor. Both free as well.

UmbertoMurena

The fact that "Any Video Converter" free edition isn't on this list is a tragedy of error that needs to be fixed. http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/

SloaneSpork

Really need a convetor that will handle M2TS easily, is there something out there like that ?

thanks

DanteBehemoth

Really need to find a converter that will handle M2TS format reliably.

DanteBehemoth

I think these High 5's are great, but are not as helpful as they could be since you are just looking for the popular world-wide vote across all platforms. How about giving 5 spaces for Windows and 5 for MAC, then each platform gets 5 to go look at. Many times I wait for the High 5 then most of them are windows which did not help me as a MAC user much. Then how about you actually go through all the submitted and give us a run down of your thoughts of each and rate them.

AmosGautschi

any decent FFmpeg gui ... eg. win -> any portable device: http://www.pazera-software.com/products/video-to-ipod-converter/ Clean lean, profiles, queues and no bloat (2.5mb, super is 28mb) for free comercial or non comercial ... software to suit the purpose.

FelixAstyanax

If your files aren't too large (e.g. fine for uploading) then try www.media-convert.com It's a handy website as it means no installing of any software and the interface is very simple. You upload the file, the site converts it (fairly rapidly) and then provides you with a download link. :-D

DavinaHippolyta

What program is being used with the Dr. Horrible video? The mysteriously dead Visual Hub?

StanislausDighton

I have heard about Aimersoft.But I do not have a try. Anyone else has used it before and how about its quality?

air.betty

Personally, I like WinFF, it's a front end to FFMPEG, and it works on Windows and GNU/Linux. Also worth a mention is Mobile Media Converter, which is a rather versatile little program. Also for Windows or GNU/Linux. Both of which are free.

ChristineAmphictyon

Having tried every free tool under the sun on the PC, I got so bored of lip-sync issues that I looked at $ software. Found TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress, and have to say that it is worth every penny. Fast, powerful and just works. The batch tool is pretty neat if you have more than one file to convert.

ElroyBabali

on Linux (Ubuntu) k9 for coverting DVD to .avi

MonaElephino

@bharatpatel89:

rmvb vidoes...

And I think most people converts videos to play them on their iPod/mp4 players...

Anonymous816435

No love for iSquint? Dang. I'm tossing that one into the ring.

sinzen

I almost signed up to disagree with this list, but I'll just say, MeGUI is the most powerful GUI media converter available. Try to resist the lure of the "IPOD BUTTON!!!" programs. Learn the specs of your portable device and use proper filters to create an encoded video of the exact size and quality you wish.

DominicCachai

@Jordan: I'm with you. I use Handbrake to convert DVDs for my iPod, Zamzar's web interface for Flickr videos, and TiVo Desktop for current TV shows. I'm not doing anything fancy, so these basics work fine for me.

Cascadian

@cwdeem:
yeah, clonedvd mobile and more frequently, ConvertXtoDVD v3 has made my life a lot easier, since i recently tried to do it the 'other' way, i.e. on a mac, and also using freeware apps like ripbot264 or MeGUI on Vista64.

the only problem is you can't add filters or adjust vis. quality, but if they put in the scene-detection auto-chapter engine from DVD-lab, it would be perfect IMO.

as for CloneDVD mobile, i kinda wish it had more in the way of chapter-codes for ripping ipod movies. for other formats, it's not as essential, but skipping/resuming is always a chore on older devices and on dvd's.

honestly, handbrake is just as functional if it rips the dvd content properly (some discs dont play nice)

toliman

@longbourne:
FUW has no hope with MPEG4 in blu-ray.

most of the problem exists in the fact that the groups that make wizards, GUI's and frontends, can't rip off other programs to do the legwork, because the simple tools for blu-ray don't work yet.

There are programs that can rip out the content of the BD into their constituent files and then mix them into .mpg or .avi or .mkv files, and vice versa, but the features like menus, subtitles, java, popups, etc. and some interleaving are usually broken in the process.

understandably, you need to both disassemble the blu-ray content, and then repack it into a compatible disc, or be able to make your own blu-ray discs from your own content.

there are other programs that can convert compliant files into a blu-ray folder, i.e. your AVCHD files from a camcorder, into a blu-ray format, but they don't always play back in a regular BD blu-ray player.

There's a few that can convert a BD9 to 2 BD5's, much like mkv2vob can, the 5-6gb camcorder files converted to .mkv or .mpg can then be converted to BD5 AVCHD discs which might work in your BD player.

but so far, blu-ray backups are very much up to the smaller developers and hackers to get right, before anyone's going to cash in on it.

toliman

I was disappointed to see VisualHub fade away. I have used it for a long time. It would be nice to see the developer either sell it off to another interested developer, or open source it if the developer truly doesn't want to continue developing it.

Submerge is also a nice Mac app for transcoding. An added benefit is that it also merges sub-titles into one file which is nice for Front Row/AppleTV/ipod/iphone etc.

matthewhooper

anyone have a good suggestion for .MKV to .avi? Or am i just SOL.

tsears

@othium: I think the guy makes his living off deceptive ad clicks.

qrius

@cayton: I second DVD catalyst. I found it here on lifehacker, and I use it to quickly convert my digicam vids to shrink them down for posting on the web. only had an error once, and I like the results.

qrius

Thanks so much for posting this article, I was able to use FormatFactory to convert this oddball format cellphone video into something that YouTube could take.

It was an awesome video of my infant son trying a frozen mango bar, and I really wanted to post it, but the format was odd, some Real format (and I *hate* all things Real.)

Thanks!!

Badger

For batch converting, SUPER is the best (Ridiculous download page issues aside). For grabbing big files and converting to DVD, I go with DeVeDe, a native Linux app that's recently rolled out a Windows version. The DVD authoring side could use some more options (particularly on menu creation), but it will convert damn near anything to DVD-compatable format.

[www.rastersoft.com]

Freezer

Hmm, I think Super should get pulled from the list for having such a horrid website. If they want people to actually download their software, why not have a simple download link?

mhagen2531

I also find five tops video converter.That is unbiased reviews and side-by-side comparisons of video Converters and gives you enough information to research the ins and outs of the particular product.

air.betty

I cant believe MeGUI is not up there with Super.

snikket

There is an Unbiased reviews and side-by-side comparisons of video Converters and gives you enough information to research the ins and outs of a particular product:

air.betty

I have also used SUPER before. It seems to work most of the time, but there are many things I don't like about it: Its website was impossible for me to navigate, it has a strange mystery meat type interface, and has vague error messages. HOWEVER, its about the best there is. I prefer to convert video using VLC player as a transcoder when I can (actually works extremely well if you want a format it has). IMO, VLC should be #5. Command prompt style input sounds a bit too complicated for simple video conversions.

ronpandolfi

I would like to submit SUPER's website as one of the worst-designed sites ever. It shouldn't take three obnoxious pages to "sell" anyone a piece of freeware software.

kang