4 Things to Look for in a Video Converter

Finding a video converter is easy enough – but how do you know it is the right one for you? Knowing what to look for in a video converter could help you to avoid ending up with several different software that all convert videos.

While there are many factors that should be considered, the four most important things to look for are:

• Web-based vs. software

The first thing you should do is decide: Do you want a web-based converter or software? The main advantage of web-based converters is that you can use them regardless of the device you’re on – so you won’t need to download software each time. For example you could convert MTS to MP4 online entirely using Online Video Converter.

That being said software has its advantages as well. Unlike web-based converters you won’t need to upload videos to convert them and they generally don’t have the limitations that some web-based converters do. And in case you want to simply convert YouTube video to MP3 format this program can be a great choice for that.

• Input and output formats

The range of input and output formats will determine your options when converting videos. Ideally the range of input formats should be as wide as possible, whereas the range of output formats can be more specific and tailored to the formats you need.

It helps if both input and output formats encompass some of the more popular video formats – as you’ll likely be converting to and from them regularly.

• User experience

Some video converters may be extremely easy to use, and require practically no learning curve whatsoever. Others however can be more complicated and will take time for you to get used to.

Needless to say it is better to look for a video converter with a good user experience as it will make converting videos smoother and faster.

• Conversion presets and profiles

Although not a necessity strictly speaking, conversion presets and profiles can make a world of difference. Being able to select a preset for the device or platform you want to convert videos for will save you time, especially in cases where you would have to look up the format and video settings otherwise.

For example rather than looking up YouTube’s recommended format and settings, you would be able to just select the appropriate preset.

While your priority should be making sure that the converter has presets for the devices or platforms that you need, it doesn’t hurt to have a wide selection of other options as well.

Among the other factors that you may want to consider are your budget, the regularity and types of updates that the converter is likely to receive, its other features, and whether or not it has editing tools. The importance of these factors can vary however, depending on how you intend to use your converter.

Now that you know what you need to look for in a video converter, it should be easier to find one that is a good fit. If possible you should try out various options before you decide on one to use in the long term – just to see how they differ firsthand.