Video Conversion
28 articles
Video compression quality: compare real frames and file sizes
Compare three real encodes of one video, with source frames, exact byte counts and reproducible commands. Learn what to check before sharing a compressed copy.
Convert HEVC/H.265 to H.264 with FFmpeg — Compatibility
Convert HEVC (H.265) video to H.264 with FFmpeg for old players, video editors, and Windows. CRF quality control, 10-bit to 8-bit yuv420p fixes, copy-audio shortcut, and why H.264 plays everywhere.
Video Too Large for Email? Check Limits, Compress or Share a Link
Choose between compressing a video and sharing a link. Check Gmail and Outlook limits, preserve readable detail, verify the output, and use FFmpeg for finer control.
AVI to MP4 with FFmpeg — DivX/Xvid/MJPEG to H.264/AAC
Convert old AVI files (DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, MP3 audio) to MP4 with FFmpeg. Re-encode to H.264/AAC with CRF, learn when stream-copy works versus when you must re-encode, add faststart for web playback, plus troubleshooting and FAQ.
Extract Frames from Video with FFmpeg — Save as PNG or JPG
Extract frames from a video as image files with FFmpeg. Save every frame, grab one frame per second with fps, capture a single frame at a timestamp, and choose PNG vs JPG. Practical guide with quality tips, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
MOV to MP4 with FFmpeg — Lossless Copy and Re-encode
Convert QuickTime MOV files to MP4 with FFmpeg. Lossless remux with -c copy when codecs are MP4-compatible (H.264/AAC), and a re-encode path for ProRes or PCM audio. Container vs codec explained, plus faststart, audio fixes, and troubleshooting.
WebM to MP4 with FFmpeg — VP8/VP9 + Opus to H.264/AAC
Convert WebM (VP8/VP9 video, Opus/Vorbis audio) to MP4 with FFmpeg. Re-encode to H.264/AAC with CRF, when VP9 stream-copy is possible, faststart for web playback, quality/size trade-offs, and a full troubleshooting and FAQ section.
Vertical Video (9:16) for Instagram & TikTok: Crop and Pad
Convert horizontal video to vertical 9:16 with FFmpeg for Shorts, Reels, and TikTok. Learn center crop, blurred-background padding, position-specific crop, and aspect-ratio conversion with the scale filter, with primary sources.
VideoToolbox Hardware Encoding (macOS / Apple Silicon) — GPU Transcoding with FFmpeg
How to do GPU hardware encoding with FFmpeg using macOS VideoToolbox. Covers the basics of h264_videotoolbox and hevc_videotoolbox, Apple Silicon support, bitrate and quality options, and how to fix common errors.
VAAPI Hardware Encoding on Linux — Accelerate FFmpeg with Intel and AMD GPUs
How to do GPU hardware encoding in FFmpeg using VAAPI on Linux. Covers the basic setup for Intel iGPUs and AMD GPUs, h264_vaapi / hevc_vaapi / av1_vaapi command examples, prerequisites, and common pitfalls.
NVENC (NVIDIA GPU) Hardware Encoding — Fast GPU Conversion with FFmpeg
How to perform GPU hardware encoding with NVIDIA NVENC in FFmpeg. Covers h264_nvenc and hevc_nvenc basics, preset and quality options, CPU comparison, and error fixes.
CloudConvert or On-Device Video Conversion? Formats, Privacy and Limits
Choose between cloud and on-device video conversion by checking upload permission, the format you actually need and your device. Distinguish remuxing from re-encoding and diagnose playback, audio or size problems.
HandBrake or Browser Video Compression? Choose by the Job
Decide whether a browser compressor is enough or HandBrake better fits your workflow. Compare batch handling, output formats and practical limits, then check quality and file size using your own short source.
VEED or Single-Purpose Video Tools? Subtitles, Redaction and Editing
Decide whether you need automatic transcription and a full editing project or just subtitle burn-in and a selected-area mask. Follow practical checks for timing, moving subjects, retained originals and shared-device privacy.
Size a Video for Discord with FFmpeg: MB Math and Output Checks
Calculate a video bitrate from the limit shown in Discord. Understand decimal MB, audio overhead, a 90-second example, two-pass encoding and what to check when a smaller file still will not send.
iPhone MOV to MP4 — The Complete Guide with the hvc1 Tag Fix
Make iPhone-captured HEVC .mov files play on Windows, Discord, Twitter, and the rest of the world. Lossless remux, hvc1 tag explained, H.264 re-encode for older players, batch conversion, and iPhone camera-format settings — covered with FFmpeg.
MKV to MP4 Remux — No Quality Loss with FFmpeg
Convert MKV to MP4 the fast, lossless way using FFmpeg remux. Remux vs. re-encode compared, the three typical failure modes (subtitle format, non-standard audio, AV1/VP9), movflags +faststart explained, and a practical audio-only re-encode recipe.
TS to MP4 with FFmpeg — Lossless Remux and CM Cuts
Convert TS/m2ts files from Japanese terrestrial TV recordings to MP4 with FFmpeg. Lossless remuxing with -c copy, PCR wraparound fixes, CM cutting, ARIB subtitle handling, BDAV extraction, and AACS errors explained. A practical guide for PT3/TVTest users.
MP4 vs WebM vs MOV vs MKV - Format Guide
A side-by-side comparison of MP4, WebM, MOV, and MKV — characteristics, use cases, and codec support. Includes FFmpeg conversion commands and recommended formats by scenario.
FFmpeg YouTube Encoding Settings — 2026 Guide
Optimal FFmpeg encoding settings for YouTube uploads. A complete guide to CRF, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, and audio settings for H.264 and H.265.
AV1 Encoding with FFmpeg — SVT-AV1 and libaom Guide
Learn how to encode AV1 video with FFmpeg. Covers libsvtav1 (fast) vs libaom-av1, CRF mode, 2-pass encoding, comparison with H.264/H.265, and browser compatibility.
Convert HDR to SDR with FFmpeg — Tone Mapping Complete Guide
Learn how to convert HDR (HDR10/HLG) video to SDR with FFmpeg. Covers zscale tone mapping, color space conversion (BT.2020→BT.709), pixel format conversion, and YouTube upload settings.
FFmpeg Compress Video — CRF, Bitrate, Preset Guide
Compress MP4 and MOV video with FFmpeg: CRF mode vs bitrate mode explained, H.264 vs H.265 comparison table, preset speed/size benchmarks, resolution downscaling, audio compression, and 2-pass encoding. Every figure on the page is measured on a stated machine, not estimated.
FFmpeg Deinterlace Video - yadif Guide
Use FFmpeg's yadif filter to convert interlaced (combed) video to progressive scan. Covers yadif's mode and parity options, comparison with fieldmatch/decimate, and tips for TV recordings and DV camera footage.
FFmpeg Extract Thumbnails — vframes and thumbnail
Extract video thumbnails with FFmpeg: -vframes for a specific timestamp, thumbnail filter for best-frame selection, resolution scaling, and PNG vs JPG output.
Two-Pass Encoding — Precise Bitrate and File Size Control
FFmpeg two-pass encoding for precise bitrate and file size control. Covers pass 1 analysis, pass 2 encoding, passlogfile option, and H.264/H.265 examples.
Video Format Conversion Basics (MP4, MKV, WebM, MOV)
Convert video formats MP4, MKV, WebM, MOV with FFmpeg: container vs codec differences, when -c copy works vs fails, and ffprobe for codec inspection.
Complete Guide to Converting Video to MP4 (H.264/AAC) with FFmpeg
Convert any video to MP4 with FFmpeg: H.264 (libx264) + AAC, best CRF settings, -preset guide, stream copy shortcut. The complete ffmpeg video-to-mp4 command reference.