If you are looking for easy ways to convert YouTube videos, you are just in the right place. Here are some things to consider.
Choose the right program
Here’s what the suitable converter should be able to do: support all popular file formats for import; convert content quickly; work correctly – do not harm files and do not hang when processing long videos.
This minimum is unlikely to provide an online service found on the request “convert video for free.” Processing on these sites takes place on external servers, so conversion takes longer. Moreover, these services do not guarantee the quality of video output. If you have to convert videos often, it is better to choose serious software. We advise you to pay attention to Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate.
Wondershare supports more than a thousand video formats and resolutions for any device, interacts correctly with all popular codecs, and works quickly and clearly.
Nevertheless, there are still plenty of really helpful online YouTube to mp4 services. Their functionality is not so impressive, but it is perfectly enough for an average user.
Choose the suitable formats for exported files
MP4, AVI, SD, HD, 4K – the meaning of these abbreviations is not clear to everyone. Related to this are errors in choosing the optimal format for export: videos look terrible, take up indecent space, or are not supported by specific devices. Let’s try to understand the most popular types of video files and permission symbols.
- MP4 and AVI. They differ in method and degree of compression. It’s simple: if you’re going to watch videos on your smartphone, your choice is MP4. And if it’s a home theater, it’s better not to spare space on your hard drive and export the source code to AVI and in a decent resolution.
- SD, HD, and 4K. And these are already permission symbols – the size of the displayed picture. And if an HD resolution of 1,280 × 720 pixels is enough to view on the smartphone screen, it is better to choose 4K with its 4,000 pixels horizontally for a large plasma TV.
Convert many files at once
Imagine that you want to convert the entire video library accumulated on your smartphone in a year. Even if these videos are short and processing takes a few seconds – dragging hundreds of files into the program window can drive you crazy. Therefore, the ability to “feed” the utility at once is all the essential function.
Use a program in which you can edit the video
In some videos, you want to make the picture a little lighter or more contrasting; in others – cut out unnecessary pieces. You can use a separate program for installation, but it is not necessary. Nowadays, plenty of programs for converting already have built-in tools for editing.
Burn DVDs directly in the converter
The task faced by many young people is to record family videos for parents. And if it is difficult for elderly moms and dads to deal with the Internet and cloud services, the question arises not about choosing the optimal format but about a fundamentally different approach to watching videos. A great option is buying a simple DVD player, connecting it to your TV, and giving your parents discs.
Convert videos from YouTube
Or choose another video hosting. As a rule, you simply need to provide a link and download one or more videos from the YouTube playlist in the desired resolution.
And for those who are used to listening to music on YouTube, converters will offer to save the audio track from the video directly to an MP3 file with high bitrate.
Create 3D movies from ordinary movies
The quality of such video is inferior to 3D in cinemas: after all, professionals shoot films with special two-lens cameras. But you can achieve a specific stereo effect in your videos, and you do not have to understand the complex settings – in converters that provide such an option, you only need to specify the type of stereo pair.
All in all, modern converters provide incredible opportunities for working with videos. Our recommendation is the following: if you don’t need tons of features, online tools will suit you the best.