Using VLC to convert video files

This is very useful for downloaded videos that are .MOV or other formats that windows won't naively play.

Prerequisites: Video formatting knowledge, knowledge of different media players

Difficulty Level: Member • Nerd • Platypus

Estimated Time: Viable depending on how many videos you need to convert and how long they are. 

Expected Outcome: Videos are converted to the appropriate file format.

Tools Required: Computer, VLC media player, video files that need converting

Steps to Perform

It may come as a surprise, but the world’s most popular third-party video player is actually quite capable of converting files from one format to the other. In this example, we’re going to take a video of a dog on a slide that I found on Reddit and change it from an MP4 to an optimized format designed for YouTube

Open VLC.

From the menu bar, click Media > Convert / Save…

Click the Add button on the right and find the video you’d like to convert.LAY SOUND

Press the Open button at the bottom.

From the Convert / Save dropdown at the bottom, select convert.

Select the format from the Profile dropdown menu.

Click the Browse button and select the folder you’d like to add the converted video to.

Name the file and press Save.

Click Start.