Free encoders for video
There are no shortage of free solutions for those looking to convert their video on the cheap, many of which make use of the command-line Linux applications MPlayer and FFMpeg, repackaging them for ease of use and cross-platform appeal. For those looking to go direct to the source, there are a great many flavor of FFMPEG and MPlayer / MEncoder to explore, across the range of operating systems. For those looking for an easy way to make use of these powerful free applications and related technologies, you might want to take a look at the following free-to-download applications:
MPlayer / MEncoder OSX
- Overview: This Mac front-end to the popular cross-platform MPlayer gives you an easy-to-use graphical interface for the quick conversion of your video files in a number of popular formats
- MPEG-1 (VCD) and MPEG-2 (SVCD/DVD/DVB) video
- MPEG-4 in all variants including DivX, OpenDivX (DivX4), DivX 5 (Pro), XviD
- Windows Media Video 7/8 (WMV1/2)
- Windows Media Video 9 (WMV3) (using x86 DLL)
- RealVideo 1.0, 2.0 (G2), RealVideo 3.0 (RP8), 4.0 (RP9) (using Real libraries)
- Sorenson v1/v3 (SVQ1/SVQ3), Cinepak, RPZA and other QuickTime codecs
- DV video
- 3ivx
- Intel Indeo3 (3.1, 3.2)
- Intel Indeo 4.1 and 5.0 (using x86 DLL or XAnim codecs)
- VIVO 1.0, 2.0, I263 and other H.263(+) variants (using x86 DLL)
- MJPEG, AVID, VCR2, ASV2 and other hardware formats
- FLI/FLC
- HuffYUV
- Various old simple RLE-like formats
Price: Free Input file types: An incredible range, including: - Output file types: As above
- Advanced features: Movie rescaling, extracting and overlaying subtitle files, preserving aspect ratio, two-pass encoding, cropping and numerous in-depth editing options for all encoding variables
- Batch encoding: No
- System requirements: This particular version is a Mac implementation, designed to run on Mac OS X. You can find MPlayer and MEncoder in a number of other platforms at the MPlayer website
- Access: Download from SourceForge
Riva FLV Encoder
- Overview: In addition to their other commercial encoding solutions Riva offer this free FLV encoder. Given that FLV is by far the most popular video format on the web, this may well prove to be all that you need to convert videos for publication on the web
- Price: Free
- Input file types: You can bring in files using any of the following formats:
- Output file types: FLV
- Advanced features: Video cropping, adding custom-colored borders, deinterlacing
- Batch encoding: No
- System requirements: Windows 98 or above, 64 MB RAM, Pentium 1 GHz or above
- Access: You can download FLV Encoder from the Riva website
Super
- Overview: Super is a very versatile, easy-to-use Windows encoder that provides a front-end for Free Software solutions including MPlayer and FFMpeg. All codecs are built right in, making Super a must-have free tool that is as powerful as it is easy to use
- Price: Free
- Input file types: Super goes beyond even the comprehensive line-up of formats featured in MEncoder. Within the long list of supported formats are:
- 3gp/3g2(Nokia,Siemens,Sony,Ericsson)
- asf
- avi (DivX,H263,H263+,H264,XviD,MPEG4,MSmpeg4 etc..)
- dat
- fli, flc, flv (used in Flash)
- mkv
- mpg (Mpeg I,Mpeg II)
- mov(H263,H263+,H264,MPEG4 etc..)
- mp4(H263,H263+,H264,MPEG4)
- ogg
- qt
- rm, ram, rmvb
- str (Play Station)
- swf (Flash)
- ts (HDTV)
- viv
- vob
- wmv
- Output file types: As above
- Advanced features: Easy configuration of the essential output video parameters (size, fps and video bitrate) during file conversion, unique advanced H.264 profile & level selection, built-in Multimedia File Analyzing engine (Portions by MediaInfo) to show tags and internal structure of ALL source files with a double click, and a lot more besides
- Batch encoding: Yes
- System requirements: Super is compatible with ''most Windows operating systems''
- Access: You can download Super direct from its website
Zamzar 
- Overview:Zamzar is a free online file conversion service not exclusively dedicated to video, but nevertheless offering a good range of encoding presets for those looking to quickly convert video files from the web. While it doesn't have nearly as many video formats as Hey!Watch, and doesn't offer control over encoding settings, it is a simple tool that will suit those not interested in getting involved with these more advanced features
- Price: Free
- Input file types: In addition to audio, image and document conversions, Zamzar supports the following video formats as source footage:
- 3gp
- avi
- flv
- gvi (Google video)
- m4v
- mov
- mp4
- mpg
- rm
- rmvb
- vob
- wmv
- Output file types: Zamzar can output video files to the following formats:
- 3gp
- aac
- ac3
- avi
- flac
- flv
- gif
- mov
- mp4
- mpg
- ogg
- wav
- Advanced features: The Zamzar web browser button is a browser plug-in that allows you to quickly convert media from any web page you are visiting, without having to go to the Zamzar website first
- Batch encoding: No
- System requirements: Access to the Internet only
- Access: You can use Zamzar, without having to register, by going to the website
Media Convert
- Overview: Media Convert is another free website for converting your online media straight from your web browser. Like Zamzar it is not exclusively focused on video conversion, and can be used also to convert documents and audio files, as well as to take screenshots of websites. However, while Zamzar does not feature customization options, Media Convert has limited options available to the user before encoding begins, such as choosing your video bitrate, codec and framerate
- Price: Free
- Input file types: Media Convert has a reasonably extensive list of video input options:
- 3gp
- amv
- asf
- avi
- dv
- fli
- flv
- gvi
- mkv
- mov
- mp4
- mpg
- ogm
- rm
- swf
- vob
- wmv
- avi (DivX mpeg-4)
- 3gp
- swf (Flash)
- amv (for Chinese MP4/S1 MP3 players)
- mpeg-2
- mov
- mp4 (iPod and PSP)
- mp3 (sound track extraction)
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- JPEG (frame extraction)
Output file types: Media Convert will export your video files to:- Advanced features: Options include setting framerate, bitrate, fps and video dimensions
- Batch encoding: No
- System requirements: Internet access
- Access: You can use Media Converter, without registering, by visiting the web site
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