In many homes in the developed world, the number of computers and portable media players capable of playback of MP4 content outnumbers the people who actually live in the home. As a result, many consumers have the need arise to convert videos to MP4 to playback on their iPad, iPod, or personal computer. Unfortunately, the process to convert videos is not yet streamlined or made “consumer-proof” to make this an easy process. There are a variety of options available to the end-user to perform this task based on the source of the video and target viewing device.

Convert Videos to MP4 Using Bigasoft DVD Ripper

The Bigasoft DVD Ripper is a commercial software application designed to convert videos to MP4 or other video formats. The application is available as freeware to try out, but will only record 10 minutes of video. To convert full length movies or other videos requires purchase of the software.

Step 1 – Download and install the Bigasoft DVD Ripper program on your computer.

Step 2 – Launch the application by double clicking on the program icon located on the computer’s desktop.

Step 3 – Open the DVD drive on the computer and insert the video to convert to MP4. If your computer’ automatically launches a video playing application, close the program.

Step 4 – Click the “Open DVD” menu button to load the video into the Bigasoft DVD Ripper application.
Step 5 – Click the “Profile” menu button located approximately one-third of the way up from the bottom of the application window.

Step 6 – Select the target profile for viewing the MP4 on the subsequently displayed menu. There are MP4 options under “HD, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.”

Step 7 – Check the “Merge into one file” check box to create a single MP4 file vice one for each chapter of the DVD.

Step 8 – Click the “Start” menu button to being converting the videos to MP4. Note, the conversion for standard length movies can take between 30 and 90 minutes based on the length of movie and speed of the computer being used.

Step 9 – View the application dialogue indicating conversion being complete to further manipulate the MP4.

Convert Videos to MP4 Using HandBrake

 

Step 1 – Download and install the HandBrake application on your computer. The program is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems free of charge.

Step 2 – Select the “Source” menu button and choose the video in the dialogue box to open in the HandBrake program.

Step 3 – Choose “MP4 File” on the “Output Settings” menu option.
Step 4 – Change the height and width of the video as desired on the options dialogue. Then, select the “Browse” menu button to choose the destination on the computer for the “MP4” file.

Step 5 – Click the “Start” menu button to convert the video. The application will display a completed dialogue when done with the work.

Convert Videos to MP4 Using Quick Time Pro

Step 1 – Purchase, download, and install Quick Time Pro from the Apple Quick Time home page.

Step 2 – Open the Quick Time Pro application by double clicking the program icon on your computer’s desktop.

Step 3 – Select the “File” and “Open Files” menu options and choose the video to open in Quick Time.
Step 4 – Choose the “Export” menu option and select the “Save Exported File As” menu choice. Then, change the option to “Movie to MPEG-4.”

Step 5 – Change the file name if desired and then pick the destination drive to save the converted file.

Step 6 – Click the “Save” menu button to initiate the conversion of the video(s) to MP4.