Digital Video Converter

 

Digital Video Converter

Converting One Digital Video Format to Another

When converting from one digital video format to another, you're going to hear a LOT of technical terms, jargon, and acronyms. You don't have to become a super-expert and learn every single term, but it might help if you know some of the basics about the word 'format'. Once you understand the concepts explained below, you'll have an easier time understanding and remembering some of the other jargon and acronyms.

• Format - The word 'format' can mean many different things when you're dealing with digital video. Most people mean the extension that the file uses (.mov, .wmf, .mgp, etc.) But technically, the file extension is only a small part of it. Sometimes, the format can mean the codec used in the video files/files. It can also mean the "container" used for the file. In some cases, the format means the size, resolution, and frame rate of the video.
  
• Codec - The codec is the form of coding that the video is in. A codec is needed to transform the stream of I's and O's into an actual video. There are hundreds of different codecs, and not all of them are easy to obtain.
  
• Container - The word 'container' refers to the structure of a video file. A container can video, audio, certain specifications pertaining to the video and audio, and can contain the different codecs used in the file.

As mentioned, people are usually talking about the file extensions when they say format. Some file extensions will only run on certain kinds of software. For example, people must use QuickTime player to watch .mov videos.

There are plenty of types of software out there that help you 'make' videos. For example, Windows Movie Maker allows you to import several video or audio files, arrange them and edit them, and finally output one single file. You can choose which file format to output it to, so this is one way to convert videos from one format to another.but it's not always the best way.

Some of the software doesn't allow you to import certain formats of digital video. For example, you can't import a .mov file into Windows Movie Maker. So sometimes it's better to simply convert digital videos with a program that converts only.

Once you've converted your digital video to a different format, you might want to email it, share it on YouTube or another video site, or put it on a DVD, VCD, or SVCD.