At present, given the great information obtained through the Internet, most people face the situation of having to handle numerous file formats and this, of course, also happens With the audios and videos. Which, can sometimes be a problem to continue working on a project or to reproduce them on specific Smartphones or Tablets , send them by email, WhatsApp or other social networks, upload them to websites or compress them to save space on your computer’s hard drive.
That is why, users are faced with the requirement of changing the format and type of file of a clip or an audio . For which, it is necessary to have fast and effective tools, which are really useful for this task. Although it is true, today there are multiple programs that promise a perfect modification of the format of these types of files but in many cases, they are software of doubtful origin that in addition to occupy memory on the computer , can cause dangerous damage . But luckily, there are methods to change the file type of an audio or video without the support of a “specialized” program for this that can even be paid and this is not advantageous.
In this way, from this post, we want to let you know the procedure that you must carry out to convert the format of a clip or an audio without the use of additional programs . Being very helpful to know also, the types of extensions that exist and which are the best for various utilities and indeed, we will give you a brief summary about these important aspects. Now, if you are interested in using applications to modify them, at the end we offer you a list with the best qualified software for it .
Index:
What types of video and audio formats are there and which are the best ?
To begin, you need to know all the types of video and audio file extensions that exist today and also know which are the most popular and best rated , according to their uses. In this regard, here is a segmentation around the formats for clips and audios that are most used.
Video file formats
While it is true, all digital videos can be saved in files of different formats and each one corresponds to a certain extension of the file that contains it. In this way, we immediately show you the most used today along with their utilities :
- AVI : This is the standard format for saving clips , which accepts various compression codecs such as DV, Inter Indeo 5, CinePak, among others. In addition, can be viewed on most players (Windows Media, QuickTime, etc.), they contain excellent quality and are perfect for storing original videos that have been captured from a digital camera. However, are very heavy files and therefore, it is not recommended to publish them on the Internet.
- MOV : Developed by Apple, it is advisable to use it in the QuickTime player, is beneficial for publishing videos on the Internet , thanks to its reasonable quality and weight. It also accepts streaming and uses its own codec that evolves very quickly in version .
- MPEG : Refers to extension files * .MPG or * .MPEG and contains a standard format for digital video compression. This can be played without any breakdown in Windows Media Player and QuickTime , plus supports various types of compression codecs .
- RM >: It is a proposal of Real Networks that uses its own codec to compress the audio, it is only possible to visualize it in a player and it is Real Player . In addition, supports streaming and is ideal for sharing videos on websites and social networks for its timely relationship between quality and weight .
- FLV : This is using the Adobe Flash player to watch clips on the Internet , are * .FLV extension files and supports streaming . Additionally, it gives the facility to adjust different video parameters to achieve an acceptable link between quality and weight . It is also an alternative indicated for websites because of its accessibility and the most famous Internet platforms such as YouTube and Google Video use this type .
- WNV : It is one of the newest formats that was developed by Microsoft and uses the MPEG-4 codec for video compression . It also accepts streaming and has a reasonable relationship between quality and weight that makes it ideal for publishing videos on web platforms . However, it is only possible to observe it with an updated version of Windows Media 7 or higher.
Therefore, we can say that the best formats for clips are: AVI , MOV and MPEG .
Audio formats
As with video formats, there are also many for audio that correspond to a specific extension of the file that contains it. Then the most used and universal types :
- MP3 : This is monopolizing the world of digital audio today , due to its extraordinary degree of compression and the high quality that display . That way, it is perfect to publish this type of content on the web, taking into account that it can be heard through most existing players. In addition, have minimal loss of quality .
- WAV : Originally, it was developed by Microsoft to save audio and it is a format of excellent quality . Thus, it has a large capacity to store original audios from which they can be compressed and saved in multiple sample sizes to share on the Internet. This format is usually used for very short fragments and in mono quality .
- OGG : It is one of the most recent and It has been developed as a free and open source alternative , which in addition to containing audio, also supports video. However, not all players are able to read this format and the playback quality is slightly higher.
- MIDI : This is a format accepted by the most famous players, that is, by Windows Media Player and QuickTime . These types of files can only be modified and manipulated through special programs and usually involve some musical knowledge. Additionally, are files used in background sounds of HTML pages or to listen to musical compositions around an instrumental character.
Thus, it is possible to confirm that the MP3 and WAV formats are the most optimal for use in the digital world.
Steps to convert and change the format of a video or audio without use of programs
In order not to rely on programs or web pages that offer easy and simple solutions to change the format of your videos or audios for free and quickly, there is a method to convert these files into the formats you want , without the requirement to install programs that may be dangerous for your device . This refers to a tool that devotes to the Windows 10 PRO operating system .
In this sense, what is done is manually change the format , just by making the file extension visible to achieve it easily. For this, it is relevant to note that before carrying out the procedure, the video or audio will only be seen with its original name and not with the one it has . Now, do the next step by step to convert the file type of your digital content:
- To start, find the video or audio you want to change format .
- Then, go to Control Panel with so just right click on Start and thus, select the option “ Control Panel “. Or, by searching through the keyboard of this folder.
- Once the indicated window is displayed, that is, the control panel window with all the sections it offers, click on “ File Explorer options ”.
- The aforementioned option contains three tabs called: “ General “, “ View ” and “ Search “; you must access the one that says “ See ”, located in the second position.
- Thus, when entering “ See ”, you will see a list with the title “ Advanced configuration ” and there you should look for the choice with the name “Hide file extensions for known file types ”and proceed to remove the“ check ”that it surely contains. To do this, click on “ Apply ” and “ Accept ”.
- After this, go to the video or audio you want to modify and right click to proceed to rename the file . When name editing is activated, you can change the format of the video to MP4 (or whatever you want) and it is necessary that before Accepting, make a copy of the video ( in case it is damaged or lost).
- Finally, a window will appear that instead of saying “ Rename ”, will say “ When changing the name extension of file, the file may become unusable ”, this is answered by“ Yes ”and in this way, the content will be stored in MP4 (or the one you once decided).
List of the best programs to change the format of a video
Now, if you are one of the people who prefer to rely on programs to solve this type of tasks, we present some of the most optimal programs to modify the extension of a digital video file :
HandBrake
This is one of the most special options to change the format of a video , especially since is an extremely lightweight and effective multiplatform software in the treatment of clips with MP4 extension . Therefore, it is indicated for all users who want to improve the playback of clips on their mobile phones.
In reference to its operation, you simply have to load the original video on the platform and choose only a section of the content to proceed to its conversion . Additionally, it has tools that save space and also other options to customize the video to your liking , whether it is to define the size of the resulting project, change the codec to be used, add several filters and configure compression .
Any Video Converter (AVC) 
As another alternative, we recommend using Any Video Converter which has many advantages and the most notable, is that exhibits the ability to work with any video format >, practically . That is to say that through this program, you will get the type you want and for each specific circumstance.
For its part, the operation of this software is extremely simple and basically, it focuses on importing the clip with which you are going to do the work and thus, convert it into the format that you prefer when you press the button for it .
Since then, you just have to wait a few seconds and count on the result, thus ensuring you play the edited video on any device you require, since contains categories by type of equipment to which you are going to export the result .
FFmpeg
This program is ideal for converting and encoding videos , as it has a free version that shows better features than many paid software dedicated to it. In addition, it has the possibility of changing the format and file type of an audio and uses the libavcodec codec library that encompasses the same program, so it is not necessary to install another application if you want to encode files to any existing format.
As for its interface, it is supremely easy to use, since shows a command line from which all the tools of the program can be managed. But if you don’t want to use these commands, you can also edit the video clips by simply dragging and dropping them on the home page. This one, is available for Windows computers (any version) and for Linux .
Free HD Video Converter Factory
It is a program that supports more than 200 different formats and among them, highlights the video in 4K , so it has new compression codecs, emits greater color depth and offers the possibility of making camera movements in postproduction. In this way, is one of the programs with the highest compatibility of video extensions today and adds excellent tools for free.
In reference to its user interface, it is quite simple and among other peculiarities, converts video files from the same Internet web , adding fast editing and downloading content directly from several platforms, Among which is the famous YouTube social network .
Gihosoft Free Video Converter
It is a program specially developed for the conversion of videos, through which any user can modify the format of a clip “strange” to the best known , that is, MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, MTS and MKV. In addition, it integrates the possibility of downloading videos directly from the platforms of Facebook, YouTube, Dailymotion and Vimeo, and then change them to the type of file you need or want.
Likewise, can be easily handled and is therefore considered an ideal solution for beginners. Among its advantages, it stands out that has a built-in transfer function , which gives the facility of transferring converted videos from a computer to mobile devices such as Android and iOS.
MPEG Streamclip
This software is only compatible with Windows computers and is considered as one of the best solutions for this operating system. In addition to converting video files, the program allows you to play and open any type, including MPEG files .
Taking into account that it also offers the simplicity of editing the results, either cutting, pasting or copying and transporting them to websites or the platforms you want .
It is ratified that MPEG Streamclip is ideal for converting demuxed and muxed files and exporting them to the most popular classes , that is, to AVI, DV or MPEG-4, thus guaranteeing professional quality clips. In addition, supports multiple input formats and these creations can be easily played on any device and other applications.
Format Factory
It is a software that has the ability to process and convert both video and audio files . Thus, a solution that allows to obtain excellent results and exhibits an extremely simple platform to use. Since, once you install Format Factory you will be able to deploy a long list of compatibilities to convert any type of file along with the extension you need.
However, it is a video editing program that offers no more tools and therefore is not an advanced alternative . Since, basically, it is responsible for fulfilling its main function and optimizing it in the best way, by adding the possibility of repairing damaged clip files .
Movavi Video Converter
Available for Windows and Mac OS X , this free video converter makes file extension and file changes effectively, thus obtaining the results in just seconds . In this way, it offers easy editing and compression, without losing the quality of the content and even has a powerful 4K video support.
In addition to this, it has a function that allows to process batch file conversion , regardless of the size of each of them or the number of clips you want to change format. It also presents a very easy-to-use Spanish interface, which has detailed instructions for optimal platform management . What’s more, it presents alternatives to compress videos based on saving space on the PC’s hard drive.
Prism Video Converter
Another alternative is Prims Video Converter that offers a free download compatible with several operating systems and is capable of performing the most common conversions , whether MP4 video files, AVI, MPG, ASF, WMV, VOB, among others.
In addition to this, allows you to adjust the content settings very easily , thanks to the ease of specifying a certain size for output files and even reducing the magnitude of a video file , in order not to take up more space on the hard disk.
For its part, this recommended software allows you to set the encoding, compression, resolution and frame rate of any output file . As for its operation, the best thing about the program is that it has an integrated tool to preview without complications, the videos before proceeding to the conversion.
Freemake Video Converter
Finally, we advise you to use this program that has support for multiple types of videos. So you can export any type of file through Freemake Video Converter , especially because its functionality is quite effective and offers fully optimized tools .
Although its user interface is very simple, the results of this software are of remarkable quality and fulfill its tasks effectively. In reference to its operation, you just have to select the input format of the clip to modify which of course, you have to add in the list and then choose the output format from the options shown .
Thus, a quick and simple process to perform , taking into account that regardless of the size of the videos, their speed will always be valuable.