HandBrake

Pros

• The conversion speeds are incredibly fast
• Video quality can be altered to fit a final file size
• Black bands can be removed

Cons

• There have been reports of instabilities for some users

HandBrake is a free and powerful application that is able to convert video files into MPEG format.

There is no way to deny the fact that digital media in the modern age is absolutely thriving. Not only are movies being made and distributed by major companies, anyone with a camera phone now-a-days has the capability of filming a video. The growth of this professional and amateur film industry in the digital landscape has led to an equally large surge of digital film formats. Each file format has its own strengths and weaknesses, but one unexpected downside is that compatibility becomes a real issue. For this reasons, video converters are very popular. HandBrake is one of the best known video converters between files and the MPEG-4 format.

HandBrake is one of the most used and recommended video-conversion software for a number of very good reasons. Video conversions are a necessary part of navigating the modern digital media jungle, so many video converting programs are sold at a premium. HandBrake, on the other hand, is completely free with absolutely no strings attached. As a video converter, Handbrake shines when it comes to converting files on DVDs into MPEG-4 format. By using the easy-to-use user interface, users are able to quickly select the file to be converted, adjust a wide variety of final product settings and convert the file quickly. The final MPEG-4 files are of exceptional quality. It is important to keep in mind that in order to convert from certain file types, the proper codec will have to be installed. These codecs include DIVX, Xvid and OGM. Once all the proper codecs have been installed, Handbrake will allow users to codify double soundtracks and perform two-pass conversions in addition to performing regular conversions. In addition, one of the most useful features in Handbrake is the bitrate calculator. With this feature, users set a final file size and Handbrake will take care of the task of readjusting the original. This feature can also be used to trim black bands around a video file to achieve a desired file size.

Recent changes have made HandBrake better than ever. Handbrake is now capable of handling all types of video files, not just DVD files. Multiple audio tracks can now be controlled. Improvements to the H.264 encoding library have now been included. Lip-synching speeds are now comparable to standard DVD players. Handbrake now features a decomb filter and Theora codec support. In general, the latest update has ushered in a vast amount of improvements to all user interfaces.

The biggest complaint anyone has when dealing with HandBrake is that there are, on occasion, moments where the program will freeze up and crash. While these moments are infrequent, they do affect a number of users.

Pros

• The conversion speeds are incredibly fast
• Video quality can be altered to fit a final file size
• Black bands can be removed

Cons

• There have been reports of instabilities for some users