Top 4 Reasons Why You May Need to Convert Your Video Files

There are several platforms that manage video files, and they have their specific preferences. It might be that you have downloaded or created a video file but need to convert the file so that the platform’s specifications are met.

Sometimes, you may need to convert a video into an audio file. If you wonder how to convert a video to an audio file, you can do so by using a converter. But converting MP4 to MP3 is not so much about converting the video file. It is about extracting the audio from the video. If you use a Mac, the system comes with an in-built video to audio converter that you will find on Finder. Launch Finder > go to the video file you wish to convert > right-click on the file > choose Encode Selected Video Files > choose Audio Only under Settings > choose Continue.

Besides converting your video files to audio, here are some reasons why you may need to convert the format of your video files.

Reasons Why You May Need to Convert Your Video Files

• The device is incompatible with running the video file

Device compatibility issues are the number one reason why you may need to convert your video file. You may encounter this after transferring your files from one device to another.

There are digital devices that prefer to run a specific file format and might not support the others. For instance, digital cameras save video files in a format that might not be readable to video players on smartphones and tablets. If this happens, you must convert the video files from one format to another, like MP4 to MP3, MOV to MP4, etc.

As you might be aware, MP4 is one of the most widely used video formats on devices and the Internet.

• The file size needs to be reduced

If you want to upload or transfer your video files to the web, you must reduce the file size. For instance, the size limit for most mail services is 25MB, and if your video files exceed this limit, you cannot attach the video files. The solution is to convert the file to a compressed version so that the video file size is reduced.

Similarly, if you upload video files to your social media account or other online channels, you may need to reduce the size of the file for ease of transfer.

• If you need to modify the aspect ratio

There’s a huge advancement in mobile and digital technologies. Due to this, people are using devices with different aspect ratios and screen resolutions. Within six months, you might be looking at devices with different resolutions. Therefore, you must be prepared to create and convert video files to suit these changing trends.

Your video files must be updated to suit the screen resolution and the aspect ratio for the device or platform you want them to be played on.

• The video conversion is required to improve the bitrate

In today’s digital age, most people are glued to their social media accounts. Either they are scrolling through their social media feed or uploading videos and images.

Many people manage social media channels where they post video content to get more followers and viewers online. However, when it comes to uploading videos on social media sites or other online platforms, there are some strict requirements to be followed. One of the requirements is the bitrate.

Bitrate refers to the number of bits per second, and it is used to assess the quality and size of a video file. If the bitrate of your video file is higher, it means the quality is better. However, on the downside, a higher bitrate means the file size is bigger, and this might be a problem when you are uploading it online. In addition, the video might be slow, and viewers might face buffering issues.

This is one of the reasons why media platforms suggest a suitable bitrate range for videos of a specific resolution. Therefore, if you are uploading videos on your social media account or a website, it is best to convert your video file. First, choose the video file format correctly so that the bitrate is reduced without compromising video quality. Then, viewers can quickly view your videos and not complain of buffering problems.

Final Thoughts

These are some reasons why you may need to convert your video files. Whether it is about compressing the video file, fixing device incompatibility issues, or extracting audio from video files, you can do it all using a converter. These converters are available as apps, or you can find one online. Most of them are user-friendly and you will quickly get a hang of using them.

What’s your reason for converting your video files? You can mention them in the comments below to inspire others in the same boat.