3 format converter – audio and video converter

Digital multimedia formats are extremely versatile, which greet space and free. The back of the medal are the different formats and the different standards with which the producers cook their soup. If you want to use the multimedia content in many ways, you will not save a conversion of audio and video in other formats and/or other specifications such as resolution and bit rate. The 3 format converter wants to support the user. We took a closer look at the all-in-one solution in practice.

Unwanted standards

Anyone who thought that the MP3 format (truly Mpeg-1 Audio Layer 3) would prevail as a general standard for the audio area made the invoice without companies like Sony or Apple. Their players also include the MP3 format, but they prefer, for example, advanced audio coding (AAC) and also sell music in this format in their stores.

It didn't seem better for a long time. In addition to MPEG 1+2, WMV and AVI (with the various codes such as XVID, Divx, etc.), other formats such as 3GP and Flash Video FLV Popular Format Since YouTube are on the market. The MP4 format hopes that a little hope, which is defined in different profiles as a video and audio format and is particularly widespread by AVC/H.264 (HD).

Why this formatchoo? Now, in addition to the license commissions necessary for different codecs, there are also strategic decisions, for example, that apply your format or final device. The triumphant march of the iPod can certainly be justified also by the fact that the iTunes store sells its content in AAC, which in turn can be easily played on Apple's players.

Ultimately, the user remains only the attention on certain formats and file devices or the time that consumes a new coding of the content in other formats. And it is exactly where the hour of the SAD converter format

Universal converter for all video and audio data

In the meantime, the format converters are available in version 3 and therefore have already learned some product maturity cycles. The installation is not spectacular and has not brought problems. After the beginning, the software presents the possibilities to convert audio or video, create settings or burn data carriers.

Opportunities for the start of the program

The operational concept of format converters is always identical: 1. Choose the activity, the second choice of the output profile, 3. Selection of the data origin, 4. Selection of origin data, 5

Video

For our test, we had 2 videos coded with XVID in MP4 (H.264), since the target device did not face this codec. First of all, the user selects the output format, so the program should cover almost all needs with a variety of prefabricated profiles for various devices and end formats.

Profile selection

In the third step, the database is again questioned.

Selection of data origin

In addition to the individual files and entire directories, a video DVD can also act as a database. Due to the laws applicable in Germany, the format converters must not avoid the CSS protection procedure (content scramble system), which in the meantime is easy to overcome. As a result, most DVDs buy cannot be read, so that the function is rather theoretical of nature. There are means to avoid the blockade, which we cannot and we must not go here.

DVD ribs

Therefore we limit ourselves to the conversion of the video material of origin, available in the form of files.

Selection of the material of origin

The user can check the files again through a preview and also make simple cutting functions (determine the beginning and the end). In addition, the resolution, the speed of bits, the frequency of the frames and the audio bit speed for each video file can still be regulated, provided that the options are in the framework of the format of the format.

Once all the settings are made, 3 format converters begin with the conversion of previously selected videoofiles. Depending on the system, resolution and length of the video material and target format, this process can sometimes take several hours because the videos must be completely coded. The quality of the converted video was convinced, although the improvement of the initial quality was not predictable still.

Audio

In addition to the simple conversion of the files, the user offers other options for audio conconization.

First select the target format

Target format for audio files

Before appointing the data origin.

Origin of data for audio

The conversion of the file and the directory corresponds to that of Videoofiles. However, if an audio file for conversion is selected, which is protected by DRM (for example AAC or WMA), it can be reproduced via stereomixer and recorded directly again. For this purpose, the necessary options must be regulated in the settings.

Present for the analog audio RIP

Depending on the hardware used, however, a cable with 2x 3.5 mm stereo spine is required to produce the audio signal via linesut (mostly green) and to be recorded directly via Linein (mostly blue). Some sound cards, on the other hand, do not require a cable, since the «What You Heas» source can be recorded again during reproduction. Another way would be the installation of the total recorder of the virtual audio card, which can also directly record the reproduction. To reproduce the protected audio format, the standard reader (eg iTunes) is still necessary on the system.

With the RIB Audio-CD function, the format converters selectively read the tracks, with the ID tags downloaded via Freedb.

Read the audio cd

Settings

The menu item settings allow the user to change existing profiles (bit installments, resolution, frame rate etc.), to create new ones, to look for new profiles online or to provide their profiles for all users. In addition, the adjustments for analogue rip (see above) are managed in the settings.

Edit profiles

Burn

In our opinion, the combustion function is one of the weak points of the product. The media data can be burned as CD/DVD of data or audio CDs. Unfortunately, there is no possibility of burning video material such as (S) VCD) or VideDVD to be able to reproduce this with each DVD player. The conversion of the associated format in MPEG2 should not be the problem for the format converter. The user must currently move on to Freeware as DVD Flick.

And what about Freeware?

Of course, there are also a variety of free programs that convert audio and videofiles to other formats. One or the other user will ask why the money spend money for this. On the one hand, format converters can manage all formats and, like many freeware programs, are not limited to certain types of files. A German user interface, a manual and a variety of finished profiles combined with a simple operation are certainly by purchasing topics for many users. In the end, many programs that keep up with the format converters are not always legal, whose use is even forbidden in Germany. As a rule, this is linked to the fact that these representatives also read encrypted DVDs. However, professional users are not the typical target group of format converters, which works as extended settings for conversion (details in the codec), changes to proportions, there are no deep cutting functions, etc. And they continue to use various open -level programs and freeware in combination.

Conclusion

The format converters have done its work very well and, despite the simple operations, it offers a convincing service of service. We only miss the option of burning the existing video material again such as (S) Videocd or DVD Video to play the content on every usual DVD/BD player. However, the price of almost 50 euros estimated by the manufacturer is exaggerated. The price of almost 25 euros shown by online stores like Amazon therefore appears in our opinion. The question if the offer is convinced for 25 euros compared to various freewares can respond to each user with the 14 -day demo (download via Wintatale) after the trial period.

	Formatwandler 3 Order this product now through Amazon Download the demo version via Wintotal
Producer:	SAD
Prey	100 euros (ultra), 80 euros (pro)
System:	Windows 7, Vista, XP
Positive:	Easy operation, many converter profiles
Negative:	Missing combustion function for (S) VCD and videovd

(52 votes, media: 4.70 out of 5)

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