VLC is a portable, free and popular quality media application that recognizes and plays most media formats. It converts rare audio and video files to universal options like MP4, making devices that support specific file types more accessible.
If you're sitting on files that need to be converted to MP4, you've come to the right place.
This article will cover some of the best ways to convert files to MP4 for high output quality through Windows and macOS. Some of the files we will cover include MKV, VOB, and DVD media container formats.
How to Convert MKV to MP4 in VLC
To convert your MKV file to MP4 using VLC via Windows and macOS:
- Go to the official VideoLAN site to download a copy of VLC if you haven't already.
- Open the app and select the "Media" tab at the top left.
- Choose "Convert/Save" from the options.
- Click the "Add" button, then find the MKV file you want to convert.
- Once you have selected the file, click the "Convert/Save" button at the bottom of the window.
- Use the drop-down menu next to "Profile" to specify the video format - "H.264 + MP3 (MP4) is recommended for an MP4 file.
- (optional) Refine your settings by clicking the tool icon next to the drop-down menu.
- Under "Destination", choose where you want to export your file.
- Select "Start" to begin the conversion.
Your MP4 file will go to the specified location after the conversion is complete.
How to Convert MOV to MP4 in VLC
Follow the steps below to convert your MOV file to MP4 format via Windows and macOS:
- Download VLC software from their official website if you don't already have the app.
- Launch VLC, then click on the “Media” menu.
- Choose “Convert/Save”.
- In the new window, click on the “Add” button.
- Find the MOV file to import into VLC.
- To start MP4 conversion, select the "Convert/Save" button.
- From the “Profile” drop-down menu, choose “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)”.
- Choose a save location for the converted file.
- Click on “Save”, then on “Start”.
When the conversion is complete, your MP4 file is in the specified folder.
How to Convert DVD to MP4 in VLC
Follow the steps below to convert your DVD to MP4 file from Windows and macOS.
From Windows, insert the DVD you want to convert into your disc drive then:
- Go to the official VLC website to download the software if you don't already have it.
- Launch the VLC app.
- Click on the "Media" tab in the upper left corner of the main menu.
- Select "Open Disc" from the drop-down menu.
- Under 'Disc Selection', check the box for 'No disc menus'.
- In "Disc Device", choose the location of the DVD.
- At the bottom right next to the "Play" button, access the drop-down menu and choose "Convert".
- In the "Convert" window under "Settings", select "Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)" as the "Profile" format.
- In "Destination File", click "Browse" to choose the location to save the converted file and give it a name.
- Click "Start" to start the conversion.
Once the DVD is converted to MP4 format, the file is saved to the location selected in step 9.
Using a macOS, insert the DVD you wish to convert into your disc drive then:
- Visit the VLC official site to download the software if you don't already have it.
- Open the VLC app.
- Click on the “File” tab, then select “Open Disc”. A new window displaying your DVD information will open.
- Check the “Disable DVD menus” box.
- Check the "Stream output" box at the bottom left.
- Click on the “Settings” button.
- Check the "File" option to save the converted file to your Mac.
- Click on “Browse”.
- In the pop-up window, name your converted file and select a save location.
- Press "Save" to confirm.
- Open the drop-down menu via the "Encapsulation method".
- Select “MPEG4”.
- Under "Transcoding options", set "Video" and "Audio" to "MPEG 4" or "H.264 + MP3 (MP4)".
- Select "OK" to confirm the settings.
- Click "Open" to start the conversion.
Once the DVD is converted, a copy of the file will be saved in the location you defined in step 9.
How to Convert WebM to MP4 Using VLC
To convert your WebM file to MP4 using VLC via Windows and macOS:
- Open the VLC app.
- At the top left, select the "Media" tab.
- Choose "Convert/Save" from the options.
- In the "Open Media" window, click the "Add" button on the right.
- Find the WebM file you want to convert to MP4, then click "Open".
- Click "Convert/Save".
- In the "Convert" window, click "Browse" to name your converted file and choose where to save it, then "Save".
- Click "Start" to start the conversion.
Once the WebM file is converted to MP4, it will be saved in a location of your choice.
How to Convert VOB to MP4 with VLC
Follow the steps below to convert your VOB file to MP4 format via Windows and macOS:
- Launch the VLC app.
- In the main menu, click on "Media".
- Leave the other settings as they are and click "Convert/Save".
- In the "Open Media" window, click the "Add" button on the right.
- Find and select the VOB file you want to convert, then "Open".
- Click the "Convert/Save" button again.
- In the "Convert" window under "Settings", select from the drop-down menu next to "Profile".
- Choose “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)” as the output format.
- At the bottom next to "Destination file", click on the "Browse" button.
- Choose where you want to save your converted MP4 file and give it a file name.
- Press the "Start" button at the bottom to start the conversion.
When the conversion is complete, the file will be saved in the chosen location.
How to Convert AVI to MP4 Using VLC
Follow the steps below to convert your AVI file to MP4 file using Windows and macOS.
- First, visit VLC official site for a copy of the software if you haven't already.
- Open the VLC app.
- In the main menu at the top, click on "Media".
- Leave the setting as is and select "Convert/Save".
- In the "Open Media" dialog window, click the "Add" button on the right to find the file you want to convert.
- Select the AVI file, then “Open”.
- Click the "Convert/Save" button again.
- In the "Convert" window under "Settings", click the drop-down menu next to "Profile".
- Choose “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)” as the output format.
- Click the "Browse" button next to "Destination File".
- Choose where you want your converted MP4 file to be saved and name the file.
- Click "Start" to start the conversion.
Your MP4 file will be saved in a location of your choice once converted.
Access to quality audio and video files galore
VLC media player plays a wide variety of audio and video file types and converts uncommon formats to popular ones like MP4. With this tool, you have more options for accessing your media from devices that only support specific file types.
VLC is widely used because not only the quality of the file is maintained once converted, but it is also open source and free.
What do you think of VLC player? Did you try a file type that you thought it wouldn't support and did it? Let us know in the comments section below.
