FLV (Flash Video) is a video file format created by Adobe for use with their Flash platform. It allows efficient streaming and playback of video over the internet. However, with Flash being discontinued, FLV files have become less common. Many users now want to convert their old FLV files to more modern formats like MP4.
Converting FLV to MP4 can be done quickly and easily with the right software. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to convert FLV to MP4 format on Windows and Mac.
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Why Convert FLV to MP4?
There are several reasons you may want to convert your FLV files:
- Playback on more devices – MP4 has better compatibility with media players, websites, mobiles devices, and smart TVs compared to FLV.
- Smaller file size – Converting to MP4 can significantly reduce file size with minimal quality loss. This saves storage space.
- Better quality – You can convert FLV videos to high quality MP4 to get better video and audio.
- Edit videos – MP4 format is easier to edit using video editing software.
- Future-proof your videos – As Flash support declines, converting FLVs to MP4 ensures your videos remain playable for years.
Software to Convert FLV to MP4
You need a video converter software to change FLV files into the MP4 format. Here are the best options:
- WinX HD Video Converter – Fast and easy-to-use converter for Windows with support for over 1000 formats.
- HandBrake – Open source, multi-platform tool great for batch converting many FLV files.
- VLC Media Player – The VLC converter is free and works on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- iSkysoft Video Converter – Intuitive software for Mac and Windows to convert FLV and other video formats.
I recommend WinX HD Video Converter for its speed, quality, and ease of use. But all these tools can efficiently convert FLV videos to MP4.
Step-by-Step Guide to Convert FLV to MP4
Follow these simple steps to convert your FLV videos into high quality MP4s:
On Windows
- Download and install WinX HD Video Converter on your Windows PC. You can get the free trial version.
- Add FLV videos by clicking +Video button and selecting your FLV files. You can drag and drop files too.
- Select MP4 format. Click on the Profile box and select “MP4 Video” from “Common Video” category. Select MP4 format
- Customize MP4 settings like video codec, resolution, bitrate and frame rate according to your needs.
- Start FLV to MP4 conversion by clicking the Convert button. The software converts videos at fast speed by utilizing hardware acceleration.
Converted MP4s are saved to your selected output folder.
On Mac
- Get and install iSkysoft Video Converter on your Mac. Download the trial version for free.
- Import FLV files by clicking + button. You can also directly drag and drop videos.
- Choose MP4 format. Go to the output format list and select “MP4” from “Video” category. Mac choose MP4 output format
- Set MP4 parameters like codec, resolution, bit rate, frame rate, etc. based on your preference.
- Convert FLV to MP4 by hitting the Convert button. The Mac app converts videos rapidly with multi-core CPU and Hyper-Threading technologies.
The MP4 files are stored in the designated output folder after conversion completes.
That’s it! The steps are straightforward on both Windows and Mac platforms. Converting FLV to MP4 takes just minutes without any quality loss.
Tips for the Best MP4 Conversion
Follow these tips when converting FLV videos to MP4 format:
- If needed, use the trim, crop, rotate, watermark tools before converting FLVs for editing.
- Set appropriate resolution, bitrate, codec etc. based on target playback device and bandwidth.
- Use 2-pass encoding for better quality – it is slower but maximizes quality.
- Batch convert multiple FLV files to save time when converting many videos.
- You can merge multiple FLV files into one MP4 using video joiner before converting.