The way to convert MOV to MP4

Movies with the .mov extension have good high quality and are nice for enhancing. Nevertheless, they’re fairly massive and may be tough to play on non-Apple units. So, in case you want a extra appropriate format or simply wish to save area, learn on to learn to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac rapidly and with most high quality.

MOV vs MP4: key variations

Each codecs are containers, i.e. information that may include video, audio, subtitles, nonetheless pictures, and so forth. However additionally they have many variations.

The MOV format was developed by Apple and is native to their merchandise. Your iPhone information video in MOV, and QuickTime is the native participant for viewing it. That is why these movies do not all the time play easily exterior the Apple ecosystem. 

MP4 is a extra common format that may play on most units. It is a good compromise between good high quality and excessive compression. In our check, a virtually 1 GB MOV file was compressed to 180 MB after conversion to MP4. And the standard distinction isn’t important to the bare eye.

Simple methods to transform MOV to MP4 on Mac

So relating to changing a MOV file to MP4, you could have a number of choices: desktop apps, built-in Mac instruments, and on-line companies. We have examined every methodology and listed the time required to transform a file of about 1GB. Let us take a look at them one after the other.

Convert MOV to MP4 with out shedding high quality

The smoothest approach to convert MOV to MP4 is to make use of a third-party app. In our work, we use Permute as a result of it’s quick, can convert batches of information, and preserves high quality as a lot as potential. The entire course of takes 4 steps.

1. Obtain and open Permute.
2. Drag and drop the information you wish to convert.
3. Choose the output file format (MP4) within the Video column.
4. Click on the Begin button.

   

By default, the brand new video will go to the identical folder as the unique. Earlier than changing, you can even change the decision or pace up the video.

One other useful characteristic of Permute is that it means that you can carry out primary video enhancing: trimming, cropping, including audio, subtitles, metadata, and so on. All this is available in a clear and intuitive interface the place it’s inconceivable to get caught or make a mistake.

Time to covert ≈1Gb: lower than 3 minutes.

Worth: Free for 7 days on Setapp. Then, it is $9.99 for Permute and 240+ different instruments.

Verdict: One of many quickest methods to transform MOV to MP4 whereas sustaining most high quality. Helps bulk conversion.

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Convert .mov to .mp4 utilizing iMovie

In the event you solely must convert one or two information sometimes, attempt iMovie, a built-in video editor for Mac. It has a good set of options and could be a bit complicated for somebody new to video instruments. However don’t be concerned; you solely must hit a couple of buttons. Here is easy methods to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac utilizing iMovie.

1. Open iMovie (you’ll find it in Launchpad or Finder > Functions).
2. Click on on the + button and create a brand new film (mission).
3. Import your video to iMovie.
4. Click on the Share icon on the high proper of the app window.
5. Click on Export File.
6. Choose your required video settings and exported file location (or preserve the default ones).
7. Start conversion.

   

iMovie is sort of quick and even enables you to select completely different settings to your video, equivalent to decision and compression high quality. A minor inconvenience is that it’s important to clear up your iMovie information after conversion to keep away from digital litter. Additionally, you may solely convert one file at a time.

Time to covert ≈1Gb: about 1:20 minutes within the Quickest mode and about 2:20 minutes in Higher High quality mode.

Worth: free.

Verdict: A dependable however barely fussy approach to convert MOV to MP4. Appropriate for infrequent use in case you needn’t convert batches of information.

Terminal instructions to transform MOV to MP4

In case you are a fan of the command line, you may convert MOV to MP4 utilizing Terminal. Kind precisely the identical instructions in Terminal, as a result of each character and area is essential.

1. Open Terminal.

2. Kind the command to put in ffmpeg: brew set up ffmpeg and press Enter. The set up could take as much as 5 minutes.

3. Kind the command for conversion: ffmpeg -i enter.mov output.mp4 and press Enter. 

Change enter.mov with the trail to your MOV file and output.mp4 together with your desired output file title and path.

Tip: The best approach to discover the trail to a file is to right-click your video, maintain down Choice, and click on Copy as Pathname from the drop-down menu.

The sort of conversion takes a very long time, and there’s no risk to regulate the video parameters (no less than with the described command). Theoretically, this methodology may be improved by making a extra superior script, however there are nonetheless some issues: it’s gradual, rigid, lacks a handy graphical interface, and so on.

Time to covert ≈1Gb: quarter-hour for the conversion + 5 minutes to put in ffmpeg.

Worth: free.

Verdict: Appropriate for Terminal followers or when different conversion strategies are unavailable.

On-line instruments to transform MOV to MP4

The final methodology – on-line conversion companies – is appropriate for individuals who work with small and non-private information. In case your video accommodates delicate info that would hurt you if leaked, we advocate towards importing it on-line.

In the event you’re okay with these, you may attempt one of many fashionable companies, equivalent to CloudConvert or Animaker.

They each work equally: to transform MOV to MP4 on-line, you add a video, choose a format for conversion, watch for the method to complete, and obtain the video to your laptop. However every of them has some specifics.

CloudConvert

CloudConvert provides as much as 25 free conversions per day. Nevertheless, it will likely be interrupted if the conversion course of takes greater than 5 minutes. That is what occurred with our 1 GB file. We repeated the check with a 125 MB file, and the entire course of (together with importing and downloading the video) took 3:half-hour.

Time to covert ≈1Gb: failed.

Worth: Free (restricted). The paid model of CloudConvert begins at $9 for 500 conversion credit. 1 credit score = about 1 minute of conversion.

Verdict: Appropriate for rare conversions of small, non-private movies that you do not thoughts importing to the net.

Animaker

The free model of Animaker additionally works with small movies, however the limits are usually not explicitly talked about. In our check, the service could not deal with a 1 GB video. A small file (12 MB) was queued for rendering after conversion, which took an eternity. 

Time to covert ≈1Gb: failed.

Worth: Free (restricted). The paid entry to the platform provides extra versatile phrases beginning at $12.50 monthly.

Verdict: Appropriate for rare conversions of small, non-private movies that you do not thoughts importing to the net.

The way to convert MOV to MP4: Solved

So, selecting a software to transform MOV to MP4 ought to rely in your wants. Use this desk for comparability.

In the event you’re interested by a MOV to MP4 converter for frequent file conversions proper in your Mac, we advocate Permute. You may attempt it without spending a dime for 7 days on Setapp. Attempt it together with dozens of different apps for macOS with out advertisements or restrictions.