What is the most classic open-source video format conversion software? Without a doubt, it is HandBrake. Compared to similar tools, it is completely free, yet packed with powerful features. Its clean, intuitive interface makes conversion easier than ever, earning praise from countless users who continue to rely on it daily. Beyond that, HandBrake can rip DVD movies to MP4, AVI, OGM and many other formats for playback on virtually any device. But there’s more—you can also edit video dimensions, subtitles, audio volume and more to create exactly the output you want.
Key Features
1. Convert DVD movies to MP4, AVI, OGM and other formats for hassle-free playback in any player.
2. Accept any DVD source: VIDEO_TS folders, DVD images, physical DVDs, etc.
3. Support both PAL and NTSC; handle AC-3, LPCM and MPEG audio tracks.
4. Turn DVDs into MP4, AVI, OGM or other file types with a few clicks.
Functionality
1. Container Formats
Containers (MKV, MP4, MOV, M4V, M2TS, TS, AVI, RMVB, etc.) hold at least one video stream and one audio stream. MP4 and MKV can also embed subtitle tracks.
2. Video Streams
Common codecs include MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4. MPEG-4 Part 10 (H.264/AVC) is today’s dominant format.
3. Audio Streams
Frequent choices are MP3, AAC, FLAC, AC-3; AAC offers the best compatibility with Apple devices.
4. Subtitle Streams
SRT and ASS are typical formats; ASS is popular for anime.
5. Video Encoders
The most widespread open-source H.264 encoder is x264.
6. HandBrake
A powerful, integrated encoding GUI for macOS (also Windows & Linux) that bundles multiple encoder combinations.
Advantages
I. Built-in Device Presets
Pick an optimized profile for your phone, tablet, TV or game console, or choose a universal Fast / High-Quality preset and start encoding in seconds. Advanced users can fine-tune dozens of basic and expert options.
II. Supported Sources
Handles almost any common multimedia file plus any DVD or Blu-ray source that is not copy-protected.
Output:
1. Containers: .MP4 (.M4V) and .MKV
2. Video encoders: H.265 (x265 & QuickSync), H.264 (x264 & QuickSync), H.265 MPEG-4 and MPEG-2, VP8, VP9, Theora
3. Audio encoders: AAC / HE-AAC, MP3, FLAC, AC-3, Vorbis
4. Audio pass-through: AC-3, E-AC3, DTS, DTS-HD, TrueHD, AAC, MP3
III. Additional Features
1. Title / chapter and range selection
2. Batch scanning & queue encoding
3. Chapter markers
4. Subtitles (VobSub, CEA-608 closed captions, SSA, SRT)
5. Constant-quality or average-bitrate video encoding
6. Variable (VFR) and constant frame-rate (CFR) support
7. Video filters: deinterlace, detelecine, denoise, decomb, deblock, grayscale, crop, scale
8. Live still-image and video preview