Does Windows- 7 already have something that would convert .m4v to .mp4?
If not, how would I do that?
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3 Answers
In most cases, it's easy enough to just rename your file from .m4v to .mp4. There is no conversion needed.
Both .m4v and .mp4 can be used as extensions for the MPEG-4 Part 14 container format. While .m4v isn't used that often, .m4a is common for audio-only files.
There are two cases in which renaming does not work:
Sometimes,
.m4vis also used as an extension for raw MPEG-4 Part 2 video bitstreams. In this case, renaming is not possible. The file has to be multiplexed into an.mp4container instead. This can be done, for example, with ffmpeg:ffmpeg -i input.m4v -c copy output.mp4When they originate from iTunes,
.m4vfiles may be protected by Apple's DRM. In this case, renaming to.mp4is not possible, and you cannot convert the file itself either, as it is copyright-protected and can only be played with iTunes on the machine it was bought on.
In either case, it is not necessary to convert the file by re-encoding it. This would only deteriorate the video quality. It is certainly not necessary to buy some kind of video conversion software for this task either.
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Indeed. The “v” is for video. It’s basically information just for humans. There’s also
m4afor audio.– Daniel BJul 5, 2014 at 14:16 -
2Yeah, typically you would name audio-only files
.m4a. The iPhone uses.m4rfor ringtones, for example.– slhckJul 5, 2014 at 14:17 -
I would add that extensions don't change the file, just how the computer decides to use it. Jul 5, 2014 at 17:26
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Mostly not even that. Because the file name is not truly metadata, it cannot be relied on. Instead, the presence of well-known/well-formed data is tested.– Daniel BJul 5, 2014 at 18:29
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1For those looking for useful information:
m4vandmp4are not necessarily the same thing at all: anm4vfile can be a pure data stream for burning directly to disc, without any metadata. In such cases, the file needs to be packed in an mp4 container before it can be played as file in a software video player. Even in 2016, this affects people why use, for instance, Adobe Media Encoder. May 9, 2016 at 5:59
Leawo total media converter, or maybe AVS Video converter
They are both paid, but have free versions
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2I downvoted because there is no need to convert anything in the file. In fact, using such a conversion tool you mention would only deteriorate the quality of the contained audio/video by re-encoding it. (Good example of generation loss)– slhckJul 5, 2014 at 14:18
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Very true, free trials usually have their limitations. But I do not appear to have a downvote.. ? Jul 5, 2014 at 14:21
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1That's not a matter of free trial vs. totally free or super expensive. You do not need a conversion program. Quite the contrary: you should avoid it, because they unnecessarily re-encode the audio and video parts (unless you know and find the option that does a stream copy, but not every tool has this). You received one upvoted, hence the 0 score.– slhckJul 5, 2014 at 14:22
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2Ah, Thank-you sir. I have become so used to converting all my videos that I kind of jumped the gun. Learn something new everyday, I guess. Jul 5, 2014 at 14:35
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Downvoted because this doesn't actually explain why...with an explanation the OP would realise there is no need for an external program.– SarimaJul 5, 2014 at 21:13
You can check this convertor out WinxHD, it's not free but you can easily work your way round and it facilitates m4v to mp4 or vice versa.
Hope I helped.
Enjoy :)
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There is no need to convert anything at all (see above answer), and even more so, it's not worth paying for video conversion tools either when there are free alternatives.– slhckMay 10, 2016 at 11:27