There are so many video resources in so many formats by now, and you need to convert them to some certain format so as to play them on some certain device. That makes you need to choose a video converter first. Since most video converters are similar at the first look and those applications usually have a lot functions and features in common, it is difficult to make a decision. In fact, there is never the best choice but there is always the most suitable one for your needs.

Here we list 5 essential features of video converter software according to most users’ needs and you might want to have a look when you are searching for a video converter.

1) Support almost all input and popular output video formats

The first thing you need to find out is whether the video converter supports the input formats that you are converting from and the output formats that you are converting to. The supported input formats should contain almost all video formats while the supported output formats should include most of popular video formats. For example, Free Video Converter supports AVI (DivX, XivD), MP4, MKV, MOV, WMV, TS, FLV, SWF, ASF, MPG, 3GP, 3G2, VOB (VCD), and DV. So you can use it as AVI converter, MKV converter, FLV converter, and so on. That will probably be enough.

Most video converters also support audio, and usually the formats should be MP3, WMA, M4A, AAC, AC3, OGG, MKA, FLAC, WAV, AIF, and AU.

And as the high definition video came, the video converter had better support H.264 HD video conversion, too.

2) Support popular multimedia devices

To successfully and perfectly play videos on some multimedia devices, especially HD devices, you need to convert video to correct format and appropriate dimension, zoom mode, aspect ratio, bit rate, frame rate, and so on. It will not be necessary to know those professional details if you choose some video converter that automatically set all related properties for the best and directly convert video to your desired target device. Just check out whether the video converter software supports iPad, iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPhone 4, Apple TV, PSP, PS3, Xbox 360, Zune, Wii, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Google Android, Nexus One, Samsung, Motorola, etc.

3) Support trimming video to clip

Since you convert files from some source video or audio, you can definitely trim the files to the part you really need. Many video converters support trimming video to the desired clip and some of them even support cropping. Whether it is easy to trim is also important. Directly setting the start time and end time of the trimmed clip will be great.

4) Support batch conversion and convert fast

Those are time-saving features that will come in handy when you have many video files, especially big files, to convert. It is easy to find out whether the video converter supports batch conversion. However, what about converting speed? Check that whether the converter supports multi-CPUs and multiple threads. If it does, it probably converts fast. And Sothink Free Video Converter even supports automatically shut down, sleep and hibernate when video conversion task is finished. It is another great feature about time-saving.

5) Easy to use

Some of the video converters are of wizard interface while others offer Microsoft Office style. Whatever the software is, it should be easy to use and user-friendly. That is to say, the video converter you choose should make you only need to click rather than to type. Not to mention thinking or doubt. All converting configuration had better be automatically set and you never need to know the details.

What’s more

There are also many other features that you could consider when you are looking for in a video converter, for example, able to preview, support image output, etc.