MP4, developed by Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), is a digital multimedia container format used to store and play audio, video, images, and subtitles along with flawless digital streaming on internet platforms like YouTube. The MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) format is the most popular video format and can be played on almost any platform making it superior in terms of compatibility.
FLV (Flash Video) is a container file format used to deliver and play content like audio and videos, digitally. Unfortunately, FLV is not that widely used and requires the Adobe Flash Player plug-in to play the data smoothly. With advancements in web technologies in the 2010s, Flash has been criticized for its shortcomings in performance and security. Consequently, the use of Flash Player and the FLV format declined with official support ending in and of 2020.
In this article, you will get acquainted with the top select, online, or offline programs to help you convert FLV to MP4 hassle-free. Even better, you will learn how to use each of these tools, in a step-by-step guide, for a successful FLV to MP4 conversion process.
How to Convert FLV to MP4 on Windows & Mac
We understand just how cumbersome it can be to search for a reliable FLV converter tool in a space that is already flooded with innumerable software. Look no further as here is a list of the best go-to FLV to MP4 converter programs;
- TalkHelper Video Converter
- Freemake Video Converter
- Handbrake
- Any Video Converter
- OBS Studio
- CloudConvert
1. TalkHelper Video Converter (Recommended)
TalkHelper Video Converter is the best software whenever you need to change FLV to MP4. And beyond FLV and MP4, it supports other video and audio formats like MOV, MP3, FLAC, DVD, AVI, MKV, M4A, WAV, WMV, and more. Using groundbreaking algorithms, this FLV converter is capable of stupendous performance while striking the perfect balance between the MP4 file size and quality. In fact, you can rest assured that the original FLV video quality will be preserved in the output MP4 file with a small file size footprint.
In a bid to guarantee 100% user-friendliness, this conversion software boasts built-in presets based on the target resolution (4K Ultra HD, 2K 1440p, Full HD 1080p, HD 720p), and this allows you to avoid adjusting any options. This way, you can enjoy expedited tasks, not forgetting you can tailor the output MP4 file for specific devices like Sony PSP, tablets, Xbox, consoles, Apple iPhone, and more.
Steps to convert FLV to MP4 using TalkHelper Video Converter:
Step 1: Start TalkHelper Video Converter, expand the “Add Media” menu and select the “Add Video File…” option to open the necessary interface to help you import the FLV file to convert.
Step 2: Set MP4 as the output video format. Expand the ”Output Format” menu, select “Video Formats” > “MP4”, and then pick your preferred MP4 video resolution from the resulting sidekick menu.
Step 3: Customize output parameters and convert. Use the “More parameters” option to open the “Single file parameters” pop-up window, tweak the options as deemed necessary, save with the “OK” button, and then start the conversion process by clicking the “Start Convert” button.
2. Freemake Video Converter
Freemake Video Converter is one of the most simplified programs to convert FLV to MP4. And even with this minimalistic approach, it still brings some pretty amazing features in terms of video editing. Specifically, it allows you to edit the FLV file to change the audio track, add subtitles, personalize the video with a custom watermark, rotate, and cut the video to your specifics. This goes a long way to enhancing the final and converted MP4 file.
Amazingly, this program allows you to download and convert FLV files from sites like YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, and more. You also get batch processing capabilities and a special feature where you can merge multiple FLV files into a single MP4 file. It makes your work easier too by presenting built-in conversion presets and an extra feature where you can convert FLV files and output them into MP4 videos that can be embedded into your web page.
Steps to convert FLV to MP4 using Freemake Video Converter:
Step 1: Install and launch Freemake Video Converter. Click the “Video” button, head over to the source directory, select the FLV file, and complete the import process with the “Open” button.
Step 2: Edit the video and set MP4 as the output format. Add a watermark or trim the FLV video using the options labeled 1. After you are done, select MP4 from the bottom part of the interface to open the necessary interface.
Step 3: Configure output parameters and convert. From the “MP4 output parameters” dialog box, pick a conversion preset of choice, choose the saving directory, and hit the “Convert” button.
3. HandBrake
We have mentioned apps that present built-in conversion profiles but HandBrake takes an overkill approach. Specifically, you get customizable presets to output MP4 files suitable for almost any scenario like general use, web, specific devices, and more. Past the presets, you are given control over the FLV to MP4 process through a bunch of editable video parameter options like orientations, cropping, resolution, scaling, borders, filters, and more.
Using this MP4 converter, it is possible to output MP4 files optimized for the web and are therefore better when it comes to streaming. Also, you get to play with a variety of codecs like H.264, H.265, and MPEG-4, with support for hardware acceleration. And even before you can convert the entire FLV file, HandBrake gives you a preview of the output based on your settings to aid in making adjustments without waiting for the whole video to be converted.
Steps to convert FLV to MP4 with Handbrake:
Step 1: Set up and launch HandBrake. Click the “File” option to start the “Open” dialog window, navigate to the source directory, select the FLV file, and hit the “Open” button to import the video.
Step 2: Select your preferred profile under the “Preset:” section and then adjust the various video parameters like dimensions, filters, subtitles, and more, as indicated below.
Step 3: Configure MP4 as the output format and convert. From the “Format:” section, select MP4, set the output directory under the “Save As:” section, and then hit the “Start Encode” button to commence the FLV to MP4 conversion process.
4. Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter combines a video converter, editor, and a free DVD burner in the same app. It supports over 100 inputs, and over 160 outputs and promises 100% lossless quality for every FLV to MP4 conversion task you undertake. Just like TalkHelper Video Converter, you get support for other video formats (MPEG, VOB, WMV, 3GP, WEBM, AVI, MOV) and devices (Kindle Fire HD, Xbox One, console, and more). When the need arises, you can extract audio from the FLV file with ease.
After you have converted the FLV files into MP4 format, this free download program gives you the necessary tools to create and burn DVDs or AVCHD DVDs without seeking external tools. And through the use of HEVC/H.265 video coding efficiency, the FLV to MP4 conversion process is faster while retaining high video output quality. To further enhance the converted MP4 file, you get video editing options to help you watermark, merge, flip, rotate, crop videos, and more.
Steps to convert FLV to MP4 with Any Video Converter:
Step 1: With Any Video Converter up and running, set the correct “Convert Video” mode, click the “Add Video(s)” button, navigate to the source folder, select the FLV video file, and hit the “Open” button.
Step 2: Set MP4 as the target format. Expand the “Select output profile” drop-down menu, select the “Video Files” category, and choose “Customized MP4 Movie (*.mp4)” from the list menu.
Step 3: Tailor the output MP4 file. Use the panel on the right-hand side of the interface to adjust the output video by cutting, adding effects, clipping, specifying resolution/quality, and not forgetting the more specific video and audio parameters.
Step 4: Convert FLV to MP4. As a final step, hit the “Convert Now!” button.
5. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is free and open-source software popularly known for video recording and live streaming. It may come as a surprise but it offers a nifty way to convert FLV files into MP4 format. You will not get the advanced features like other conversion tools but you can be assured of solid video conversion. Keep in mind that the only video formats you can turn into MP4 are FLV, MOV, MKV, and TS.
If you have many FLV files to convert, you can take advantage of the batch conversion feature to say a ton of time and effort. By default, this program will save the converted MP4 files in the source directory though you can opt for a different one. The good thing about this tool is that there are no limitations whatsoever whenever you decide to change FLV to MP4.
Steps to convert FLV to MP4 using OBS Studio:
Step 1: On the OBS Studio software, open the “File” menu and click “Remux Recordings” from the dropdown list.
Step 2: Import the FLV file to convert. Under the “OBS Recording” section, click on the three dots to the right of the input box, navigate to the source directory, choose the FLV file to convert, and then hit the “Open button”.
Step 3: Choose the output folder and convert. Under the “Target File” column, click the three dots to change the output directory if necessary and complete the process by clicking on the “Remux” button. A small pop-up will appear once the conversion is complete.
6. CloudConvert
CloudConvert is the best choice for a fully-fledged online FLV to video converter. While most apps will limit you to a specific platform, this online conversion tool allows you to convert FLV files into MP4 format from any platform as long as you have a modern web browser and a good internet connection. It is characterized by high-quality conversions with an extra touch of control over the output MP4 resolution, quality, and file size.
To be specific, there are many options you can fiddle with including parameters like framerate, aspect ratio, video codec, audio codec, bitrate, channels, sample rate, volume, and more. In addition, it gives you a video trimming feature to delete any unwanted portions from the FLV, besides an option to add subtitles and personalization with a custom watermark.
Steps to convert FLV to MP4 online with CloudConvert:
Step 1: Launch your preferred web browser program and navigate to the FLV to MP4 conversion landing page at https://cloudconvert.com/flv-to-mp4
Step 2: Import the FLV file you want to convert. Next to the “Select File” button, click the drop-down arrow and pick the relevant FLV file source (local, URL, or cloud service).
Step 3: Adjust the output MP4 file parameters. Click the spanner-like icon to open the “OPTIONS” section.
Tweak the video/audio parameters depending on your output preferences, trim the video, and add subtitles/watermark when the need arises. Click the “Okay” button to save the changes.
Step 4: Start the FLV to MP4 conversion process. All you need to do now is click the “Convert” button to kickstart the task.
Be patient as the FLV file is automatically uploaded, and converted. Once the process is complete, hit the “Download” button to save the converted MP4 file.
Conclusion
MP4 and FLV may both function the same way but MP4 is way more popular, has a smaller file size footprint, and compatibility spans across all devices/platforms like mobiles, web, laptops, and more. As mentioned, FLV has major setbacks considering it is no longer supported. Luckily for you, this article has not only outlined the best FLV to MP4 converter programs but also the methods you can use on each tool to transition any FLV file into the MP4 format equivalent. Considering your target features, you can now pick your preferred software and follow the accompanying step-by-step guide.