WonderFox DVD Video Converter 6 Review

Sometimes the key to managing a fine movie collection is a reliable video convertor that can prepare common media files for multiple purposes, like playback on iPad or YouTube uploading.

We have reviewed many such utilities in the past, and this time it is WonderFox's turn.

WonderFox DVD Video Converter is a user-friendly video conversion application that features support for numerous output profiles. It has the capacity to create videos from DVD movies as well as to download YouTube clips and ready them for conversion. Backed by standard and advanced features alike, the tool aims to please all user groups.

The demo version does not have an expiration date, but it is limited to converting only the first 15 minutes of each video. Those who want to remove this limitation may purchase the full package for $19.95 / €14.33.

The program files are unwrapped very quickly. In the looks department, the interface is quite appealing and generally intuitive. A short tutorial on how to perform a straightforward conversion job is shown at startup. Media files can be opened from a local, network or removable location, DVD folder or ISO image.

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WonderFox supports an extensive range of output profiles, starting with common audio and video like .mp3, .wma, .flac, .ogg, .avi, .mpg, .mkv, .mts, .m2ts and .webm, including HD format for .avi, .mp4, .mpg, .wmv, .mkv, .mov, .ts and .trp. It is also capable to produce DVDs and VCDs (NTSC or PAL), prepare media for online publishing (e.g. YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo), as well as make clips compatible with Apple, Samsung, HTC, BlackBerry, Nokia, Sony and other devices.

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Batch processing is supported, meaning that multiple clips can be converted at the same time to reduce overall task duration. WonderFox also implements a feature for merging all of them into a single file instead. Thanks to options available in the context menu, it is possible to rename output file names, open a file's location in Windows Explorer, view source information (e.g. frame rate, bit rate, channels), and preview movies in a built-in media player.

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If the video has multiple audio and subtitle streams (as the case of DVD movies), users may select particular tracks for processing (custom subtitle files can be assigned if they do not exist). File properties displayed in the task list include the source and output format, size, duration and resolution.

Some video editing features are available too. Those inexperienced with video processing software should not worry, since there are mostly preset filters with no customization options. They focus on lighting, grayscale, blur, emboss, film grain and vintage effects, among others.

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The good news is that the movie can be played during this time to figure out if a selected filter is the right fit, as well as rotated, flipped and trimmed (by moving a slider to set the start and end position). The bad news is that a filter is only applicable to the entire video, and not just to smaller parts instead. Movie frames can be grabbed and saved to BMP or JPG format, while settings can be restored to default.

Power users have the opportunity to fiddle with output audio and video parameters when it comes to the encoder, aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate, bit rate (constant or variable), channel mode, sample rate and volume level, together with NTSC/PAL normalization and deinterlacing for DVDs. Options can be reverted to their factory values, saved to a new profile or written over an existing one.

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The YouTube downloader is very easy to handle, since it sports only basic options. The user only needs to paste a video link, wait for WonderFox to analyze data, select the preferred video quality from the available streams, and fetch the clip with the click of a button. Apart from opening the saving directory, it is possible to quickly access downloaded items in a separate window and convert them to other formats if necessary.

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As far as program configuration is concerned, the maximum number of tasks during batch conversion and video downloading can be set to a value between 1 and 10 (auto mode is default). A post-task action may also be established, such as opening the destination folder, restarting the computer or shutting down.

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A sound alert can be heard when WonderFox finishes converting, and it can be either disabled or swapped for a local WAV track. The CPU priority can be set to a level between idle and highest, along with the number of CPU cores to use. Settings can be reset to default.

Measuring performance

We put WonderFox to the test on an Intel Core i5-3470, CPU 3.20GHz, 12GB RAM, 500GB Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 7200RPM, on Windows 8.1 Pro. Default settings were applied.

A 1.64GB MP4 movie with a duration of 1 hour, 54 minutes and 21 seconds was turned into a 4.33GB AVI in approximately 22 minutes. The output size is clearly not desirable, but the task time is great. As far as quality is concerned, results were good in multiple conversion jobs. On the other hand, CPU was heavily used during this time.

The Good

The Bad

The Truth