14 DAY TRIAL // Back in the days, video conversion used to be a time wasting, tedious, tiresome process. Technological progress made a few dramatic changes and now you can change the format of your videos in no time and with the least effort. The operation has become so simple that it has been reduced to merely selecting the video, choosing the format and a preset setting for the output.
So in the end it is just a matter of the software you choose, the codecs and options you work with. The same applies to WinMPG Video Convert, a $30 solution for joggling video files into various formats.
The application can be used in demo version but the resulting videos will have an "Unregistered Version" watermark applied. Other than this, there is absolutely no other restriction during testing.
There is little to be said about the interface, but we have to notice the futuristic representation resembling a video player. You have two skins to choose from and to be frank, there are few differences between them. Both of them contain a menu button (blue down arrow button) and a skin changer (the yellow smiley).
Regarding conversion options, the main alternatives are available in full view in the main window. These include converting any type of video file into MPG1, MPG2, VCD, DVD, RmvB and AVI. The truth is that WinMPEG Video Convert cannot handle any type of video file as during our testing we tried to turn a SWF file into AVI and failed at each attempt. The same result was obtained when testing the application's MP4 to AVI conversion capabilities.
However, working with more "traditional" video formats like AVI, WMV and MPEG it all went great. WinMPG Video Convert had absolutely no objection and successfully carried out the job. Some depreciation of the video quality was noticed after the coding process was finished, but there was nothing alarming and it was to be expected as it is a known fact that no transition from one video format to another can be done without losing quality.
Besides the aforementioned movie formats, the application is also perfectly capable of transforming MOV to AVI and SWF to AVI. More than this, WinMPG Video Convert can convert all media to WMV or 3GP.
There is one thing that needs to be mentioned: the software does not bring the codecs so if you do not have the appropriate one you will not be able to perform the operation. However, you do not get to configure it for obtaining the best result possible. But you can make a few settings regarding the width and height of the resulting file, the framerate, audio type (configuration of bitrate, quality and channel is supported).
During the conversion, the software makes available a preview window, which can be disabled for a faster process. Additional information is presented in order to have an idea of the total time needed to complete the job and the amount of time that has passed.
Conversion window comes with an "Advanced" button that once pressed activates a new window containing deatail about the conversion. The particulars displayed include total time required by the app to complete the process as well as the start and end time of the video conversion. This last detail is particularly important as the software can convert pieces of video. Simply drag by the two sliders at the beginning and end of the video in order to select the desired video part.
WinMPG Video Convert's video media abilities are not limited to conversion and the user can also capture it frame by frame. The process can be activated from application's menu (little blue down arrow). In this case, as in video conversion, the user does not have to make too much effort. The steps for getting a certain frame of the input video are simple: load the video file in Capture window, set the saving folder, navigate to the desired frame and press Capture.
The options available in this window allow typing in the frame number in order to automatically navigate to it. "Previous" and "Next" buttons let you go forward or backward in the video, frame by frame. The downside is that there are no play controls allowing you to navigate faster to the desired part of the video. Instead, you will have to blindfoldedly sail through the movie.
All in all, the application will deal quite well with all major video formats, but there are still some details to be straightened out regarding the ease of use and the list of options. Also, despite advertising that all video formats can be converted to AVI, MPG, MP4 or 3GP, the application still has some issues and not all of the video types will be converted.
The Good
The application is quite easy to handle and there is no complicated setting available. Conversions are done with simple mouse clicks.
You can adjust the settings for the resulting file so that it is the way you like it.
WinMPG Video Convert can convert only parts of the video with the same success as with full video.
The Bad
The interface, as special as it may look, is not quite the right approach, as the menu is not in full view.
Not all conversions are carried out. Testing the app for SWF to AVI and MP4 to AVI transformation resulted in utter failure.
$30 seems a bit steep considering that it does not bring any codec (despite the fact that the great majority of them are absolutely free) and you will have to download them by yourself in order to successfully carry out the job.
The Truth
The quality of the resulting video is very good for the major video formats. However, the interface, although it is nonconformist it is not very practical. Also, there are still issues to be solved with converting from any movie file to AVI or MPEG.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
