Video software recommendations

[Shlouski]

I have thousands of video files comprised of many formats and sizes. I wish to convert them all into one format, while also reducing their size where possible. 

 

Can anyone recommend free or paid software that can covert a large mass of various video files, and a format I should convert them into?

[Slottr]

Handbreak

[minibois]

Handbrake if you want a graphical user interface, or FFMpeg if you want a command line interface. (both free).

There is no one single answer to "best format", as there are thousands of combinations you can make with the quality settings, plus it depends on what you want to play the files on.

 

H265 is generally a good combo, between size, quality and compatibility. But certainly not everything works with it still.

This video might be interesting for you:

 

[Shlouski]

12 hours ago, minibois said:

H265 is generally a good combo, between size, quality and compatibility. But certainly not everything works with it still.

This video might be interesting for you:

 

I'm not so worried about compatibility, as long as they play in vlc I'm happy. 

 

I understand there is no simple answer when it comes to format, but I would like to reduce the file sizes as much a possible, presumably there is a point diminishing returns where a lot of quality is lost for only small reduction in size.

 

Most of these files are in 1080p, I just want to get them down as small as possible while still looking clear and easy on the eye, they don't need to look impressive.

[Chionele]

Handbrake comes with lots of quality presets already, but you're able to alter them however you want.

 

But why? You're effectively just destroying the files for no perceivable benefit since the only way to reduce the size is to either drop the resolution of apply horrible compression - or both.