Expose What is MP4 and How It Works

Elliot Carter

Jun 25,2019 • Filed to: Convert MP4 • Proven solutions

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Most of time, you find yourself like to watch MP4 videos on iPhone, iPod, PSP or other players. But what is MP4 format, how MP4 files works and how can we make use of it. Get all information about MP4 in this article.

MP4, a shortened name for MPEG-4 Part 14, is a multimedia container format standard specified as a part of MPEG-4. It is most commonly used to store digital video and digital audio streams, as well as other data such as subtitles and still images. Like most modern container formats, it allows streaming over the Internet. The official filename extension for MPEG-4 Part 14 files is MP4, thus the container format is often referred to simply as MP4.

Since MP4 is getting more and more popular, it is quite common to people who use the latest iPod, iPhone and PSP. And it is a special kind of MP4, named H.264/AVC. Ratified as part of the MPEG-4 standard (MPEG-4 Part 10), H.264 delivers stunning quality at remarkably low data rates.

MP4 technology works by compressing the files. The way these videos are compressed into very small files without affecting the quality is through dealing with specific coding issues, minimizing certain aspects, such temporal and spatial redundancies, transforming motion estimation and intra estimation into the frequency domain, and generally through compression and decompression, commonly referred to as codec.

Since it was published in 1998, it is now gaining ever more popularity in the mainstream market. So how can we make use of MP4?

There are many ways we can enjoy the benefits of MP4. First, as an online consumer, you can enjoy all sorts of movie clips, professional and amateur, thanks to the use of this format. You can also often save these clips to your hard drive, and share them with others via email. Some sites that make use of this streaming application also make it possible for you to send a copy of the movie short through email and directly to a friend or acquaintance. When it comes to business applications, the use of MP4 makes it possible to hand presentations on the web site that discuss various goods and services offered by the company. The format can be used to dress up presentations for prospective clients, as well as a tool in advertising and product promotion.

Whether you use it for fun or as a business tool, MP4 is a versatile format.

MP4 is a widely used multimedia container format that is majorly used for storing video and audio files. The format can also store data like still images, subtitles, and others and is compatible with the majority of the devices and players. The format also supports streaming over the internet. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages associated with the format.

Advantages of MP4 format:

• Supports a high degree of compression with lossless quality files
• Capable of storing an array of data types including video, audio, still images, object descriptors, and others
• Compatible with a variety of devices and players
• The format is capable of handling advanced technologies and can stream over the internet
• The format is compatible with playing on low bandwidth media

Disadvantages of MP4 format:

• The MP4 format is not easy to edit and update using editor tools
• An array of piracy issues are associated with the format

A number of video conversion tools are available to convert your videos to MP4 and vice versa. One such professional program that supports all major formats and comes loaded with advanced features is Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate. Video conversion between all popular formats is supported by the software without compromising on the file quality. You can add videos in different formats to the interface for batch processing of multiple files at a time. The program allows the option to add the videos from your PC or directly from the device as well.

Guide to convert video to MP4 using Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate

01 Open Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate and add video files

Run the Aimersoft software and from the main interface select Convert tab. Hit on the +Add Files button that will help you to search and add local videos to be converted. Videos on PC can also be dragged and dropped to the interface.

Tip: After adding the videos, you are optional to edit your video. There are 3 video editing icons below each video thumbnail. Click them to add subtitle, watermark, or rotate, crop, trim video. Learn how to edit video >>

02 Choose the target format

After the files are added and appear on software interface it’s time to select the target format. Click on Convert all files to: option on the top right-hand side. A new pop-up window will open. Select the Video tab and then choose the desired target format from the supported list. Also, select the resolution of the file.

03 Convert videos to MP4 or vice versa

Clicking on Convert All button will start processing your files and will convert them to the selected format. The files on your PC are saved at the Output tab location.

Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate in addition to video toolbox also works as a decent video player. Using the tool, you can play your MP4 and other files on your Windows or Mac system. The player on the tool comes with all basic functions like forward, rewind, pause, full screen, and others. Aimersoft Video Converter works as a complete tool for your videos allowing video conversion, video editing, and video playback.

Steps on how to open and play MP4 videos on Windows or Mac using Aimersoft Video Converter

01 Open Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate and add video files

Run the Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate software on your PC. Click on the +Add Files button to add the video to the program interface that you want to open. The added video appears on the software interface with its details and a thumbnail image. Move your mouse over the thumbnail image and a Play icon will appear on it.

02 Play MP4 on Windows/Mac

Click on the Play icon and your MP4 video will start playing in a new player window using the software. You can also rewind, pause, forward the video and even take screenshot.