How To Easily Convert Video Files to DVD, MP4, VCD, MPEG, AVI … with VideoSpiritLite

I have used MANY video converters over the years. DVD to MPG or DVD to AVI and then I needed to convert AVI to WMV and many other combinations. Every time I was forced to find a different application to convert my damn video files! It was pretty annoying.

So when I happed upon VideoSpiritLite and saw that it could convert video files from and to any of these formats, VCD / SVCD / DVD / MPEG / AVI / DivX/ASF / WMV/DAT / SWF / FLV / 3GP / RM / MP4 / MOV, I was pretty happy and I hadn’t even downloaded the application yet.

While I started downloading the LITE version that is free from here I read through its features and it does some really neat stuff, other than converting, like extracting audio or still pictures from video. They do have a PRO version that costs money the only difference between the two products is the ability to edit the videos. Let’s take a look at what we can do with the free version.

The download was 10.9MB and once I downloaded it, I extracted the exe file and started installing. When it was completed in about 45 seconds it launched the application. You will see an info box when the application starts, prompting you to check that you have each of these three codec packs installed. They are K-lite which I wrote about here, Real Alternative and Quick Time.

With these three codec packs you can convert video files to and from any of the above formats for free! If you do not have any of them installed follow their respective links to grab and install them. I had all of them installed on my system so I was good to go.

Once you complete that, you will click close and you will then see the application. It looks like this:

I know, I know, you want to see how to convert a video file… So here we go. Start with Add Task

Then I chose Convert One File and that brings up the Wizard to get your video converted. Just fill out the fields

I chose the type I want to convert my video to, then I chose the input video and it automatically gives you the most reasonable settings but, if you know what you are doing you can go in and modify most settings.

When you are done hit OK. This will not start the conversion yet. The program can do batch processing – meaning you can set multiple files to convert and then start it. We will just be doing one today though. After you hit OK you will see a task like so:

Hit Start and you are off…

Once the conversion is complete you can view or copy the file from the output folder to where it needs to go. Very easy, and VERY handy!

To use the other features we were talking about it is as simple as going back to Add Task and selecting one of the other options:

You will see options to Split, Join and extract images. You can also convert a DVD. I was not able to figure out how to extract audio only from a video file but their website listed it as a feature. If you figure out how to do it – let us know in the comments!