The only free file (audio, video, image) converting program you will ever need.

Ashraf May 2, 2011 89

Ask yourself these five questions:

Do I want to be able to easily convert a video file to literally any video format?
Do I want to be able to easily convert an audio file to literally any audio format?
Do I want to be able to easily rip the audio from a video file?
Do I want to be able to easily convert an image file to many different image formats?
Do I want to be able to easily rip (video and audio) DVD/CDs?
Do I want to have the ability to do all this with one file at a time and in batch mode?

If the answer to any of the above 6 questions is “Yes”, then you should keep reading. If you answered “No” to all the questions, get lost (just kidding – please don’t get lost).

Ladies and gentleman, meet FormatFactory:

FormatFactory meet ladies and gentlemen. FormatFactory is a freeware program that will replace all your other converting programs. With FormatFactory you can convert videos -> videos, audios -> audios, images -> images. As an added bonus, you can also rip the audio from video files, and rip music/movie DVD/CDs.

In more detail FormatFactory supports:

The conversion of the following video formats (input files)…

…into MP4, 3GP, AVI, WMV, MPG, VOB, FLV, SWF and MOV video formats (output files). Also, there are also predefined profiles included for mobile devices, such as an iPod or iPhone, that you can convert to (output files):

Okay so that is not literally *every* video format like I claimed. But I figured it is close enough that you will forgive me for stretching the truth a little bit. :)

The conversion of the following audio formats (input files)…

…into MP3, WMA, FLAC, ACC, MMF, AMR, M4A, M4R, OGG, MP2 and WAV audio formats (output files). Again I sort of stretched the truth about being able to convert to *every* audio format, but hey, if I did not say that would you be reading this impressive list? :)

The ripping of audio from the above mentioned video formats (input files) into MP3, WMA, FLAC, ACC, MMF, AMR, M4A, M4R, OGG, MP2 and WAV audio formats (output files).
The conversion of the following image formats (input files)…

…into JPG, PNG, ICO, BMP, GIF, TIF, PCX, and TGA image formats (output files).

The ripping of video DVDs (input files) into MP4, AVI, WMV, 3GP, MPG, VOB, or FLV video formats (output files). Also you can convert to the mobile device profiles I mentioned above. (DRM bypass not supported.)
The ripping of Music CDs (input files) into MP3, WMA, FLAC, ACC, MMF, AMR, M4A, M4R, OGG, MP2 and WAV audio formats (output files).
The ripping of a DVD/CD (input) into an ISO or CSO (output).
Conversion of an ISO to a CSO and vice versa.
The ability to combine any two of the video formats (input files) I mentioned above into one single AVI or WMV video (output files).
To top it all off, you can do all the converting in batch mode (except maybe ripping a DVD for obvious reasons).

Update: All the above features are for FormatFactory v1.70. Since I the time I wrote this post originally, FormatFactory has been updated frequently and it has a lot more features now. For example, the video joiner supports FLV, MP4, MKV, 3GP, SWF, and mobile devices in addition to WMV and AVI now.

All along the way, you can the ability to control the quality and settings of your output file. For example, you can change the resolution of your output video files; you can change the bitrate of your audio files; you can make the output file high quality but big file size, low quality and small file size, or anything in between.

And for non-English speakers, FormatFactory supports 42 languages:

The *only* con I found with FormatFactory is that it cannot take SWF flash videos as an input (it will take FLV), but you can output as them. Hopefully the developer will add this feature in later versions.

If you are still interested, you can download FormatFactory from the following link:

Officially FormatFactory works on all 32-bit Windows; however 64-bit Windows dotTechies have reported it works on 64-bit just fine.

Update: Take note FormatFactory comes bundled with some crapware. Be sure to uncheck boxes/click ‘Decline’ during installation for this crapware to avoid installation.

Click here to download FormatFactory

Update: This review was conducted on FormatFactory when it was v1.70. FormatFactory has been updated multiple times since then; new features have been added and improvements have been made. Just an FYI.

TAGS » Windows video converter

POSTED IN » Freeware Reviews, Tips 'n Tricks

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About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf

Happily married to the most beautiful woman ever, Ashraf is the founder of dotTech. Ashraf spends insane hours on dotTech (usually writing articles but sometimes doing absolutely nothing except staring). Yes he is weird, but he is also very friendly.

89 Comments »

1 2 3 4 Newer Comments »

David Roper February 13, 2009 at 8:04 PM (comment permalink) -

Ashraf, this kind of reporting is why we keep you around. Good stuff.
Keep up the good work. Maybe they will change the input to include SWF.
The one I use all the time is ConvertVid and it’s not free. It lives at http://nuclear-coffee.com/ . It’s idiot proof and that’s good for me. P.S. They don’t handle SWF input either.

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Jean Luc Picard February 13, 2009 at 9:53 PM (comment permalink) -

Ashraf:
You and I have similar tastes!
(Fonts, converters, etc)

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Ashraf February 13, 2009 at 11:26 PM (comment permalink) -

David,
How does ConvertVid compare to FormatFactory?

Jean,
What can I say, great minds think alike.

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David Roper February 14, 2009 at 10:54 AM (comment permalink) -

Here’s the list of output files it can make.
DivX movie
XviD movie
AVI Video
WMV Video
MPEG1 Video
MPEG2 Video
H.264 Video
FLV Video
3GPP Video
iPhone Movie
iPod movie
iPod Nano
iPod Touch
PSP
Zune
iRiver Clix
Apple TV
Quick Time
DVD Format
MP3
WAV
OGG Vorbis
WMA
AAC

When you open it it just has an open box and a easy way to select the output file above from the above list. You select a picture of the output file format. I drag a Flash video from the desktop where I had downloaded it and drop it into the empty box (no typing) then click the red convert button. For me it’s just idiot proof. Converts 100% everytime. It just works, and fast.

I must admit that Format Factory at the price of Free is much better, and if I hadn’t already paid $20 for my copy of ConvertVid, I would be a strong FF user and enthusiast.

I would recommend FF at this time to new users. I’m not good with reviews like you are so I leave that expertise to you, Ashraf.

I like freeware and opensource so ConvertVid isn’t even available to dance with at that “party’.

David

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Ashraf February 14, 2009 at 2:24 PM (comment permalink) -

Ye seems that both programs have similar capabilities.

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nutz February 18, 2009 at 3:07 AM (comment permalink) -

Ashraf, if this product is so good why don’t you offer this on GOTD? Are there nasty things hiding in your code that will gather information from my computer to send to marketers, spammers or even thieves? This looks entirely too good to be true. The fact that you bad mouthed a similar program (without even reviewing it) tell me a little about your character. I’ll BUY something before I’ll download something as suspicious as this.

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Pandora February 18, 2009 at 4:38 AM (comment permalink) -

nutz – get real!
The fact that you bad mouthed a similar program (without even reviewing it) tell me a little about your character.
Character assassination is seldom pretty!

If you are concerned this program is doing something untoward why not test it in a secure environment before letting it lose on your real machine?.
Ashraf’s reviews, I find, are always informative and fair… oh and what hasnt been reviewed?

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Eldad February 18, 2009 at 6:27 AM (comment permalink) -

Hello,
Am trying to find a download link for Formay Factory, but without success,
Please help.
Thank you,
Eldad

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Sherwood February 18, 2009 at 8:19 AM (comment permalink) -

Here is the link Dude:

http://www.formatoz.com/

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Ashraf February 18, 2009 at 8:20 AM (comment permalink) -

Eldad,

Look towards the bottom:
http://formatoz.com/

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Ashraf February 18, 2009 at 8:48 AM (comment permalink) -
nutz,

I am sorry you feel that way, but there are a couple of things wrong in your post:
1. You can’t giveaway a freeware product at GOTD. At best you can add it to the ‘freeware library’ which no one looks at.
2. This is not my product. I am not the developer; I just posted about it because I think everyone should know about it.
3. It is not too good to be true.
4. There is no malicious code in FormatFactory.
5. I reviewed Audio Converter: http://politicallymotivated.net/gotdreviews/4202
6. I am a pretty good guy, believe it or not :P
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windy February 18, 2009 at 11:14 AM (comment permalink) -

hey, when I go to the link to download, my internet filter blocks the site and says it’s illegal. can you help?

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Ashraf February 18, 2009 at 11:17 AM (comment permalink) -

Windy,

You can grab it from Download.com:
http://www.download.com/FormatFactory/3000-2194_4-10819418.html

It is not the latest version so you have to update it after you install it (Help -> Check New Version).

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Yamchop February 18, 2009 at 9:44 PM (comment permalink) -

Thanks for the review. Got here from your GOTD post. I do have a question, here is my use case: I record lectures in my class on my Sandisk Sansa, and they save a .WAV files. I want to be able to convert them from .WAV to .MP3 files (after I copied them from my PC). But in some sometimes I need to have multiple .WAVs merged into a single .MP3. And it would be great to edit the .WAV or .MP3 so I can take out dead spaces that happen in lectures. Thanks!

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Ashraf February 18, 2009 at 9:48 PM (comment permalink) -

Yamchop,

Try using Audacity – you should be able combine/add/remove/edit sound files with it.

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David February 19, 2009 at 10:21 AM (comment permalink) -

Will this program also convert rax (rhapsody/real player audio) into wav?

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Ashraf February 19, 2009 at 10:24 AM (comment permalink) -

It can do .ra, but it does not list .rax so I don’t know. Someone would have to test it.

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BEN PRETTY February 20, 2009 at 8:36 AM (comment permalink) -

HOW DO U CONVERT A AVI FILE TO A DVD MOVIE U CAN PLAY ON A HOME DVD PLAYER.THANKS

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Ashraf February 20, 2009 at 6:25 PM (comment permalink) -

Ben Pretty,

Use DVDFlick.

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TK February 22, 2009 at 6:22 AM (comment permalink) -

The current URL for the latest version (1.70) of FormatFactory is http://www.freewintools.com/

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gonwk February 22, 2009 at 2:28 PM (comment permalink) -

Hi Ashraf,

Thanks for your “Reviews” and this web page. Ashraf, I am totally surprised that “Format Factory” is not available on Softpedia and other Reputable Freeware software download pages. And how is it that FormatOZ web page all of sudden is un-accessible. It sounds like I am suspicious of this “Freeware” software being “really” free and Spyware Free … even though you have posted the VirusTotal clean bill of health!

Thanks,

G!:)

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Ashraf February 22, 2009 at 3:18 PM (comment permalink) -

I don’t know why the webpage is down. The domain is still registered to the same person – they may just be having problems with their server.

You can always attain FF from Download.com meanwhile; plus TK posted an alternative link (freewintools.com). Freewintools.com is registered to the same person as FormatOz.com so it is legit.

However, FormatOz.com is hosted on a Chinese server while FreeWinTools.com is hosted on an American server which would explain why FormatOz.com is down while FreeWinTools.com is not.

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Spot of Borg March 4, 2009 at 10:54 AM (comment permalink) -

“I am a pretty good guy, believe it or not :P”

No you aren’t you censoring fascist. I never said/did anything wrong but I guess you don’t want honesty on your site? Or is it you don’t like Star Trek? Whatever your reason I don’t think I will try this program after you endorsed it because it seems everything you endorse does bad things.

Spot

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Ashraf March 4, 2009 at 10:58 AM (comment permalink) -
Mr. Boss

Spot of Borg,

I am sorry you feel that way. Can you please elaborate on what exactly I censored that you said? I don’t recall deleting anything but spam.

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Jean-Luc Picard March 4, 2009 at 11:03 AM (comment permalink) -

How does he not like Star Trek?
I’ve posted several comments on his blog!

Oh and BTW no you won’t assimilate me!

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