5 Best Methods to Convert MP4 to OGV on Mac/Windows/Online for Free

OGV stands for Theora video compression format, a video coding format developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation. Theora video streams are most commonly stored in the OGG container. So an OGV file usually refers to a video stream encoded with Theora coding format stored in an OGG container that uses .ogv or .ogg as filename extension.

Since Theora is well-established and open, people widely use it for embedding videos on web pages, especially in HTML5. Although H.264 (with MP4 container) is quite widely-used, it is patent-encumbered compared to Theora, while the latter is completely open-source and royalty-free. Actually, much of Wikipedia's video content is in OGV format. So if you want to embed a video on a website, you might want it to be in OGV format.

We see the need and list the five proven and effective ways to convert MP4 to OGV in the following guide. Please keep reading and see for yourself.

MP4 to OGV on Mac/Windows

VideoProc Converter AI is one of the best solutions to convert MP4 to OGV on Mac/Windows. As a versatile and powerful video converter, VideoProc Converter AI supports more than 420 codecs and file formats without third-party codec packs. You can easily convert MP4 to OGV and vice versa.

How to Convert MP4 to OGV Format

Step 1. Download and launch VideoProc Converter AI.

Launch VideoProc Converter AI after downloading and installing the program. Choose the Video menu on the main interface.

Step 2. Load MP4 file(s) to VideoProc Converter AI.

Select and load MP4 file(s) to the program by clicking on the +Video button in the upper left corner. You can also drag and drop the files to add them.

Step 3. Choose OGV as the output format.

Click the Target Format button in the lower-left corner of the interface, and you'll see a window named Select Output Profile. Use the search box in the upper right corner to search for OGV format. Click to select it. Then hit the Done button to confirm and save your selection.

Step 4. Edit OGV videos in VideoProc Converter AI before converting (optional).

Click the gear icon called Option to the right of the video information, so that you can enable the Edit feature. VideoProc Converter AI provides basic editing features, including adding effects, changing playback speed, rotating and cropping the frame, etc.

Step 5. Start the conversion process.

Start the conversion process by clicking the RUN button. Make sure the box in front of the Hardware Acceleration Engine is checked before converting.

VideoProc Converter AI: Convert MP4 and 370+ Formats with the Click of a Button!

Convert MP4 to OGV Online for Free

Online converters like Convertio are also good choices for converting MP4 to OGV. Most of them are pretty simple and easy to use. They are especially suitable when you don't want to install any software.

Pro:

• There is no need to install any software. Online converters are compatible with almost any browser and any device.
• Online MP4 to OGV converters are easy to use.
• Convertio supports uploading files from Google Drive or Dropbox.

Con:

• There are ads on the website.
• Most online converters have limits on file size (100 MB for Convertio).
• The conversion speed largely depends on the network conditions. Uploading then redownloading may take forever.
• Some online tools will not let you set parameters such as codec and frame rates.

Step 1. Go to https://convertio.co/mp4-ogv/ in your browser.

Step 2. Click the Choose Files button to upload your MP4 files. You can also upload from Dropbox and Google Drive.

Step 3. Make sure the output format is set to OGV.

Step 4. Click the gear icon to set codec, quality, etc.

Step 5. Hit the Convert button to start the conversion process.

Step 6. Wait to download the converted OGV file.

Convert MP4 to OGV With HandBrake

HandBrake is an amazing program for converting your videos. It is one of the most famous programs for transcoding video files from one format to another. In this case, you can also use HandBrake to convert your MP4 file to Theora. But note that HandBrake can output to Theora only with the Matroska container.

Pro:

• HandBrake is open source and completely free.

Con:

• HandBrake can output to Theora only with the Matroska container.
• The preview function of HandBrake is not convenient enough.

Step 1. Import your MP4 file to HandBrake by clicking the Open Source button.

Step 2. Choose MKV as the output format in the Summary tab. Because neither MP4 nor WebM containers provided by HandBrake are compatible with Theora coding format.

Step 3. Set Video Codec as Theora in the Video tab.

Step 4. Set Audio Codec to Vorbis, Opus, or FLAC in the Audio tab.

Step 5. Customize the file name and the save path at the bottom of the interface.

Step 6. Click the Start Encode button.

MP4 to OGV Converter Free (VLC)

VLC is well-known as a phenomenal video player, but it is not just a great program to play videos. With the capacity of transcoding to single-pass Theora 1.0, VLC can also encode and decode the OGV container.

Pro:

• There is no need to install additional software if you already have VLC installed as a player on your computer.

Con:

• Any conversion will take roughly the same length as the content you convert.
• Converting with VLC cannot promise there is no quality loss.

Step 1. Start VLC and go to the Media menu > Convert / Save.

Step 2. Drag and drop the MP4 file that needs to be converted.

Step 3. Select the "Video - Theora + Vorbis (OGG)" option in the Profile drop-down list. Here you can also click the wrench icon to specify the video and audio codec.

Step 4. Click Browse to set the save path of the output file.

Step 5. Press Start to finish the process.

FFmpeg Convert MP4 to OGV

If you use the HTML <video> element, you probably want to use OGV or WebM format to make your video more accessible on browsers. You can also convert your video to OGV using FFmpeg, the popular command line-based tool.

Pro:

• FFmpeg is a free and open-source solution.
• FFmpeg supports many common and some uncommon multimedia formats.

Con:

• FFmpeg does not have a native GUI. Users need to type commands to transcode multimedia files and streams.

Steps to convert MP4 to OGV with FFmpeg

Step 1. Download the source code or a build from https://www.ffmpeg.org/download.html.

Step 2. Add FFmpeg to your Windows path, and open the Command prompt.

Step 3. Type the following command.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -codec:v libtheora -qscale:v 6 -codec:a libvorbis -qscale:a 6 output.ogv

Note:

-codec is to specify the encoder or decoder. The meaning of -qscale is codec-dependent.

You will have to set a value from 0 to 10, or the output video may get choppy. Lower values are better but produce bigger files. For libtheora, it's the opposite - higher values are better.

Step 4. Press Enter on your keyboard to run.

Conclusion

All the above methods are verified to be effective. You can use any converter above to convert MP4 to OGV.

VideoProc Converter AI is highly recommended considering the ease of use, conversion speed, and effect. With hardware-acceleration technology and the support of more than 420 codecs, VideoProc Converter AI can successfully and quickly convert MP4 to OGV. The batch conversion feature can also save you a lot of trouble.

VideoProc Converter AI is always the ideal software to convert video/audio files.

FAQ

What is an OGV video file?

An OGV file is a video file held in the OGG container format, which is developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation. In the OGG framework, the video layer is often provided by Theora (lossy) or Dirac (lossless). Since 2007, Xiph.Org Foundation decided to use .ogv instead of .ogg for video with or without sound (including Theora).

Does VLC play OGV files?

VLC provides native support for OGV files. So yes, it can play OGV files. Plus, VLC can transcode to single-pass Theora 1.0 and optionally stream it. When embedded by the video element, Theora (OGV) is also supported by web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge (via add-on), etc.

How do I convert MP4 to OGV?

Use VideoProc Converter AI. Step 1: Import your MP4 to the program by dragging and dropping them. Step 2: Set OGV as the output format by clicking the Target Format button. Step 3: Adjust your video by editing and setting parameters like video/audio codec, resolution, etc. Step 4: Start converting and save the converted file to your PC/Mac.