What Is Handbrake. Uses, Features, Opinions, Prices

HandBrake is a free and open source video conversion software used to convert almost any type of video format to another. It is one of the best free tools to convert videos from almost any format to a selection of widely supported codecs.

This application was initially developed for BeOS by Eric Petit in 2003. But soon, he began to carry it to other OS , the Windows, MacOS and Linux. HandBrake for Windows is available for 64-bit Windows platforms.

It is a very simple and easy-to-use software that requires just a few clicks to complete the job. It also allows you to convert and reduce the video size in just a few clicks.

One of the main features of this software is that it produces lossless quality video. It can reduce the output video size by 50% to 80% compared to the original video without losing the output video quality.

What is Handbrake

Handbrake is a free and open source video converter software, capable of converting almost any video format to modern and universal codecs.

Not only will it work as a video converter, but it is also an excellent Blu-ray/DVD ripper for both copy-protected and non-copy-protected sources.

This software also opens you up to batch processing that helps convert multiple video files at the same time, and on top of that, there are a ton of presets at your disposal to guide you to the kind of output you are looking for without having to use so many options.

Handbrake It is definitely a powerful and excellent video converter for Windows, Mac and Linux that you should have as a reference. It offers all the necessary features, in a minimalistic tool, that gives the user full control over the output.

What can Handbrake be used for?

Handbrake is a wonderful program that should not be missing from any PC. It rips DVDs or Blu-rays and transcodes video files between almost all existing codecs.

Mix your 5.1 surround soundtrack to stereo for TV speakers and even record subtitles in the archive if you need them. Best of all, it's completely free and open source, making it one of the best DVD rippers on the market.

What it lacks is a user-friendly interface, but there are enough device presets to get you started, and most of the advanced options only need to be changed if you have a specific need.

Its queue-based system allows you to convert many files, just load them into the queue, configure it and forget about the PC. Ripping DVD to a simple h264 file becomes second nature with this program.

Handbrake Features

Handbrake is a pretty powerful open source video converter and DVD ripping software that proves to be quite useful. Here are the key features that make it a must-have software.

1. Video converter

This is the most prominent feature of Handbrake and it basically touches on the ability of this program to transcode/convert videos from one format to MP4 or MKV formats.

You can define your own conversion parameters or make the whole process very convenient by using built-in presets that simplify the whole process.

Apart from that, this open source also allows you to edit the video by adjusting dimensions, quality, frame rate, bit rate, applying filters, burning subtitles, adding audio tracks and defining the conversion speed.

Better yet, the batch conversion feature is also a big plus, as it allows you to convert multiple videos or a folder containing videos simultaneously by placing the files in a queue.

2. DVD Ripping

As long as your DVD or Blu-ray sources do not have copy protection, Handbrake It is ready to rip the content and digitize it. It is also a good DVD ripper for copy-protected DVDs once you have the library installed. libdvdcss.

For a successful DVD ripping process, you need to specify the video codec to be used, such as H.264, frame rate and quality.

Please note that you can modify the presets described below if you are not sure which options to adjust. Handbrake will help you copy specific titles, chapters or audio tracks according to your preferences.

At the end of the day, you don't have to worry about the disc failing or getting damaged once you have digitized the content with this reliable DVD ripper.

3. Presets

Handbrake has a lot of great features without a user-friendly interface and this can be a bit confusing for a first-time user. Fortunately, this can be overcome by choosing between the built-in, device-optimized or universal profiles that guarantee not only standard but also high-quality video encoding.

Working with these presets is very simple, easy, fast, and the fact that you can still work with these presets to get a more refined output makes the experience even better. The presets are categorized as follows;

• General Presets: Basically, these presets affect the conversion speed and output quality along with resolution which includes Very Fast, Fast, HQ and Super HQ.
• Web Presets: Here, the output video properties are optimized for several specific web services, including Discord, Gmail, Vimeo, and YouTube. These are best suited for large video files like 4K that you need to reduce in size and still retain the quality.
• Device Presets: Handbrake can customize the output to suit specific devices such as Android, Apple, Chromecast, Amazon Fire, Playstation, Roku and Xbox.
• Production Presets: In this category, Handbrake supports Max, Standard, Proxy 1080p and Proxy 540p.

4. Batch conversion and queuing

Handbrake provides the ability to batch convert multiple video files or even an entire folder at the same time. This leads to the realization of maximum convenience when it comes to processing multiple video files simultaneously.

You also have the opportunity to queue encodes to be processed based on the priority you have set.

5. Input and output options

Handbrake supports most common media formats, including DVD and Blu-ray sources, plus a wide range of output options.

6. Static and live preview

Depending on the parameters you have defined for the output, Handbrake presents you with a nifty feature where you can take a peek at what the output will look like at the end.

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Advantages

• Handbrake It is available for use on all popular Mac, Windows and Linux platforms without any restrictions or limitations.
• It is free and open source, meaning you will not incur any software costs.
• To ease the learning curve, Handbrake presents users with video conversion profiles/presets.
• Handbrake It is capable of converting multiple video files at the same time in manageable queues.
• Great functionality and versatility.

Disadvantages

• It is not easy to use.
• This video converter can only output videos in MP4 or MKV format.

Plans and prices

Handbrake is free and does not offer any kind of payment plan.

How and where to download Handbrake

You can download Handbrake from its official site: Handbrake.

The level of minimum requirements of hardware and software of this program is quite low. However, it can also run on lower and older hardware than the minimum requirements.

Software requirements:

• Operating system: HandBrake can run on Windows 10, 8 and 7 operating systems. It is available for 64-bit Windows.

Furthermore, it requires Microsoft. NET Framework 4.7 or later versions to run the application. The media player VLC It is also recommended for previewing or playing media files.

Hardware Requirements:

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon X2 or higher.
• Free memory: 256 MB for transcoding standard definition video. 1 GB for transcoding high definition video. 2 GB or more for transcoding 4K video.
• Screen resolution: 1024 × 768 or higher.
• Storage of the system: 50 MB for the application.

2GB or more is recommended for processing and storing new videos.

Opinions from users who have used Handbrake

Let's take a look at some reviews from people who have already tried Handbrake.

• Septic Monkey:

“I love this app, it’s the best! It’s the only app that converts videos without producing a result full of pixels or black blocks that seem to take up a lot of space on the screen. It’s simple and easy to use. And let’s not forget that it’s free!”

• OhEssex:

“I certainly can’t complain about the price. Unfortunately, there have been user interface issues that have plagued this software for years. Adding things to the queue is counter-intuitive and encoding settings don’t seem to persist between items in the queue.

With not so much effort, this software could be really cool; if I knew how to program, I would be a step ahead.”

• MyronV9060:

“Excellent tool. Using it to convert old video files that no longer open in QuickTime to the current standard format. Also reduces file size without losing quality.”

• Ptrix:

“This has been an absolutely indispensable app, but I DO NOT understand why the “Target Size” option was removed in the past. I understand that it was not 100% accurate, but it was certainly very useful and “good enough” to reduce the size of large media files.

I strongly believe that it should be added back, and if not in the app, then at least as some kind of optional plugin or extension. Because of this, I have not updated my copy from version 0.9.5.”

Handbrake Alternatives. The 5 Best of This Year

If you find Handbrake too difficult, or want to try other software for a real comparison, here are several alternatives to Handbrake that have very good references.

1. aTube Catcher

aTube Catcher is a complete suite including video/audio downloader, converter, screen recorder, audio capture and DVD creator tool that aims to save your computer resources and bandwidth.

It features a user-friendly multilingual interface that accommodates even novice users without any problems.

This program has the primary function of making sure that any output audio or video file can be played on the target device or platform without any issues. Moreover, you can be assured that the best quality will be delivered at all times for every task you perform.

This multimedia suite is available for free download without any limitations.

2.CloudConvert

CloudConvert is a full-featured online file converter with support for almost all audio, video, document, e-book, archive, image, spreadsheet and presentation formats.

It is a device and platform independent service, requiring only a modern browser and a good internet connection to get started.

To ensure that all users can convert anything without any hassle, this tool features a very clean and intuitive interface that suits even beginners.

Unlike other file conversion programs, this program takes you directly to the conversion process without the need to register or wade through intrusive ads.

Additionally, through the advanced and scalable built-in API, developers can integrate CloudConvert into your apps or websites with ease and get the most out of this file converter without the need for the app itself.

3.Movavi Video Converter

Movavi Video Converter is an ideal multimedia software that converts video, audio, DVD and image formats at fast speed without any quality loss. Besides that, it provides additional features to enhance overall quality, make sound adjustments, compress, crop, split, rotate and even merge files before converting.

This Windows and Mac software combines a smooth and friendly user interface to provide a convenient way to convert and export media files to any device or platform.

Movavi also boasts of hardware acceleration that ensures tasks are completed quickly enough while also facilitating the batch conversion feature.

Moreover, it is available for some ingenious video editing features to help fine-tune the output further before the actual conversion.

4. Free Audio Video Pack

Free Audio Video Pack, is a program that includes a large number of tools to handle video and audio conversion. In fact, it provides versions portable of tools that make it very reliable, since you can carry it in a unit USB and run it on any Windows PC without the need to install it.

Better yet, it's open to a similar interface no matter which tool you choose, which consequently makes it fairly simple to get started even for novice users.

Besides that, it is open to some additional tools that are useful for extracting audio tracks and CD image files based on CUE sheets. This video converter offers a wealth of tools and features.

5. EasiestSoft Video Converter

EasiestSoft Video Converter is a simple and intuitive video and audio converter that also works as a basic video editing software.

Not only does it convert random media files, but it is also open to various settings that allow you to add watermarks, crop, trim, add effects, rotate and even add subtitles to videos with ease.

For added convenience, it gives you the option to batch convert video and audio files to save a lot of time and effort. The user interface is also quite user-friendly.

Besides that, EasiestSoft Video Converter supports a wide range of input, output and device-specific formats. This video converter promises to deliver quality results as much as possible, in the shortest possible time thanks to the supported hardware-accelerated conversion.

FAQs

Below you will find a series of frequently asked questions related to the Handbrake software.

How do I access the free download of HandBrake for Windows PC?

It's very simple, you can download it from their official website. Above we have left you a link to the main page of Handbrake.

Will this HandBrake normally run on any Windows?

No, the latest version only works for 64-bit Windows.

What is the importance of downloading the latest version of HandBrake?

We recommend downloading the latest version of HandBrake because it has the most recent updates, which improves the quality of the application. It is also safer for your machine.

Conclusion

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HandBrake for Windows PC is without a doubt the best video software you can find today. It is also the most reliable when it comes to performance and stability. You can find out for yourself and without spending a penny. That is why many PC users recommend this app.

Get an excellent and impressive experience with this HandBrake app developed by Handbrake Team. Once you've moved away from using presets and become familiar with the various settings, you'll be ready to produce perfect video conversions.