MP4 → AV1

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How to convert MP4 to AV1

Step 1: Transfer your MP4 files using the button above or by slide and deposit.

Step 2: Click the 'Convert' button to start the conversion.

Step 3: Retrieve your converted AV1 files.

MP4 to AV1 Conversion FAQ

How do I re-encode MP4 to AV1 without losing video quality?

Upload your MP4 file and the converter runs a CRF-based re-encode targeting visually-lossless AV1 output (CRF 18 by default, lower values = larger file / higher quality). The codec is chosen to match the AV1 container — H.264 for broad-compat MP4, H.265 for size-efficient MKV, VP9 for WebM, AV1 for newer pipelines. Almost every MP4 in the wild is H.264 video with AAC audio; the container also legally holds HEVC, AV1 and VP9. AV1 is a codec, not a container — the bitstream normally travels inside MP4 or WebM, paired with Opus or AAC audio.

Can the AV1 hold more than one audio track?

Yes, and it is a real upgrade over MP4. AV1 treats every audio stream as a first-class track, so an original-language mix, a dub and a director commentary can live in one file with the player switching between them on demand. AV1 delivers roughly 30% better compression than H.264 at the same quality and carries no licence fees, which is why YouTube and Netflix push it.

Does AV1 support chapter markers that MP4 did not?

It does. AV1 stores chapters as container metadata, so a long recording can be navigated by section instead of by scrubbing a progress bar. MP4 has nowhere to put that information, so if the source shipped with a chapter list it was in a sidecar file — hand that to the converter and it gets written into the AV1.

Will the AV1 still play smoothly on a phone or a TV?

It may not. MP4 is decoded by dedicated silicon on phones, tablets and TVs, which is why it plays without flattening the battery. AV1 typically falls back to software decoding on the same hardware — higher CPU load, a warmer device, and dropped frames on 4K material. For a device target, MP4 is the safer container to stay in. AV1 encoding is slow, and hardware decoders only appeared in phones and TVs from about 2020 onward — older devices fall back to power-hungry software decoding.

Is AV1 a container or a codec, and does that change what I get back?

It changes what to expect from the output file. One side of this conversion names an encoding rather than a wrapper, so what comes back is that bitstream inside whichever container suits it best — normally MP4 or MKV. The extension reflects the container; the codec is what actually determined the file size and where it will play.

Which video codec does the AV1 output use?

It depends on the AV1 container. MP4 defaults to H.264 for the broadest playback support across phones, browsers, and Smart TVs. MKV defaults to H.265 / HEVC for roughly half the file size at equivalent quality. WebM defaults to VP9. The advanced options expose explicit codec choice if you need to override. AV1 is the royalty-free video codec the Alliance for Open Media released in 2018 as the successor to VP9.

Will my audio track survive MP4 to AV1 conversion?

Yes. When MP4 and AV1 share an audio codec (e.g. both carry AAC), audio is re-muxed with no re-encode — bit-identical. When the codecs differ, audio is transcoded to AAC / Opus / Vorbis depending on what the AV1 container supports. Multi-track audio (commentary, alternate languages) is preserved.

Can I keep the original framerate when converting MP4 to AV1?

By default yes — a 24fps MP4 stays 24fps in AV1; a 60fps MP4 stays 60fps. If you need to change rate (e.g. interlaced 29.97 → progressive 30, or 60 → 30 for upload limits), the framerate option handles 3:2 pulldown, deinterlacing, and frame-blending in the same encode pass.

How much will the file size change going from MP4 to AV1?

Same-codec re-mux (MP4 H.264 → AV1 H.264 just changing container): nearly identical size. Codec change can swing dramatically: H.264 → H.265 typically halves the file at the same visual quality; VP9 is roughly comparable; AV1 cuts another 20-30% but is slower to encode.

Will the AV1 file play on iPhone, Android, and Smart TVs?

MP4 / H.264 plays natively on every modern device. MOV / H.264 plays on Apple devices and most TVs but not always on older Android. MKV needs VLC on iOS. WebM is browser-first. The advanced options include a "device compatibility" preset that picks the safest AV1 codec / container for your target.

How long does converting a 1-hour MP4 video to AV1 take?

Same-codec re-mux is near-instant — 30 to 60 seconds for a 1-hour file. A full codec re-encode runs at roughly 0.3-0.7x source duration on our GPU pipeline, so a 1-hour MP4 → AV1 finishes in 18-40 minutes depending on resolution and target codec.

What is the maximum resolution supported for MP4 to AV1?

Up to 8K (7680×4320) on Premium plans. Free conversions are capped at 4K (3840×2160) by the per-file size limit. HDR metadata (HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision when present) is carried through where both MP4 and AV1 containers support it.

MP4

MP4 container extension can hold video, audio, subtitles, and images in a single file with excellent compression.

AV1

AV1 is an open, royalty-free video compression format designed for efficient video streaming over the internet. It provides high compression efficiency without compromising visual quality.