What tools can act as bitrate convertersMiniTool Video Converter, HandBrake, Any Video Converter, and Online-Convert are 8 effective tools. Besides, this article shows how bitrate impacts video and audio quality.

Bitrate refers to the amount of data processed per second in digital media, measured in bps, Kbps, or Mbps. It applies to both audio and video, with video bitrates generally being much higher than audio bitrates.

It directly determines audio and video quality and file size: the higher the bitrate, the better the audio and video quality, but the larger the file size.2 common bitrate modes for media encoding are Constant Bitrate and Variable Bitrate.

TOP 4 Bitrate Converters

There are thousands of bitrate converters on the market. Picking up a useful bitrate converter is time-wasting. Below is a comprehensive introduction to them.

MiniTool Video ConverterHandBrakeAny Video ConverterOnline-Converter
PlatformWindowsWindows/Mac/LinuxWindows/MacWeb
Bitrate AdjustmentAudio/VideoAudio/VideoAudio onlyAudio/VIdeo
Core FeaturesBatch conversion; video -audio mutual conversionOpen-source, video editingCBR/VBR mode adjustmentOnline converter, cloud upload
ShortcomingOnly WindowsComplex interfaceNo video bitrate editDepends on internet speed

The following sections introduce four converters and provide detailed usage instructions. You can familiarize yourself with them beforehand through the quick steps.

Fast Steps:

  • Open a conversion tool
  • Upload a target file
  • Customize the bitrate
  • Start the conversion
  • Check the result

#1 MiniTool Video Converter

MiniTool Video Converter is a tool that allows you to adjust the bitrate. What’s more, with the batch conversion feature of MiniTool Video Converter, you can convert up to 5 files at the same time. Follow the tutorial below to try it out.

1. Download MiniTool Video Converter

Download and install MiniTool Video Converter.

MiniTool Video ConverterClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

2. Import the Target File

Under the default Video Convert tab, click on Add Files to import target files.

3. Set the Target Output Format.

Open the output format window by expanding Convert all files to. Take Video as an example, choose one format you need, like MP4.

4. Change the Bitrate.

On the right panel, here are several preset formats. You can click the Edit icon next to the desired preset or click on + Create Custom. Open the Bitrate list under the Video and Audio section to choose the bitrate you need. Next, click on the Create button and then choose the newly created MP4 preset.

MiniTool Video Converter Settings window showing how to set bitrate in the Convert Video tab.

5. Execute the conversion process.

Click the Convert button to begin the conversion. Once the process is over, click the Play icon or the Folder icon to check or locate the converted file.

MiniTool Video Converter interface with the Convert button selected in the Convert Video tab.

Meanwhile, it also supports converting audio files. With this converter, you can convert audio to video and extract audio from video.

#2 HandBrake

HandBrake is a multi-platform, open-source video transcoder. Whether you're a Windows, Mac, or Linux user, HandBrake is available. This free bitrate converter allows you to customize the bitrate of your audio and video as needed.

1. Download and open HandBrake.

2. Click Open Source to upload a file.

3. Switch to Video and check the Avg Bitrate(kbps) option to enter a bitrate value as needed.

4. Specify a storage location for the converted file. Then, click Start Encode to save the settings.

The interface of HandBrake.

Besides converting videos and changing bitrates, HandBrake offers other advanced options for fine-tuning your videos. For example, you can flip, rotate, and crop videos, change resolution, add filters, customize the encoder, add subtitles, and perform other editing.

#3 Any Video Converter

The second bitrate converter I would like to recommend is Any Video Converter. It can change the audio bitrate to 96, 128, 192, 256, or 320 kbps. It has various features, such as converting video and audio files, customizing bitrate, encoder, and resolution, compressing videos, recording screens, and editing videos. This bitrate converter can only change the audio bitrate. However, it doesn’t support converting the video bitrate.

#4 Online-Convert

In addition to the offline bitrate converters mentioned above, you can also try online bitrate converters that don't require downloading or installing any software. Online-Convert is a practical and secure online bitrate converter. You can refer to the guidance below on how to convert the video bitrate using Online-Convert.

1. Go to the Official Website of Online-Convert

Open any of your browsers and visit the official website of Online-Convert.

2. Import the Target Video.

Among various converters, choose the Video converter option. Then choose the format you want to convert to. Here, I take Convert to MKV as an example. Next, click on the Choose File button to upload the target video.

3. Set the Video Bitrate

Scroll down to customize the optional video settings. To change the video bitrate, you can directly enter the desired values into the Change video bitrate box. Then personalize other settings according to your needs.

4. Start the Conversion Process

You can click the START button to enable the conversion process. Later, you can click the Download icon to save the converted video locally.

The interface of Online-Convert.

You can also upload files from your device, such as Dropbox or OneDrive. Online-Convert allows you to enter values to change the video bitrate as needed.

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How Does Bitrate Affect Audio and Video Quality

Audio bitrate affects the clarity and fidelity of sound. Lower audio bitrates result in a significant decrease in sound quality. In addition to affecting sound fidelity, video bitrate also affects the detail and smoothness of motion.

Top 11 Free Video Converters: A Complete Comparison Guide
Top 11 Free Video Converters: A Complete Comparison Guide

Here are the best free video converters for MP4, MP3, 1080P, 4K, GIF, DVD, PDF, PPT, and video transcription with features, pros, cons, and performance details.

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Wrapping Up

This article shares 4 effective bitrate converters, including MiniTool Video Converter, HandBrake, Any Video Converter, and Online-Convert.

When you encounter any problems when using MiniTool Video Converter, please contact MiniTool via support@minitool.com.

People Also Ask

Will increasing the bitrate improve audio and video quality?
No. Audio and video quality depend on the quality of the original video. Lost audio/image details after compression cannot be recovered. For best results, choose lossless original file conversion.
What audio bitrate should I choose for MP3 music?
1. 128 kbps is suitable for everyday music.
2. 192 kbps balances sound quality and file size.
3. 320 kbps is suitable for a higher sound quality experience.
What is the optimal bitrate for uploading 720p/1080p video?
2–4 Mbps is suitable for 720p 30fps video. 4–6 Mbps is suitable for 1080p 30fps video.
Will converting the bitrate damage my original media files?
It depends on the converter. Some bitrate converters create a completely new output file and save the original file. However, some converters do not retain the original file to save storage space.
Can I batch convert the bitrate of hundreds of songs/videos at once?
Both HandBrake and VLC Media Player support batch processing. However, some online tools may not support batch conversion.
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