What Is an MLT File & How to Convert MLT to MP4?

What Is an MLT File?

A file with the .mlt file extension is an MLT file, a project file created by the Shotcut video editor. After you create an MLT file, you can import media files into this project and edit them. In fact, the MLT file is not a real video file; it does not contain actual video, audio, or image. It’s only a project file that contains all the project settings in XML format, including the file location, project name, and other edits in progress.

How to create an MLT file in Shotcut. First, open this program, click File, and choose New. Then set the default project folder. Next, give the new project a name in the Project name box. Then select a video mode. Finally, click Start, and the new project will be created. After that, you can create and edit your video. To save the MLT file, select File > Save or Save as.

Although Shotcut is the primary application for opening MLT project files, you can also view their settings in an XML editor, such as Kdenlive and Flowblade.

More Information about the MLT Multimedia Framework.

How to Convert MLT to MP4?

Since an MLT file is a Shotcut project file that contains information about imported media, its position on the timeline, applied effects, and other video/audio settings, it’s impossible to upload an MLT file to YouTube directly. You need to save the project as an MP4 file, the best video format for YouTube. How to do that?

This section will show you how to save an MLT file as an MP4 video in the Shotcut video editor.

Step 1. Open the Shotcut video editor on your computer. If you haven’t installed this software, just go to the official website to download it, and then install the application.

Step 2. Click File > Open MLT XML As Clip or Open File to browse for the folder that contains your MLT file, select it, and click on Open to add the MLT file to Shotcut.

Step 3. Shotcut will automatically read and display your video in this project, and this file remains as same as the last editing. And if necessary, you can continue editing the video as you like.

Step 4. After your edits, click the Export button from the toolbar. Alternatively, you can click the File > Export Video options to enable the Export pop-up window.

Step 5. From the Presets list on the left, click Default to create an H.264/AAC MP4 file. Also, you can select the H.264 Baseline Profile, H.264 High Profile, H.264 Main Profile, HEVC Main Profile, or YouTube to get an MP4 file.

Step 6. Then, click the Advanced option to adjust the video resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, and other settings.

Step 7. Finally, click the Export File button, then give the MP4 file a name, choose an output folder, and click the Save button to start rendering your MP4 video. Once done, go to the destination folder to find and watch the MP4 file.

Also read: Top Free HEVC/H.265 Video Converters | HEVC Codec/Video Extension

Conclusion

It is easy to convert MLT to MP4, right? Now, you can follow the steps above to convert Shotcut MLT to MP4 quickly.