With the updated version of VLC media player, users of the new Apple Silicon MacBooks (including all M1, M2, and M3 chips) can easily convert multimedia files to different formats. VLC is open source and is widely regarded as the best free option for Mac due to its versatility, extensive format support, and robust performance.
This guide will walk you through the steps to convert a WebM file to MP4 using VLC.
Step 1: Download and Install VLC Player
If you haven’t already, download the latest version of VLC media player from the official VLC website, VideoLAN. Make sure you download the version compatible with Apple Silicon to take advantage of the optimized performance out of those sweet M chips. You can find the compatible version by clicking the down arrown on the download button
Step 2: Open VLC and Navigate to the Conversion Tool
- Launch VLC media player.
- In the menu bar, click on File.
- Select Convert/Stream from the dropdown menu. This will open the conversion window.
Step 3: Add the WebM File
- In the conversion window, click on Open media.
- Browse to the location of your WebM file, select it, and click Open.
Step 4: Choose the Output Format
Under the Choose Profile section, select Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4) from the dropdown menu. This ensures that your file will be converted to MP4 format. If you need to adjust any settings (such as resolution, frame rate, etc.), click on the Customize button next to the profile dropdown.
Step 5: Select the Destination and Start the Conversion
- Click on Save as File.
- Choose the destination where you want to save the converted file.
- Enter a name for the output file, ensuring it ends with .mp4.
- Click Save.
Step 6: Start the Conversion
After setting the destination and file name, click Save in the conversion window. VLC will begin the conversion process. The time it takes will depend on the length and size of the original WebM file.
Step 7: Verify the Converted File
- Once the conversion is complete, navigate to the destination folder you selected.
- Open the newly converted MP4 file to ensure it plays correctly.
And you are finished!
Converting files using VLC on your new Apple Silicon MacBook is straightforward and efficient. As the best free option for Mac, VLC’s powerful capabilities and support for a wide range of formats make it an essential tool for managing your multimedia files without the need for additional software.
Why did we write about this?
At ClearBox, part of what our creative team does for our clients is editing audio and video files to create polished pieces of content for our clients. The biggest frustration we have is searching for good, robust software to do the job without costing an arm or a leg…or both. One of the frustrations we came across recently was finding good software that would convert webm files to mp4 on a Macbook Pro that runs on an M3 Apple silicon chip. After much research and consideration of options, we found that the VLC player was by far the best choice. And it’s free, even better. Well, sort of free. If you find it useful, they have a donate page. So do the right thing if you have the means and intention. Ok, i’m rambling, thanks for reading.
For more tips and tutorials on using VLC and other media tools, stay tuned to our blog!
