How to Convert MOV Files
to MP4 Format

✓ Start a new project. Go to File>Import>Media. In the Import Media window, navigate to the folder containing the file you want. Choose the file and click Open. The file now appears in the Project Media window.

✓ Drag the file from the Project Media window to the timeline.  A pop-up box asks if you want to set the project properties to match the video’s properties. Click Yes.

✓ Double-click the media event on the timeline to create a loop region.

✓ Click the Render As button in the VEGAS Pro toolbar. The Render As window appears.

✓ From the Formats list on the left, choose MAGIX AVC/AAC MP4. The format’s Templates appear to the right.

Choose the template which matches the frame size and frame rate of the video. Choose an Internet format; do not choose a Blu-ray format. If there is no exact match, for example, if the video has a frame rate of 23.976 and there is no template option for 23.976, choose the closest match.

Do not choose a template which includes (NVIDIA NVENC) for these purposes. If you do, you will not be able to set a constant bit rate, which is important, as we’ll see later.

The bit rate is the amount of information per second the computer processes while playing the video. A high bit rate means a higher amount of processing. A high bit rate results in a large file size, but it also results in high quality video. We are trying to make this conversion as lossless as possible, so we want a high bit rate to preserve as much quality as possible.

A variable bit rate rises and lowers while the video plays, depending on the content. Efficient use of a variable bit rate can result in high-quality video with a lower file size. However, it can result in fluctuating quality. This is almost always fine for video playback; almost all DVDs and Blu-ray discs play video encoded with variable bit rates and you never notice any quality drops.

But editing requires a more robust, high-quality file with consistent quality for its entire length.  Also, when you upload a video for streaming on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook, the streaming platform converts the file for optimal playback. Therefore, you need to start with a very robust file before the platform converts it, so a constant bitrate is ideal.

Remember, we are going for as close to a lossless conversion as possible, so we want the constant bit rate.

✓ Once you have your properties set, click OK. Now, in the Render As window, click Browse. The Save As window opens. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the video.  Type in a file name in the File Name box. Click Save.

The render does not begin at this step; instead, you’re returned to the Render As window. In the Folder box, you see the address of your chosen location. In the File Name box, you see the file name you chose with an .mp4 extension.

✓ Click Render. VEGAS Pro now renders your video as an .mp4 file, saved to the location you chose, and a progress window appears. When it finishes, the window alerts you. Click Close.

Your conversion from .mov to .mp4 is now complete. And, you still have the original .mov file.