MediaCoder 2011-R10 (build 5226)

MediaCoder Editor's Review

If you are looking for a free audio and video transcoder, MediaCoder may be the software program for you. The program pulls together many different pieces of video and audio software from open sources and presents them in one useful interface.

To encode video, the service uses MEncoder at the back end, which supports nearly all formats of compression and containment. You can also use rich formatting elements such as 3D or post-processing features with the program. Video formats that can be used with the service include AVI (Xvid/DivX/H.264), MPEG1/2/4, QuickTime (mov), WMV/ASF, RealMedia (rmvb), MP4 and Matroska (mkv).

In terms of audio, the program uses both Winamp and MPlayer as decoders, and can transcode into almost any known audio format. Supported formats include MP3, OGG/Vorbis, AAC, MusePack, WMA, RealAudio, FLAC, WavPack, APE/APL and WAV.

Typical uses for the software include reducing the size of large files, extracting audio data from videos and converting files to be playable on DVD of VCD. However, the software can also be used for more basic functions such as burning music CDs. Previous malfunctions and bugs have also been fixed, meaning the software runs at optimum efficiency.

Pro's: Vast array of options, free to try

Con's: Possibly confusing for the layman

Conclusion: MediaCoder is a great audio and video coder for the experienced user. Although it may be a little confusing for first timers, if you are confident of your transcoding knowledge and abilities then you can’t go far wrong with this piece of software.