Encoding Video for the Web: Handbrake Tutorial

For about a year, I’ve been promoting QuickTime Player Pro as the best and easiest to use encoding tool for the Web. At $29.95, QTPP is a good tool. However, it is limited in that it does not accept all video formats into its encoder. Another tool has come along, one that is rapidly growing in popularity, not only because it is free, but because it simply has it all. Going forward, it is the tool that I will now recommend. I’m talking about Handbrake.

Handbrake is a free, no strings attached, video encoder. It will encode almost every video format (I don’t know of a video type that it won’t encode) and every DVD into an MP4 format you can display on the Web or your handheld device.

Handbrake uses the H264 codec and the encoding process it uses delivers a stunning end result that matches any encoder on the market.

You’ll first need to download this PC and MAC compatible tool. You’ll find it at http://handbrake.fr/

We've created a Handbrake tutorial with lots of screenshots. Get it here.