AVS Video Converter reviewHmm Reviews, video, adfeed-products — by TDavid @ 5:22 pm PST
   (3 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5) Loading ... |
Disclaimer: I’m being paid to write this review.
AVS Video Converter describes itself as:
Rip and burn personal DVDs, convert video, split, join, edit, rotate, apply effects, transfer, copy!
Considering I’ve been spending a lot of time with video this year, I was interested in checking out what the AVS Video Converter could offer me.
Installation
The download is a tidy 39.6 MB. I paused at the following screen wondering why there isn’t a better explanation to the user why Windows Media Format 9 Series Runtime Files are checked by default as a ‘task’?
I’m using Windows Media 11 but left it checked. No problems there however when the install was done and I launched for the first time I was met with a flurry of disk error messages. A lot of software chokes on my setup which doesn’t use the C:/ drive as the primary drive, so I wasn’t too surprised. Here’s a peek at the ugliness:
After getting through that I was treated to a nag screen announcing I was using the unregistered version. As part of compensation for writing this review I was offered a key to unlock the registered version but I chose not to take that and instead look at what prospective customer would see as an unregistered user.
When you click more you are sent to a web page which explains the upgrade options. AVS Video Converter is part of a software subscription by AVS4YOU.com which allows registered access to all programs for a yearly or unlimited fee per machine. Until May 31, the unlimited per PC price is $59 per year and goes up to $69 after that. The yearly price until May 31 is $29 and goes up to $39 after that.
The unregistered experience
The deal offered isn’t just for AVS Video Converter, it is for all the programs by AVS4YOU. I counted well over 25 different programs which puts the lifetime price at under $2 a program even if you wait to buy until after this month.
Seemed like a good deal if the software is worthwhile and something you can’t find somewhere else for free. There are a ton of different video conversion tools out there these days. I’ll get back to this point in a little bit, but let’s see how easy it is to convert a video.
As the screenshot above shows there are a bunch of different conversion options from left to right on the radio dial: To AVI, DVD, MP4, 3GP, MPEG, MOV, WMV, RM, and SWF. With the input window you browse to the file you want to convert. In my case I chose our digital camera video. It’s the Kodak EasyShare Z760 and encodes in an MOV format. When working with the video for Hmmcasts on my Windows machine I convert that first to AVI using Quicktime Pro (which I paid $29.95).
As a test case I decided to encode yesterday’s music video Hmmcast from MP4 to SWF. Since that was over 25MB I figured it would be a good test of a larger video file to convert.
In the lower window there are two tabs to open up more information about the file including Aspect Correction and File Information. There is a brief, useful explanation of what Aspect Ratio is:
Aspect ratio of an image is its displayed width divided by the height. The aspect ratio of a standard TV screen is 4:3. High definition televisions have an aspect of 16:9.
The File Info displays the input and output file (the converted file) details. Once you have the settings in order and click the “convert now!” button unregistered users will see the following nag screen message.
The process of converting from MP4 to SWF went fast on my Windows XP powered PC with 2GB RAM.
You can watch the progress of the video being converted to the new format.
The program is pretty much useless with the watermark in the center which is the point to let you try it and see if it properly converts the file. If you like it then you have two choices: register the program or hit Google and look for a competing program.
Darkmoon at LUX informed me of an audio and video program called SUPER that is free and does a lot more than AVS Video Converter. As you migth expect, the problem with SUPER is that it’s not nearly as user-friendly as AVS Video Converter. It is possible the other AVS4YOU programs emulate some or all of SUPER’s extensive feature set, but I had to spend a few more minutes working with SUPER to get it to convert a file. SUPER has the right price though if you are looking for something free to do the same thing.
Refund policy
AVS4You has a reasonable Refund Policy which basically says they will only refund those who report technical problems on their computer:
If you send us a message informing about an error, any question or just a suggestion, you will receive a fast and competent answer from our technical support team within 48 hours. As a rule all the majority of problems is solved “on the spot”. Numerous positive reports concerning our specialists and products prove that perfectly well.
I didn’t test these service claims for this review, but I did do a couple different Google searches to see if there were any major dissatisfied customer reports. In the day of blogs companies with shoddy customer service can’t hide. I didn’t see any significant customer complaints to share.
To register or not AVS Video Converter
Until Darkmoon showed me the competing program SUPER I was sold on AVS Video Converter. I figured if the unregistered program installed and ran without problems I’d buy into their unlimited for one PC plan. I mean really, $59 for a lifetime and 30 25+ software programs is a compelling deal. However, looking through the list of other AVS4YOU programs the one I’d use the most is AVS Video Converter. I’m not going to grade down AVS Video Converter too much because there is a free alternative, especially because it works as advertised and was easy to do what I wanted to do, however I want to pass along Darkmoon’s tip on a free alternative. It also loses some points for being Windows only. What about Mac and Linux?
If you are going to sell dozens of Windows software at a fair price I really like the route AVS4You is going with the one year or lifetime subscription option. Although I didn’t do any business with AVS4You I’ve bookmarked the site and could be back to buy into the unlimited option. I welcome any readers who have done business with AVS4You to offer their customer experiences below. Grade: B-
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I got alternatives for mac and linux too. Mac, use Handbrake. Hands down it’s the best of both paid and free world. Linux? I don’t remember but I’m sure I can dig something up.
Comment by darkmoon — May 22, 2007 @ 8:01 pm PST
I’ve been using AVS for years. Works great! It’s a little clunky in parts, like editing video, but it works once you learn how to do it their way. For a paid solution, I’d recommend it.
Comment by Bill — May 23, 2007 @ 7:18 am PST
A gui video converter for Linux… I’m still looking. If “Super (C)” is all free and stuff, why no source code? I don’t need my applications binary encoded and lubricated for easy insertion, I just need to convert video formats on a SuSE Linux box. AND… Yes, I know about the command line, thats what I am using, but a spiffy gui would be nice for those days when the coffee has run out.
Comment by Daryl Lyn — June 11, 2007 @ 7:43 am PST
ffmpeg works great for conversions. There are ffmpeg guis also.
Comment by darkmoon — June 11, 2007 @ 8:26 am PST
I really like the AVS4you, I think it’s easy and worth the money (I just paid $29 for a year to get rid of the watermark and see how I’d like it). Recently, it started only uploading a FRAME instead of the entire video to convert. Their online help and lack of troubleshooting tips really sucks!
Comment by Brenda — June 19, 2007 @ 10:00 pm PST
I bought the 1-year subscription after trying out the Video Converter which I like and it works great. My trouble has been with Video Editor. I can’t view the video in play mode! How can I edit the video if I can’t watch it??? I’ve searched their online help and contacted their *support* more than once with little help. I’ll have to go back to using Microsoft’s Movie Maker (which is much more user-friendly).
Comment by Deb — August 24, 2007 @ 8:59 am PST
Well I plunked down $69 for the Unlimited Registration version and when I put in the License Key, I then got the error in multiple windows:
“Access Violation at address 00B54DC0 in module ‘AVSVideoConverter.exe’. Read of address 00000040.”
Had to 3-finger it and end the application to get it to stop.
Contacted AVS4YOU support just a few hours ago, waiting for their reply.
P.S. The ‘REPAIR’ tool, no help either. Will get back to you.
Comment by Timothy Scales — September 10, 2007 @ 6:07 pm PST
Followup to last comment:
Although I did receive a reply the next day, it was a canned and obvious, general troubleshooting proceedure, which was utterly useless for this problem. As my Windows XP OS has several similar applications installed, I asked if I might receive another License Key for VISTA which is on another machine. ABSOLUTELY NO REPLY TO THIS !!! The application is Web-activated so I don’t see the difficulty with this. Guess they just don’t feel obligated.
THEREFORE, BEWARE OF THESE FOLK !!! They don’t put forth much effort, it is September 15th and that one reply is all I’ve heard from them for my $69.
As an Engineer and Professional Computer Consultant, I have written code myself and feel that this software really needs a nearly pristine desktop in order to run.
By the way, thanks for the heads-up on SUPER, I performed the job using it. Also CYBERLINK makes good editors, DVD creators, and Burners but no real Conversion utilities.
As per usual, if I get anything else, I’ll be in contact. P.S. Watch your backs, there are criminals out there.
Comment by Timothy Scales — September 15, 2007 @ 10:10 am PST
Bought it, loses audio fron FLV to whatever on conversion. Haven’t received a solution from them yet.
Comment by Laurie — September 21, 2007 @ 8:48 am PST
From what I can see AVS Video Tools, AVS Media.com, and AVS4you, are all one and the same, part of Online Media Technologies. I saw this software on dvdvideoconverter.com, and it sounded way too good to be true. All I needed was to find out if it really was what it said it was. From what I’ve read it doesn’t sound good, in fact it sounds extremely dodgy. They are based in London apparently, in Harley Street which rings alarm bells too. Private expensive doctors have there businesses there, but there have also been a lot, a LOT of con artists playing doctors, lawyers & the proverbial bull***tters. I’m trying to work out why set up an IT/software company in Harley Street, where the rates would be extortionate. Are most of you US$, cause I’m £ I notice that they are selling in $, most companies trade in their countries currency, also they’ve omitted their Tel. no. Maybe I’m paranoid, no wait I am paranoid, but still I once bought from asiandiscs.com received nothing and had to do too much tracking + involving FBI to get some muscle, in order to get my money back about 6 months later. If this company works the same, it might take you just as long if at all. I’m going to try to see them personally.
this was a review from “tucows.com/preview/305809″ on AVS video tools
“wjlaw100Sep 20, 2007 | 11:18 AM
STAY AWAY FROM THE CONVERTOR part of this package IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE WITH ITUNES. I paid my money, and now find out that the .mp4 output from this software conversion IS NOT COMPATIBLE with ITUNES. you must use their own synch program to get the video on there, which will be a problem if you are managing Videos with ITUNES. It also Is Excruciatingly slow. I moved a movie (about 1.5 Hours movie) to .mp4 and it took over 12 hours to “convert”. Caveat emptor”
Comment by r reindeer — September 23, 2007 @ 3:43 am PST
I’m checking this program out with the trial version.
the conversion to m4v worked fine, but be careful when taking uup the option to upload to ipod.
I have a series 3 nano, and uploading a file to the ipod stuffed up everything.
All songs, movies, podcasts that I had stored on the iPod disappeared.
I had to resynch everything from iTunes.
If fairness, the files that AVS created worked fine after conversion - if i imported them intio iTunes first, and then synched to ipod.
Eric G.
Comment by Eric Gee — October 25, 2007 @ 11:32 pm PST
Just returning from visits to New Zealand and Australia over the last 35-days. Traveling around with a Canon Hi-8 Video Camera in OZ, I found myself needing a portable hardware Video converter and some capture software. It is much harder to find stuff in Australia (or I don’t know my way around well enough -did’nt have an auto- ). Surprisingly I found a kiosk in the Maranda Mall which had a Dlink DUB-AV300 which performs an Analog or DV Video to Hardware MPEG 1/2/4 Compression (yes DivX also), a device unseen in the US as far as I know. But, the software bundled with it, InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 is a very poor choice for a great device! During capture, this software halts the process, announcing “copy protected video stream detected - application will end”, right, on my personal Hi-8 “home video” content. Also the captures were rendered at 352×480 (perhaps a change in setting would improve). Growing frustrated with WinDVD Creator 2, I replaced it with AVS TV Box from http:www.avsmedia.com/ at additional expense. Although I am working with Hi-8 quality, the TV Box, 720×480 resolution shows far more detail.
P.S. Still not a single reply from AVS4YOU and the lamented $69 rip-off! So if they are all with avsmedia.com from whince I got AVS TV Box……Devil or Angel, dear which ever you are….get your act together, I’ll be warning my clients to BEWARE!!!!
Comment by Timothy Scales — November 2, 2007 @ 12:01 pm PST
Bought the AVS Video Tools for my XP desktop and just the AVS 5.6 converter for my Vista Laptop. The converter on the desktop runs flawlessly although I suspect a slight incompatibility problem on shutdown of XP. It’s only happened 3 times in the 3 weeks or so I’ve had it but hasn’t caused any problems while my computer was in operation.
The AVS converter on my Vista laptop also runs flawlessly with the exception of not supporting AVI files from a particular vendor. It’s strange because the converter on my desktop supports the very same files. The converters are identical. The only difference being XP or Vista but I read on the AVS site that the converter is supported by Vista.
I e-mailed tech support today and will follow up here with any success stories.
Will
Comment by Will Williams — November 28, 2007 @ 3:14 pm PST
I’ve purchased this product 5 days ago and never received a registration code. All I got was a thanks for your purchase. I have e-mailed support and “reg” with no answer…..I even emailed the people who took my money, No responce……They had no problem taking my money. It looks like this product has been removed but as a joke to the USA there still Taking our money. I filled a claim to my credit card Co. I’ll let U know how it goes.
Comment by Bob Nelson — December 12, 2007 @ 7:06 am PST
THis software is total garbage. It does not support Vista worth a poo and the MKV conversion does not work. Support basically wants you to work with them like you paid to be part of a beta project….what a bunch of crap.
Comment by JL — December 12, 2007 @ 9:36 am PST
I bought this a few days ago and STILL haven’t got an email from them with me registration details to enter to make it the full version.
No reply from support either.
Comment by p — December 12, 2007 @ 11:41 am PST
Looks like this “dream offer” is just that: a dream. Thanks for publishing the review and comments - it appears to have saved me at least $29.
4
Comment by Bruce Guiwits — December 27, 2007 @ 9:02 am PST
Actually I can not say that all I have read is true.
I am a registered user of avs4you.com and have tried almost all programs from the site. I like the way they act-you pay only once and can take every program you need!
Have you even seen Video Converter6? WOW!!!it is cool
And the best way to solve problems is to contact their support. I have done this several times. Really it can take more than 48 ours sometimes but…People!!!it costs only 29$. I really can wait a little bit
And these people really know what they say!
They helped me out with my iPod. I wasn’t able to play the iPod video on my car’s radio. They say I have to save the file not as movie, but as music video. And it works great! My friend is also using avs and he is also happy with it
Comment by Nancy Weller — January 28, 2008 @ 6:04 am PST
Dear, *Bob Nelson*/*JL*/*P* (I hope the date of your 3 posts may catch somebody’s else eye)
First Sorry for my English, my native is flemish Dutch.
I hope your prejudication has a reason ($29?)
Have tried AVS DVD Authoring (Creating MENU for my home videos) find it excelent. ( Before had to pay for creating menu for my disc collection 3 euro every disc)
Video to Flash…. Did you try it?
Sorry but now I can convert to flv or swf (to download the software to web use other software… but nothing free can convert to those flash format)
2Nancy:
The main reason for my choose is work with menu but Converter find a good programme
2Author of review:
Sorry but did you purchase the SW? Did you realy use it to write so long review?
2ALL make your choice
first answer from support to me was:
Please, note, that the trial version is totally functional and the only limitation is
our logo which will be placed on all output videos.
So if you like it, you buy the licence, if not - just uninstall it.
As simple as that.
Comment by Friedr. Boacham — January 29, 2008 @ 5:08 am PST
Ist doch sachlich… (impartially)
http://video-converter-software-review.toptenreviews.com/?tmail=2008-1-25-review-email
Comment by Friedr. Boacham — January 30, 2008 @ 1:15 am PST
Hi
THeir help is HORRIBLE.
Asked twice on how to remove the unsightly watermark AFTER paying, they still send a brochure selling the product.
Is their help in Kazakhastan?
No phone number provided even after you pay?
That is ridiculous.
Any help appreciated
Karl
Comment by KArl — June 26, 2008 @ 6:37 am PST