Comparing the Prism Video Converter to RealPlayer
As digital media technologies continually race to improve ways content is captured, creatively manipulated and delivered, the need for effective file format conversion increases. Video file formats have elaborate technical specifications designed to work with particular software and hardware configurations.
That’s why video converters are a critical part of the digital media landscape. They make the formats compatible with the playback requirements.
We’re going to compare the Prism Video File Converter Plus to the free RealPlayer. RealPlayer is known for its ability to playback a wide variety of digital media types, but it also has an integrated file format converter. The Prism Video File Converter Plus is a dedicated converter. It is priced at $50.00.
INITIAL LOOK AT THE PRISM VIDEO CONVERTER
When first opening the Prism Video Converter, I noted the conventional interface design. It didn’t necessarily look like a program for dealing with media. Although similar in basic layout to the AVS Video Converter, Prism doesn’t use icons the way AVS does for displaying formats, devices and the web, which together clearly indicated their program is for processing media.
Most of Prism’s interface are simple drop-down text menus (as the Output Format selections are), or appear in a separate window. Nothing wrong with this approach, just not quite the more sophisticated look many of the other applications present to users.
I’ve already added a file for conversion, designated the Save to Folder, and randomly selected the MOV Output Format.
As done for the other converter comparisons, we’re using “Sintel” for our test media. This is a 52-second trailer, encoded at 1080 HD in MP4/H.264. “Sintel” is available from the Blender Foundation. It is available under the Creative Commons Attribution license as free and open content.
STEPPING THROUGH RUNNING THE PRISM VIDEO CONVERTER
Simplicity isn’t necessary bad at all when it comes to user interfaces. In fact, it’s been the hallmark of some of the most successful technology products in the world. For selecting content to convert, the Prism Video Converter makes it is easy to Add File(s), Add Folder (of video files), or Add DVD to the List of Files to Convert. All are basic, menu-driven operations.
What did come as a complete surprise was when I clicked on the Output Format button.
Nowhere were the expected colorful cascading menus with icons of formats or assortments of smart phones and other devices my video could be converted to.
Just a plain text listing of the usual AVI, WMV, MPG, etc., formats, but with provisions ONLY for iPad, iPod, iPhone and PSP mobile devices.
It was surprising to see this limited a selection of devices
I went through every possible button for Encoder Options, Video Options, Effects and Preview, along with all the other menus, and still did not find any listings for Android devices, Blackberry, brands like Samsung, Motorola or Nokia, let alone specific models.
USING PRISM TO CONVERT FILES TO AN APPLE iPhone
The only smart phone profile that is be available with the Prism Video Converter, is Apple’s iPhone which we will use for this comparison to the free RealPlayer.
The iPhone is simply selected from the Output Format menu, and then specific encode settings can be modified by clicking the Encoder Options button. I’ve left the Compressor at H.264, but could have chosen generic MPEG4. The Quality (Ratefactor) gauge has been moved up to its highest level, but there is no specific feedback as to what bitrate or resolution that equates to. The AAC audio bitrate is kept at 128 kilo bits per second.
As expected, clicking the Convert button on the main interface starts the process. The video playback is not shown. A progress bar with percentage complete, estimated time remaining, along with a timer showing the point in the clip that’s being converted, are all displayed in a separate window.
The conversion itself was smooth, although slower than the other dedicated format converters we tested.
EXTRA FEATURES IN THE PRISM VIDEO FILE CONVERTER
Prism offers several tools for applying effects to your video.
There are settings to adjust brightness, contrast and gamma, do horizontal and vertical flips, and employ black and white, negative and sepia filters. The image can be rotated in 90-degree increments, and subtitles or “Text Caption” as they call it, can be added. Cropping, resizing and frame rate changes can also be done. All of these can be previewed prior to conversion.
A feature that has become standard for all the dedicated video converters we’ve looked at is the ability to trim the head and tail of the master video clip to create segments. The Prism Video File Converter Plus does not have this.
OPERATING THE FREE REALPLAYER AS A VIDEO FORMAT CONVERTER
Opening the free RealPlayer is like entering a different world compared to the Prism Video File Converter Plus.
The main interface window immediately conveys that you’re going to be dealing with media. It’s crisp, modern design, with the video thumbnails in the Library intuitively communicates what this program is about.
But, it’s not just about pretty pictures. Inside the robust digital media player that plays all the common (and some not so common) media types, a full-featured video file format converter rests under the hood.
Integrating the RealPlayer Converter into the free RealPlayer product provides users with a single solution for a good many of their digital media needs.
THE LIBRARY AS THE PATHWAY TO THE REALPLAYER CONVERTER
Being drawn to the video clip thumbnails, you’ll quickly find they offer several ways to move clips to open the RealPlayer Converter.
Just click on a thumbnail to select it, and then click on Convert to… in the far left menu, under the Library/Tasks. That opens the converter window and inserts that clip into the list.
“Sintel” trailer inserted with the Apple iPhone 4 selected. Clicking on the iPhone button, and then clicking “details” can make even more specific profile settings.
Note: RealPlayer doesn’t need to be running to use the RealPlayer Converter.
Just click on the RealPlayer Converter icon pinned to the Windows taskbar to open it. Use the Add button to browse for files, or if a window with a list is open, you can drag & drop files into the converter.
RUNNING THE REALPLAYER CONVERTER
Once the video clip(s) are loaded and the format or device profiles have been selected, simply click the Start button. The “Sintel” video will be converted to the iPhone 4 format and saved in the folder you’ve designated. A copy is also put in the Library for viewing. Now all you need to do is connect the iPhone to the computer and follow the procedure for transferring the video.
BONUS FUNCTIONS THE FREE REALPLAYER CAN PERFORM FOR YOU
In addition to its normal media player functions, and the RealPlayer Converter features, the free RealPlayer helps you enjoy digital media more in several ways:
• Download video from the Internet in a single click
• Share videos on social websites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
• Create Playlists and organize media in the Library
• Email videos
• Trim the head and tail of videos to make shorter segments
COMPARISON CHART FOR THE PRISM VIDEO CONVERTER vs. REALPLAYER CONVERTER
| Compare | Prism Video Converter | RealPlayer |
|---|
| Price | $50.00 | FREE |
| Input File Formats | ||
| Input File Types | AVI, WMV, ASF, MPG, MPEG, MPE, VOB, MOV, 3GP, MP4, M4V, FLV, MKV, MOD, OGM, DV, DIVX | AAC, M4A, PLS, EPL, AVI, CDA, IVR, MP3, MPA, MPG, MPEG, MPV, MPS, M2V, M1V, MPE, RA RV, SMIL, WAV, SSM, MP4, M4E, M4V, WMA, WMV, WAX, ASX, ASF, WM, WMX, MICROSOFT MEDIA SERVER PROTOCOL, MOV, QT, AU, AIF, AIFF, ACP, 3GP, 3G2, DIVX, DVD (RP+), AMR, AWB, QCP, EVRC, EVR, FLV, VOB (RP+), REALAUDIO LOSSLESS, MP2 (RP+), MP1, MPGA, MID, MIDI, RMI |
| Output File Formats | ||
| Output File Types | AVI, WMV, ASF, PPG, 3GP,MP4, MOV, FLV, SWF, RM, GIF, DV, MP3, WAV | RA, RM, RV, WMV, MP4, AAC, H.264, H.263, RealPlayer Plus H.264, 3GP, CELL PHONE, M4A, MP3, RealAudio Lossless, WAV, WMA |
| Conversion to Output Devices | ||
| Mobile and Set top Devices | Apple, PSP | Android, Apple, Archos, Barns and Noble Nook, BlackBerry, Creative Zen, Google, HTC, iRiver, KIN, LG, Microsoft Zune, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, PS3, PSP, Samsung, SanDisk Sansa, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, T-Mobile, ViewSonic, Xbox, 3GP |
| File Format Processing Support | ||
| Pre-set Format Profiles | Yes | Yes |
| 720p and 1080p HD Support | Yes | Yes |
| GPU Acceleration | No | Yes, with RealPlayer Plus* |
| Multi-pass Encoding | No | No |
| Fixed and Variable Bit Rate Encoding | No | Yes – Audio Only |
| Calculator to Estimate Output Size and Time | Yes | Yes |
| Batch Processing | Yes | Yes |
| Video Quality – Sync, No Skipped Frames | Excellent | Excellent |
| Conversion Speed | Better | Good |
| Editing Capabilities | ||
| Trim Head and Tail of Clips | No | Yes |
| Crop Video Size | Yes | No |
| Makes Screen Grabs | No | Yes |
| Merge or Join Files | No | No |
| Adjust Brightness, Contrast, Color, etc. | Yes | No |
| Video and Audio Special Effects | No | No |
| Graphic Watermark | No | No |
| Create Subtitles | Yes | No |
| Other Features | ||
| DVD Ripping | Yes | No |
| DVD Burning | No | Yes, with RealPlayer Plus* |
| Hi-Definition Burning | No | Yes, with RealPlayer Plus* |
| Easy Upload to Social Media Sites | No | Yes |
FINAL VIEWS ON THE PRISM VIDEO CONVERTER vs. FREE REALPLAYER
Although simple to operate, at $50.00, the Prism Video File Converter Plus left me wanting. It does indeed convert several video formats to many common file types, but it is lacking in the output department when it comes to mobile and set top devices. It only addresses Apple iPad, iPod and iPhone, along with the Sony PSP. This, in an era where transferring video to mobile devices has become a routine expectation.
Prism also skips over basic head and tail clip trimming. A common feature used by many to extract only certain segments from longer videos. This forces you use of a separate editing program to cut and shorten segments of your videos before bringing them into Prism for conversion.
It does perform its conversion job fine, and is faster than the RealPlayer Converter.
The free RealPlayer is very different product. First, the interface stems from a much more visually oriented approach. Second, the RealPlayer Converter itself offers more flexible ways to load video files. And finally, it has a more extensive selection of smart phones, tablets, and other mobile and set top devices it can convert your videos to.
Prism does offer separately priced products to supplement Video File Converter Plus in order to burn DVDs. But for another $60 to buy Prism Express Burn Plus, you might instead want to consider upgrading to RealPlayer Plus for $49.99. *Not only do you get DVD and High Definition burning, but also graphics acceleration to greatly improve Internet downloads and transfers to mobile devices.