Convert → AVI to MP4
Convert AVI to MP4
AVI is a legacy Microsoft container from 1992. Most AVIs hold DivX/Xvid or older MPEG-4 video, which needs re-encoding to H.264 for modern playback. Audio is often MP3 or PCM, also needing re-encoding to AAC.
Fast path: open Video Forge → pick Web Optimized → drop the file in.
Video Forge picks the right codec, container, and bitrate for the destination, runs a single ffmpeg job, and writes the output next to the source.
Download Video Forge — 10 conversions free on macOS and Windows.
When you'd want this conversion
- Recovering legacy camera footage from the 2000s
- Playing old screen recordings on modern devices
- Standardizing archive collections away from a discontinued format
Key consideration
AVI cannot store H.265 or AV1, and its index format limits files to under 4 GB. Modern workflows should convert AVI → MP4 once and discard the AVI source.
ffmpeg command (if you prefer the CLI)
ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mp4Same encoder Video Forge uses internally. Drop the GUI and the command runs identically; bring the GUI back when you want preview-before-commit or destination tiles.
Why use Video Forge for this
- No upload. The file stays on your machine. Faster than any cloud converter for anything larger than a few hundred MB.
- ffmpeg is bundled. No
brew install, no PATH issues, no manual install. - 5-second preview before the full encode runs. Catch CRF and color issues before committing time.
- $5 lifetime, 10 free conversions first. Pay once, use forever, 5 devices per license.