Articles -> SUPER guide

SUPER guide

Creation date: 2007-12-4
Last update: 2010-4-26


SUPER is a tool to convert media files into another format.

It is able to handle a great variety of different files like avi, mov, mpg, wmv, gif, ogg and mp3 but also many unusual formats like mobile 3gp, aac, amr, swf, vob or iPod/PSP files. And not just being able to open them, SUPER can also convert other media into these formats.

SUPER allows you to manage detailed encoding settings. The program is free to use and it's available for Windows operating systems.

You can download SUPER here.

1. SUPER interface

When you open SUPER a window like this will show up.

Image

Output file formats and compressions are listed on top, detailed settings in the middle and input file and control buttons at bottom.

2. Selecting an input file

To select the input file, right click anywhere on SUPER window and select "Add Multimedia File(s)".

Then select the target file and click "Open".

Image

If you need information about the source file when configuring output settings, double click on a file name. Detailed info about it is shown.

ImageImage

3. Configuring output video

To convert a media file, first step is to choose the output format.

The first drop menu allows you to change output file format. After that select the used video codec. The number of available options depends on selected file format. Avi-files, for example, can be compressed with any codec available, but other formats may have limited standards.

Image



After selecting a video codec you can change the video related settings below.

Image

"Disable Video" makes the final file to have audio only and "Stream Copy" makes SUPER to use the original source data (if it is already in a right format) so no re-compression is needed.

On the video size tab, you can change target resolution of the video. Available options depend on a selected format.

Next tab allows you to change the aspect ratio of the video.

Then another important tab, frames per second. For .avi video 24-30 fps is recommended but for low bandwidth media, something lower, like 15 fps. Some media formats have predefined standards for frame rate so you may not be able to change it.

The next tab is for changing video bitrate. It highly depends on used compression so if you don't know what you are doing, leave the default value on it.

You may also try to find the ideal bitrate. Too low values lead into low image quality, too high into unnecessarily large file sizes. Try to leave it to the lowest value that produces good enough quality for your purposes.

4. Audio Settings

To configure audio settings, select the audio compression method from the menu.

Image

Then format related settings will show up.

Image

The first two options are identical to the video ones.

Second option "Sampling Frequency" defines the detail level of the audio. If audio should have any quality, 32000 Hz is recommended. But for high quality, 44100 Hz is enough to produce natural audio. Lower values can be used for speech.

Next you can select how many channels audio is using. "1" is mono (that is enough for speech etc.) and "2" is stereo. (And if source video has more tracks surround settings will show up.)

Again, a bitrate depends on used compression so if you don't know the target rate, leave it to default setting.

5. Output Summary

The OUTPUT-box below has a summary of all settings.

Image

6. Conversion

When the settings are set, only a configuration of output folder is needed.

To select destination folder, right click and select "Output File Saving Management". Select the folder, press "Save Changes" and close the window.

By default the file will be saved in same directory with the source file. This is usually fine.

Then click "Encode".

ImageImage

Depending on what kind of media you are converting, the process may take a long time. During conversion a process bar will appear on top of file list, but it may not move at all until process is finished. When it is ready, the source file will get deactivated and Output Status shows a final file size.


(Comments, questions or discussion about this article.)

Lyle Walsh
Aug-03-2010 21:36
so how is this different from winff? Any tips on how to get the bes quality videos on youtube and vimeo? I am really sick and tired of their compression destroying all the subtle effects in my vids.

Write a comment:
Name: *
Site:
Language:
Review:
Verification Code: *verification image (?)
Message: *
By: Miika HämäläinenLast update: Nov-07-2014 14:18MiikaHweb | 2003-2021