Complete guide to video format conversion on macOS. Convert MP4 to MP3, MKV to MP4, AVI to MOV, and 1000+ formats. Best Mac video converter tools for Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, and older macOS versions.
Step-by-step guides for the most common video conversion tasks on macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3)
Extract audio from MP4 videos. Perfect for creating music libraries from music videos, podcasts, and concert recordings. Supports batch conversion and custom bitrate settings (up to 320kbps).
Read Guide →Convert MKV (Matroska) videos to MP4 for better compatibility with Apple devices, QuickTime, and video editing software. Preserve subtitles and multiple audio tracks.
Read Guide →Convert AVI videos to MOV format for seamless editing in Final Cut Pro, iMovie, and other Apple video editing software. Optimized for ProRes and H.264 codecs.
Read Guide →Optimize videos for playback on iPhone 16/15/14/13, iPad Pro/Air/mini, and Apple TV. Ready-to-use presets for all Apple devices. Automatic resolution and bitrate adjustment.
Read Guide →Handle high-resolution video conversion with hardware acceleration. Convert 4K/8K footage from cameras (Sony, Canon, Nikon) to editing-friendly formats. Supports H.265/HEVC.
Read Guide →Convert hundreds of videos at once. Perfect for converting video libraries, DVD collections, or camera footage. Queue management, progress tracking, and post-conversion actions.
Read Guide →Converting MP4 to MP3 on Mac is one of the most common video conversion tasks. Whether you want to extract audio from music videos, podcasts, concert recordings, or online courses, Total Video Converter for Mac makes it easy.
Step 1: Download and install Total Video Converter for Mac from our official website. The software is natively optimized for both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs.
Step 2: Launch the application and click "Add Files" or simply drag and drop your MP4 files into the converter window. You can add multiple files for batch conversion.
Step 3: Select "MP3" as the output format from the format dropdown menu. You can also click "Settings" to customize audio quality:
Step 4: Choose the output folder where you want to save the converted MP3 files.
Step 5: Click "Convert" to start the conversion process. Total Video Converter for Mac uses hardware acceleration on both Intel (Quick Sync) and Apple Silicon (Metal) for faster conversion speeds.
macOS includes QuickTime Player, which can perform basic audio extraction, but with limitations:
Limitations: QuickTime cannot export to MP3 format (only .m4a/AAC), doesn't support batch conversion, and lacks audio quality customization options.
For the best balance of quality and file size, we recommend:
MKV (Matroska Video) is a popular container format that can hold video, audio, subtitles, and metadata in a single file. However, MKV is not natively supported by QuickTime or many Apple devices. Converting MKV to MP4 solves compatibility issues.
Step 1: Open Total Video Converter for Mac and add your MKV files.
Step 2: Select "MP4 (H.264)" or "MP4 (H.265/HEVC)" as the output format.
Step 3 (Optional): If your MKV file contains subtitles, you can choose to:
Step 4: Adjust video quality settings:
Step 5: Click "Convert" to start the conversion. The time required depends on the video length, resolution, and your Mac's hardware.
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is an older video format developed by Microsoft. While it works well on Windows, AVI files often have compatibility issues on Mac, especially with video editing software like Final Cut Pro and iMovie.
If you're editing video on Mac, converting AVI to MOV (ProRes) is the best option:
ProRes vs H.264: ProRes is a high-quality, editing-friendly codec that preserves maximum quality but creates larger files. H.264 is more compressed and better for distribution.
Watching videos on iPhone and iPad is a great experience, but not all video formats are compatible. Total Video Converter for Mac includes ready-to-use presets for all Apple devices.
| Device | Recommended Format | Resolution | Bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | MP4 (H.265) | 4K (3840×2160) | 15-20 Mbps |
| iPhone 16/15/14 | MP4 (H.264) | 4K or 1080p | 10-15 Mbps |
| iPad Pro (M4) | MP4 (H.265) | 4K | 15-20 Mbps |
| iPad Air/Pro (M1/M2) | MP4 (H.264/H.265) | 1080p or 4K | 10-15 Mbps |
| Apple TV 4K | MP4 (H.265) | 4K Dolby Vision | 20-25 Mbps |
To use a device preset in Total Video Converter for Mac:
Converting high-resolution 4K and 8K video requires significant computational power. Here's how to convert 4K/8K video on Mac successfully:
Total Video Converter for Mac uses hardware acceleration to speed up 4K/8K conversion:
With hardware acceleration, 4K video conversion can be up to 5X faster than software-only encoding.
If you have hundreds of videos to convert, batch conversion is essential. Total Video Converter for Mac supports batch conversion with queue management.
Total Video Converter for Mac can automatically perform actions after conversion:
Total Video Converter for Mac supports 1000+ video and audio formats:
Total Video Converter for Mac is not just a converter — it also includes video editing features:
Total Video Converter for Mac is fully compatible with:
The software is natively compiled for both Intel (x64) and Apple Silicon (ARM64), ensuring optimal performance on all Macs.
| Feature | Free Trial | Paid Version ($29.99) |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion Speed | Full speed | Full speed |
| Batch Conversion | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Unlimited |
| Output Formats | All 1000+ formats | All 1000+ formats |
| Video Editing | ✅ All features | ✅ All features |
| Watermark | ❌ Adds watermark | ✅ No watermark |
| File Size Limit | ❌ 3-minute limit | ✅ No limit |
| Technical Support | ❌ Not included | ✅ Lifetime support |
| Free Updates | ❌ Not included | ✅ Lifetime updates |
The free trial allows you to test all features before purchasing. The only limitations are a watermark on output videos and a 3-minute conversion limit per file.
Solution: Enable hardware acceleration in settings. Ensure you have sufficient free disk space (conversion requires temporary storage). Close other CPU-intensive applications.
Solution: Check if the original video has audio. Some MKV files have audio codecs that need to be re-encoded. Select "AAC" as the audio codec in output settings.
Solution: In Total Video Converter for Mac, you can choose to hardcode (burn in) subtitles or keep them as a separate track. For hardcoding, select "Hardcode Subtitles" in the subtitle settings.
Solution: Use "Same as source" quality setting, or increase the bitrate. Avoid converting from a compressed format to another compressed format (double compression reduces quality).
Solution: Convert to MOV (ProRes 422 or 4444). These are the preferred formats for Final Cut Pro. Avoid MP4 (H.264) for editing — it requires more CPU for playback.
| Software | Price | Formats | Batch Conversion | Apple Silicon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Video Converter | $29.99 (one-time) | 1000+ | ✅ | ✅ Native | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| HandBrake | Free (Open Source) | MP4, MKV only | ✅ | ✅ Native | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| VLC Media Player | Free | Many (basic) | ❌ | ✅ Native | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Adobe Media Encoder | $20.99/month | Many (pro) | ✅ | ✅ Native | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Permute | $14.99 | Many | ✅ | ✅ Native | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Wondershare UniConverter | $49.99/year | 1000+ | ✅ | ❌ Rosetta only | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Why choose Total Video Converter for Mac?