Iphone default video file format = .mov

Fiddlerman Group Project video file required format = .mp4

I figured I’d go ahead and post this topic now.  Inevitably, someone (usually 1-2 days before project due date) will make a post like this:

OMG! I recorded my video for the project on my iphone, and now I see it needs to be in .mp4 format, but it’s in .mov format.  WHAT DO I DO?  HELP! . . . etc.,

Feel free to post 1^st hand experience with iphone .mov to .mp4 options—I know there are tons a ways to do it (different apps, websites, etc.,).  I just know the question is coming. . .

My input: 

Since the likely scenario here is that the video has already been recorded in MOV format, I'll address that.

I don’t have an iphone, but I have an ipad.  And I’ve got a video camera & software/hardware options to do whatever conversions I want, so I don’t need an online converter.  But since I’m a tech nerd, I decided to test some free online options for the MOV to MP4 conversion. 

There are a lot of them out there—I looked at four. Of them, I would recommend FreeConvert  https://www.freeconvert.com/

What I liked about FreeConvert:

1. It’s free. And requires nothing from me (no need to create account, etc.,) If you upload & download directly from/to your device, you don’t need to put in any other info about you other than your video. They indicate they allow up to 25 conversion minutes per day.  This is not the time it takes to upload—it is time to convert.  Every time I tested it, it took less than a minute to convert, so I’d say up to 25 videos (FM GP size, anyway) per day. 

2. Claims max file 1GB—this is pretty generous (and way more than enough for a FM GP video)

3. Claims to automatically delete converted files after 8 hours to protect your privacy.

4. File upload location options: you can upload to the converter directly from your device, or your Google Drive or Dropbox.

5. Excellent upload/conversion time: I uploaded a video directly from my ipad that was 140MB. It took 4 minutes (7 minutes when I tried it a 2^nd time at a different time of day & changed advanced settings) to upload and another minute to convert.

6. Download options: There are options; save to your device, save to your Google Drive, or save to your Dropbox. Pretty convenient.  I chose save to my device.  Download was quick (less than a 15 seconds). 

7. Additional Features (don't necessarily need to use them--default settings work fine): the interface has some good features (and is clean--no clutter) in which you can edit beginning/ending time, do audio fade in/out, etc.,  Also has options to change Screen Size, Video Aspect Ratio, Video Frame rate, etc., I tested the trim feature with another video; trimmed 5 seconds off beginning and tried 640x480 (minimum required for FM GP) and 1920x1080; it worked just fine.  And, since you can do 25 videos free a day, you can test things out, if you want to.

The others converters:  I stopped looking at others after I tried FreeConvert, but I had tried these 3 (briefly) before I found that one: 

#1 Cloudconvert - In waiting/uploading status: over 30 minutes (with no end in sight) – I just cancelled the process.

#2  Convertio – not good option for FM GP – will only do file up to 100MB

#3 Adobe Express – Requires you to create an account or sign in with your Google, Facebook, or Apple account.  Decided to pass on it.