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Convert MP4 to OGV - Royalty-Free Video for Open Source Projects

Convert MP4 to OGV - Royalty-Free Video for Open Source Projects

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Step 3: Convert files

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Need Royalty-Free Video for Wikipedia or Open Source?

MP4 uses the H.264 codec which carries patent licensing requirements. While this rarely affects individual users, organizations committed to open-source principles, Creative Commons content, or Wikipedia contributions need a truly free format. OGV (Ogg Video) uses the Theora codec which is completely royalty-free and patent-unencumbered.

Wikipedia specifically accepts OGV as its primary video format. If you are contributing educational content, documentary footage, or any video to Wikimedia projects, converting your MP4 to OGV ensures your content can be freely used, modified, and distributed without legal concerns.

How to Convert MP4 to OGV

  1. Upload your MP4 file - Drag and drop or select your video from any device
  2. Confirm OGV output - Your video converts to Theora video with Vorbis audio
  3. Download your OGV file - Get your royalty-free video ready for sharing

The conversion re-encodes your video using the Theora codec and Vorbis audio codec. We use quality level 7 for video (approximately 1-2 Mbps depending on resolution) and quality 5 for audio (approximately 160 kbps) to balance file size with visual fidelity.

Understanding MP4 and OGV Format Differences

Both formats are container formats, but they use different codecs with distinct characteristics and use cases.

  • Video codec - MP4 typically uses H.264 or H.265, OGV uses Theora which offers decent quality but less efficient compression
  • Audio codec - MP4 uses AAC, OGV uses Vorbis which provides excellent quality at lower bitrates
  • Licensing - H.264 requires patent licenses, Theora and Vorbis are completely royalty-free
  • File size - OGV files are typically 20-30% larger than MP4 at equivalent visual quality due to less efficient compression
  • Quality ceiling - Theora maxes out at approximately 1080p practical encoding, while H.264 handles 4K efficiently
  • Development status - Theora development has largely stopped, while H.264/H.265 continue to improve

In our testing, a 100 MB MP4 file typically converts to a 120-150 MB OGV file at comparable visual quality. The trade-off is larger file sizes in exchange for complete freedom from patent concerns.

When MP4 to OGV Conversion Makes Sense

Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons Uploads

Wikimedia projects require royalty-free formats to ensure content can be freely redistributed worldwide without licensing restrictions. OGV is one of the accepted video formats alongside WebM. If you are contributing educational videos, historical footage, or documentary content to Wikipedia, OGV is the traditional choice that ensures maximum compatibility with the Wikimedia ecosystem.

Open Source Software Projects

If you are creating video content for open source documentation, tutorials, or software projects, using OGV aligns with the philosophy of free and open formats. Organizations like the Free Software Foundation and projects prioritizing software freedom often prefer OGV for their multimedia content.

Creative Commons and Public Domain Content

When releasing video under Creative Commons licenses or dedicating content to the public domain, using a royalty-free format like OGV ensures your content can truly be used by anyone without hidden patent licensing obligations.

Legacy Firefox and Opera Support

Firefox and Opera have supported OGV natively since 2009. For web projects specifically targeting these browsers or their user bases, OGV remains a viable format. However, be aware of changing browser support landscape.

Important: OGV Browser Support Is Changing

Before converting to OGV, you need to understand the current browser compatibility situation. This is crucial for making an informed decision.

  • Chrome - Removed Theora support in Chrome 123 (March 2024) due to low usage and security concerns
  • Firefox - Still supports OGV but has discussed following Chrome's deprecation path
  • Safari - Never supported OGV natively on desktop or iOS
  • Edge - Based on Chromium, so no longer supports OGV
  • Opera - Still supports OGV as of current versions

For new web projects, consider WebM (VP9 or AV1) instead of OGV. WebM offers similar royalty-free benefits with better compression and broader browser support. OGV remains relevant primarily for Wikipedia contributions and legacy projects.

OGV vs WebM: Which Royalty-Free Format to Choose

Both formats are royalty-free and suitable for open source projects, but they have different strengths.

  • Choose OGV when: Uploading to Wikipedia (established format), maintaining legacy web projects, targeting Firefox specifically, or working with older encoding tools that only support Theora
  • Choose WebM when: Building new web projects, needing modern browser support, wanting better compression efficiency, or encoding at 1080p or higher resolutions
  • Keep MP4 when: Maximum device compatibility is essential, sharing on social media, uploading to YouTube or streaming platforms, or targeting mobile devices

For most new projects requiring royalty-free video, WebM with VP9 codec is the modern recommendation. OGV serves specific niches where its legacy support and Wikipedia acceptance are valuable.

OGV Technical Specifications

Understanding Theora encoding helps set realistic expectations for your converted files.

  • Video quality range - Theora uses quality levels 0-10, with 5-7 suitable for most web video and 8-10 for archival quality
  • Typical bitrates - 480p at quality 6 produces approximately 800 kbps, 720p produces 1.5-2 Mbps, 1080p requires 3-5 Mbps
  • Audio quality - Vorbis quality 5 produces approximately 160 kbps stereo audio, indistinguishable from 192 kbps MP3 for most listeners
  • Resolution limits - Theora handles up to 1080p well but struggles with 4K content
  • Frame rate - Supports standard frame rates including 24, 25, 30, and 60 fps

For Wikipedia uploads, Wikimedia Commons recommends keeping videos under 100 MB when possible and using 480p or 720p resolution for practical streaming.

Batch Convert Multiple MP4 Files

Converting an entire video collection or batch of clips? Upload multiple MP4 files at once and download them all as OGV. This is particularly useful for Wikipedia contributors preparing multiple educational videos, open source projects converting documentation libraries, or archivists migrating content to royalty-free formats.

Works on Any Device

Our browser-based converter runs entirely in your web browser. No software to install, no plugins required, and no account needed to start converting.

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones

Convert your MP4 files from any device, then upload your OGV output to Wikipedia, embed in your open source project, or share freely without patent concerns.

Pro Tip

For Wikipedia uploads, encode at 480p or 720p maximum. Wikimedia Commons recommends files under 100 MB, and Theora struggles with efficient 1080p encoding. Lower resolutions also ensure faster streaming for Wikipedia readers worldwide.

Common Mistake

Users convert to OGV expecting it to play everywhere like MP4. Chrome removed Theora support in 2024, and Safari never supported it. Always test OGV playback in your target browsers before committing to this format for web delivery.

Best For

Perfect for Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons video contributions, open source project documentation, Creative Commons content distribution, and any situation requiring guaranteed royalty-free video without patent concerns.

Not Recommended

Not ideal for new websites (use WebM instead), social media sharing, mobile-focused content, or any project requiring broad browser compatibility. Chrome, Edge, and Safari users cannot play OGV files natively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some quality loss occurs because conversion requires re-encoding from H.264 to Theora codec. Theora is also less efficient than H.264, so you may notice slightly softer details at equivalent file sizes. For web video at 720p or below, the difference is often acceptable. We use Theora quality level 7 to maintain good visual fidelity.

No, Chrome removed Theora support in version 123 (March 2024) due to low usage and security concerns. OGV files will not play in Chrome, Edge, or other Chromium-based browsers. Firefox and Opera still support OGV, but Firefox has discussed future deprecation.

Wikipedia requires royalty-free formats to ensure content can be freely redistributed worldwide. MP4 uses H.264 which has patent licensing requirements. OGV uses the Theora codec which is completely patent-free. This aligns with Wikipedia's commitment to free knowledge without legal restrictions.

WebM is generally better for new projects. Both are royalty-free, but WebM uses VP9 or AV1 codecs which offer superior compression and have broader browser support. OGV uses the older Theora codec with declining support. Choose OGV only for Wikipedia uploads or legacy compatibility.

OGV files are typically 20-30% larger than MP4 at equivalent visual quality because Theora compression is less efficient than H.264. A 100 MB MP4 file typically converts to 120-150 MB in OGV format. For Wikipedia uploads, consider using 480p resolution to keep file sizes manageable.

Most platforms do not accept OGV uploads. YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter all prefer MP4 format. OGV is specifically designed for Wikipedia, open source projects, and self-hosted web content where royalty-free licensing is essential. Keep MP4 for social media sharing.

OGV uses Vorbis for audio encoding. Vorbis is an excellent royalty-free audio codec that provides quality comparable to AAC at similar bitrates. We encode at Vorbis quality 5 (approximately 160 kbps stereo) which sounds transparent for speech and music.

iOS does not support OGV playback natively. Safari has never supported the Theora codec. Third-party apps like VLC for iOS can play OGV files locally. For web delivery to iOS users, MP4 or WebM (on newer iOS versions) are the only practical options.

Not for new websites. While OGV was important for HTML5 video in the early 2010s, browser support has declined significantly. Chrome and Edge no longer support it. Use MP4 for maximum compatibility or WebM for royalty-free modern video. Only use OGV if targeting legacy Firefox installations specifically.

Conversion requires full re-encoding which takes longer than container remuxing. A 5-minute 720p video typically converts in 2-4 minutes depending on your device. Longer videos at higher resolutions take proportionally more time. The conversion happens in your browser without uploading to remote servers.

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