Convert MP4 to AVI
Convert MP4 videos to AVI format instantly in your browser. AVI is widely supported by older video editors, Windows Media Player, and legacy devices. No upload needed.
Drag 'n' drop files here, or
click to select files
.mp4
Drop your files and click Convert to get AVI
//when_to_use
When to Convert MP4 to AVI
- Converting MP4 videos for editing in legacy versions of Sony Vegas, Pinnacle Studio, or Windows Movie Maker
- Preparing MP4 clips for playback on older DVD players and hardware devices that require AVI
- Converting lecture recordings from MP4 to AVI for university LMS platforms that only accept AVI uploads
- Archiving MP4 footage in AVI for compatibility with legacy corporate video libraries built before 2010
- Converting MP4 videos for import into older video analysis software used in sports coaching and research
//comparison
MP4 vs AVI
| Property | MP4 | AVI |
|---|---|---|
| Container age | 2001 (modern) | 1992 (legacy) |
| Video codec | H.264 / H.265 | MPEG-4 Part 2 |
| Typical file size (1 min 1080p) | 80-120 MB | 200-400 MB |
| Streaming support | Excellent (web, mobile) | Poor (download only) |
| Software support | Modern editors, browsers | Legacy Windows, old editors |
| Best for | Web, mobile, streaming | Legacy software, old devices |
//how_it_works
How It Works
Drop your MP4 videos
Drag and drop or select MP4 video files. FFmpeg WASM will load automatically on first use (~30MB, cached for future visits).
FFmpeg decodes H.264
The MP4 container is demuxed and the H.264 video stream is decoded in your browser using FFmpeg WebAssembly. No server upload — everything stays on your device.
Transcode to MPEG-4 AVI
The video is re-encoded to MPEG-4 Part 2 (legacy AVI-compatible codec), audio is transcoded to 192kbps MP3, and both streams are muxed into an AVI container.
Download your AVI files
Your AVI files are ready for legacy software and devices. Note: expect 2-4x larger file sizes than the MP4 source due to older codec efficiency.
// under the hood
Our converter uses FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly (@ffmpeg/ffmpeg) running directly in your browser. The MP4 container is demuxed, the H.264 video stream is transcoded to MPEG-4 Part 2 (mpeg4 codec) and the audio is encoded to MP3 at 192kbps, then muxed into an AVI container. Everything happens in-browser — the FFmpeg binary executes in WASM with no server involvement.
//faq
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is AVI format?
- AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a Microsoft container format from 1992 that stores video and audio together. It's widely compatible with older Windows software, classic video editors, and legacy hardware players. AVI files tend to be larger than MP4 because they typically use less efficient codecs.
- Why convert MP4 to AVI?
- Convert to AVI when you need compatibility with legacy Windows software, older video editors (like Sony Vegas 8, Pinnacle Studio 12), old DVD authoring tools, or hardware devices that predate MP4 support. AVI is also sometimes required by specific school or corporate workflows.
- Will the video quality change?
- The video is re-encoded to fit the AVI container. We use the MPEG-4 Part 2 codec at a reasonable bitrate to balance quality and file size. Some quality loss is inherent to any video re-encoding, but the result is visually very close to the MP4 source.
- Why are AVI files so much larger?
- AVI containers typically use older codecs (MPEG-4 Part 2, DivX, Xvid) that are less efficient than H.264/H.265 used in MP4. Expect AVI files to be 2-4x larger than the MP4 source at equivalent visual quality. This is the trade-off for legacy compatibility.
- Are my videos uploaded anywhere?
- No. Conversion uses FFmpeg WebAssembly running entirely in your browser. Your videos are never uploaded to any server. All processing happens on your device — we have zero access to your files.