Overview: RM (RealMedia) used to be a popular video format file designed by RealNetworks to stream low-bandwidth videos. But it’s outdated and hardly supported by today’s devices, media players or editing software. Users thus have difficulty playing RM videos or working with them today. However, MP4 is a colorless video format that can be played in almost every operating system and even internet browsers. It’s light, compresses very well and is still high quality for editing or sharing or playback.
Due to this big distinction in compatibility, a lot of people search for methods to convert RM to MP4. In this comprehensive guide, we tackle why conversion is required, and dive into numerous manual as well as professional ways to do the job efficiently.
With the help of this professional solution, you can also convert Instagram Reels to MP4 in a very efficient manner.
Why Convert RM to MP4?
Before we start, it’s important to discuss why RM format is less common today and MP4 format is the way of choice:
- The majority of newer players do not support RM files out of the box. The MP4 format plays seamlessly in any environment without installing codecs.
- It was developed for low quality streaming in the early days of the internet. MP4 is the HD, 4K and even 8K standard today.
- Video editors do not usually support RM files. On the other hand, MP4 is universally editable.
- MP4 gives very good compression and quality, even at lower bitrates.
- Realplayer is old and causes people playback problems, malware fears, performance slows down. You can convert for permanent access to the video.
Convert RM to MP4 Using Manual Methods
Here are a few reliable manual methods to convert your RM videos to MP4.
#1. Export RM File into MP4 Through VLC Media Player
VLC player is vitally the universally loved media player. It may have some support for RM files and can export them as MP4.
- Open VLC Media Player on your PC.
- Click Media > Convert / Save.
- Add RM file to the list for input.
- Click Convert / Save again.
- Choose a profile like Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4).
- Choose where you want to output your converted video file.
- Press Start and wait for the process to start.
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- For all OS systems
- Supports many video formats
Cons:
- RM support is inconsistent
- Conversion speed may be slow
- Quality loss can occur
- Limited customization options
- Choose the folder you want to save your converted video file by clicking the Browse button.
- Now, hit the Start button to start converting.
2. Convert RM to MP4 Using With Online Converters
If you don’t feel like downloading or installing any software, online tools supports converting RM to MP4 in your web browser.
- Go to any online converter by searching on Google.
- Upload your RM video file.
- Choose MP4 as output format.
- Start the conversion process.
- Download the output video.
Advantages:
- No installation required
- Easy and convenient
- Works on any operating system
Drawbacks:
- File size limit applied
- Requires strong internet
- You might not want to upload sensitive personal videos.
- Slower speed for large files
Tip: You can use HTTPS sites to help you keep your video safe.
3. Export RM Video Through RealPlayer
Despite the fact RealPlayer has , many people have or had older versions of it installed. It also includes a simple converter.
- Open RealPlayer Converter (if installed).
- Add your RM file.
- Go to the output format and select MP4.
- Set destination folder.
- Click Convert.
Pros:
- Designed specifically for RM files
- Works with very old RM videos
Cons:
- Outdated software
- Limited features
- May not run on modern systems
- Slow and inconsistent output quality
Quickly Convert RM to MP4 – Automated Solution
When you want something that can provide a quick change of quality, conversion without any hassle compatibility, we’d recommend SysTools Video File Converter Software. It can easily cope with any video format, old and new. Once you have converted RM files to MP4 format, users can be sure that the quality of the video is not lost as it would in such situations.
Go-to Features:
- Convert Youtube to MP4, AVI, WMV, and many more.
- Keep original video and audio quality.
- Convert multiple video files at once.
- Supports various input formats such as RM, MOV, AVI, MKV, WMV, MTS and so on.
- Enables users to set the output quality, resolution and file name direction.
- Easy and natural interface for beginners and professionals.
- Supports all operating system versions of Windows.
Very Useful For:
- Users with a lot of RM’s on their device
- Those finding themselves stuck with low-quality manual conversions
- Experts that need reliable and lossless result.
- Users in need of quick and safe operation.
Additional Tips
Before you begin converting, it’s important to know a handful of practical tips that can help get better output quality and minimize errors.
- RM files were very outdated in compression and could lead to play back glitchiness and out of sync audio.
- So, you may want to play the file with any of your current players that support RM and break before having it converted.
- It also matters what output option you choose. When converting RM to MP4, it’s important you choose the right resolution, frame rate and bitrate.
- So, that the video looks as crisp as possible without being too large a file size.
- Thus, if the RM video you downloaded is 240p or at most 360p for example, changing it to 1080p will not make a better looking content but would only increase file size.
- Finally, don’t forget to save the converted MP4 in another folder.
This allows you to easily distinguish the original RM files and the newly created MP4 ones, especially for batch conversions.
End Note
RM files are old-fashioned and cannot be well-supported by most devices and editing tools. Converting your videos to MP4 enables them to be used on nearly all devices, edited on any application and shared more easily while increasing the quality of audio. You have free options which are discussed above, but they are full of drawbacks like they are slow, compromising your privacy and lowering the overall quality. When you are looking for a secure, quick and quality tool to convert RM to MP4, the above suggested one is the best optimal choice. It features preserving the original video quality, batch conversion with good results and without technical glitches.