VidCoder 12.11 – Essential Video Conversion

VidCoder is a free, open-source DVD/Blu-ray ripping and video transcoding application designed specifically for Windows. Built on the powerful HandBrake encoding engine, VidCoder offers a more user friendly interface by making video conversion accessible to both beginners and advanced users.

The latest version brings updated features and improvements. Unlike many video converters that charge monthly fees, VidCoder is completely free with no ads, watermarks or hidden costs.

Whether you need to convert video files between formats, rip your personal DVD collection, or compress large videos for easier sharing, VidCoder provides all the necessary tools. It does this without overwhelming you with complexity.

Core Features That Make VidCoder Stand Out

Supported Container Formats

• MP4 – Most compatible format for all devices
• MKV – High quality container supporting multiple audio and subtitle tracks

Video Codec Support

• AV1 – Next-generation codec for better compression
• H.265 (HEVC) – Modern codec saving up to 50% file size
• H.264 – Most widely compatible codec
• MPEG-4 – Standard format for older devices
• MPEG-2 – DVD video format
• VP8 – Open source codec from Google
• Theora – Free video codec

Hardware Acceleration Technology

VidCoder supports three major hardware acceleration technologies for dramatically faster encoding speeds:

• AMD VCE – For AMD Radeon graphics cards
• Nvidia NVENC – For Nvidia GeForce graphics cards
• Intel QuickSync – For Intel integrated graphics

Version 12 added a Hardware tab in Global Settings showing all available hardware and the codecs they can encode to. This makes it easy to see what hardware acceleration your system supports.

Audio Format Capabilities

• Encoding formats: AAC, MP3, Vorbis, AC3, FLAC
• Passthrough support: AAC, AC3, MP3, DTS, DTS-HD

Audio passthrough means VidCoder copies the audio without re-encoding by preserving original quality and saving processing time.

Latest Features in VidCoder 12

VidCoder 12 is the first stable release of version 12, introducing significant hardware encoding improvements. Here are the key updates:

Enhanced Hardware Decoding

• Configure Media Foundation hardware decoding
• Moved QSV hardware decoding settings to Hardware tab
• Configure use for non-QSV codecs
• Increased NVEnc simultaneous device cap from 3 to 5

QSV Improvements

• Implemented QSV hyperencode technology
• Added support for QSV load balancing
• Better performance on Intel systems

Source File Management

• Changed to close source video when deleting the source file
• More reliable automatic file cleanup
• Better handling of source files during encoding

Powerful Automation and Batch Processing

Batch Encoding with Simultaneous Processing

One of VidCoder’s most impressive features is its ability to encode multiple videos at the same time. You can queue up dozens of files and let VidCoder work through them automatically.

Benefits of Batch Processing:

• Convert entire video libraries overnight
• Process multiple files without manual intervention
• Save time on repetitive conversion tasks
• Set different encoding settings for each file if needed

Folder Watcher for Automatic Encoding

VidCoder can watch a folder for new video files and automatically encode them. This feature is available in both Installer and Zip modes but not in the Portable version.

How Folder Watcher Works:

• Monitor specific folders for new video files
• Automatically encode files when they appear
• Can run while VidCoder is closed
• Tracks the status of all files in watched folder
• Perfect for automated workflows

Version 9 added the option to use a polling folder watcher which is slower but more reliable if the regular watcher is not functioning.

Advanced Encoding Controls

Quality Control Options

VidCoder gives you three ways to control video quality:

• Target Bitrate – Specify exact bitrate for predictable file sizes
• Target Size – Set desired file size and VidCoder calculates bitrate
• Target Quality – Use CRF (Constant Rate Factor) for best quality-to-size ratio

Multi-Pass Encoding

Enable 2-pass encoding for better quality at target bitrates. The first pass analyzes the video and the second pass encodes with optimized settings.

Video Filters

• Decomb – Remove combing artifacts from interlaced video
• Detelecine – Remove telecine patterns from film sources
• Deinterlace – Convert interlaced video to progressive
• Rotate – Change video orientation
• Reflect – Flip video horizontally or vertically
• Chroma Smooth – Reduce color noise
• Colorspace – Convert between color spaces

Customizable Pickers for Smart Automation

Pickers in VidCoder are automation rules that automatically select audio tracks, subtitle tracks, destination folders and more based on criteria you set.

What Pickers Can Do:

• Automatically pick audio tracks by language preference
• Select subtitle tracks based on language
• Choose destination folders based on source
• Auto-select titles from DVDs and Blu-rays
• Configure post-encoding actions

This automation saves massive amounts of time when processing multiple files with similar requirements.

Preview and Testing Features

Instant Source Previews

Before starting long encode jobs, use the Preview Window to see exactly how your output will look with current settings. This prevents wasting time on incorrect settings.

Encoded Preview Clips

VidCoder can create small encoded preview clips so you can test different settings on short segments before committing to encoding the entire file. This is incredibly useful for finding the perfect balance between quality and file size.

Pause and Resume Encoding

Need to stop an encoding job? VidCoder lets you pause any active encode and resume it later without losing progress. This is perfect for freeing up system resources when you need to do other work.

Our Hands-On Testing Experience

We tested VidCoder 12.11 on a Windows 11 desktop with an Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GTX 1660 graphics card over several weeks. Here is what we discovered:

Installation and Setup: The installer file was about 44 MB and installed in under 2 minutes. We also tested the Portable version (84 MB) which runs without installation. The software prompted us to install .NET 8 Desktop Runtime which took an additional 3 minutes.

Interface First Impressions: The interface felt clean and organized. The main window shows source information on the left and encoding settings on the right. Everything was logically arranged by making it easy to find options without digging through menus.

DVD Ripping Test: We tested ripping a personal home video DVD. VidCoder scanned the disc quickly and displayed all titles with their durations. Since the disc was not encrypted, the ripping process worked flawlessly. The automatic title detection correctly identified the main movie versus menu content.

Hardware Acceleration Test: We encoded the same 1-hour video three times using different methods:

• Software encoding (x264): 45 minutes
• Intel QuickSync: 12 minutes
• Nvidia NVENC: 9 minutes

The hardware acceleration provided 4-5x faster encoding speeds. The Hardware tab in Global Settings made it easy to see that our system supported both QuickSync and NVENC.

Batch Processing Test: We queued up 15 video files totaling 8GB for conversion to H.265. VidCoder processed them smoothly overnight. The ability to see progress for all files in the queue was helpful. One file failed due to corruption and VidCoder continued with the remaining files without stopping.

Quality Comparison: We encoded a test video at CRF 18, 22 and 26 to compare quality. CRF 18 looked virtually identical to the source but created large files. CRF 22 provided the best balance – excellent quality with reasonable file sizes. CRF 26 showed noticeable quality loss especially in dark scenes.

Preview Testing: The preview window was incredibly useful. We could scrub through the video and see how our crop settings, filters and quality settings would affect the output before spending 30 minutes encoding the full file.

Audio Handling: We tested encoding a movie with multiple audio tracks (English, Spanish and Director Commentary). VidCoder’s Picker system automatically selected the English audio track based on our language preferences. For other files, we manually selected which tracks to include – the process was straightforward.

Folder Watcher Test: We set up Folder Watcher to monitor our “Downloads” folder and automatically convert any MP4 files to H.265. This worked perfectly for automated archiving of downloaded content. Files appeared in the output folder within minutes of being detected.

Subtitle Support: Adding external SRT subtitle files was easy. VidCoder also extracted subtitle tracks from MKV files without issues. We could preview subtitles in the preview window to verify they displayed correctly.

System Resource Usage: During encoding, CPU usage stayed around 70-80% and RAM usage was approximately 1.5GB. The software never crashed or froze during our testing period even when encoding large 4K files.

VidCoder vs Competition

Feature	VidCoder	HandBrake	Freemake Video Converter
Price (may change)	100% Free	100% Free	Free (Limited) / $19.95 lifetime
Platform Support	Windows only	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows only
User Interface	Modern, intuitive design	Functional but less polished	Simple, beginner friendly
Encoding Engine	HandBrake engine	Native HandBrake	FFmpeg
Hardware Acceleration	AMD VCE, Nvidia NVENC, Intel QSV	AMD VCE, Nvidia NVENC, Intel QSV	Limited support
Output Formats	MP4, MKV only	MP4, MKV, WebM	40+ formats
DVD/Blu-ray Ripping	Yes (requires external decryption)	Yes (requires external decryption)	Yes (built-in decryption)
Batch Processing	Yes – Simultaneous encoding	Yes – Sequential processing	Yes – Sequential processing
Folder Watcher	Yes	No	No
Target File Size	Yes	No – Only bitrate	Yes
Preview Clips	Yes – Encoded previews	Yes – Live previews only	No
Customizable Automation	Yes – Picker system	Limited presets	No
Open Source	Yes	Yes	No
Learning Curve	Moderate – User friendly	Steep – Many technical terms	Easy – Very simple
Best For	Windows users wanting HandBrake power with better UI	Cross-platform users, advanced control	Casual users, simple conversions

Winner by Category:

• Best Interface: VidCoder – Modern design with better workflow
• Most Versatile: HandBrake – Works on all platforms
• Easiest to Use: Freemake – Simplest for beginners
• Best Automation: VidCoder – Folder watcher and Picker system

DVD and Blu-ray Ripping Capabilities

VidCoder can rip DVDs and Blu-rays but does not defeat encryption found on commercial discs. You will need additional software to remove copy protection before VidCoder can process the discs.

Common Decryption Options:

• MakeMKV – Creates unencrypted MKV files from protected discs
• AnyDVD HD – Removes disc protection in real-time
• DVDFab Passkey – Another real-time decryption tool

The typical workflow for encrypted discs is:

1. Use decryption software to remove protection
2. Open the decrypted disc or folder in VidCoder
3. Select titles and configure encoding settings
4. Start the encoding process

For personal home videos on DVD or Blu-ray (which have no encryption), VidCoder works directly without any additional software.

Complete Encoding Pipeline Integration

One major advantage of VidCoder is its completely integrated encoding pipeline – everything happens in one process with no huge intermediate temporary files.

What This Means for You:

• No wasted disk space on temporary files
• Faster overall processing
• Cleaner workflow without managing multiple programs
• Lower chance of errors from file transfers between programs

Some video converters create massive temporary files that can fill up your hard drive. VidCoder avoids this problem entirely.

System Requirements and Prerequisites

Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8 or 7 (32-bit and 64-bit compatible)

Required Software:

• .NET 8 Desktop Runtime (VidCoder will prompt to install if missing)
• You do NOT need to install HandBrake separately

Recommended Hardware:

• CPU: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 or better
• RAM: 4GB minimum (8GB or more recommended)
• Disk Space: 500MB for program, plus space for output files
• Graphics: GPU with hardware acceleration support for faster encoding

The Portable version is self-contained and does not require any .NET Runtime installation. This makes it perfect for USB drives or systems where you cannot install software.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Choosing the Right Codec

• H.264 – Best compatibility, works on all devices
• H.265 – Better compression, smaller files but requires newer devices
• AV1 – Newest codec with best compression but limited device support

Quality Settings Recommendations

• CRF 18-20: Near-lossless quality for archiving
• CRF 22-24: Excellent quality for most uses (recommended)
• CRF 26-28: Good quality for web sharing
• CRF 30+: Lower quality for small file sizes

When to Use Hardware Acceleration

• Enable for long videos (30+ minutes)
• Great for batch processing multiple files
• Slightly lower quality than software encoding
• Perfect when speed matters more than absolute quality

Audio Settings Tips

• Use AAC for maximum compatibility
• Use AC3 passthrough to preserve 5.1 surround sound
• Set 128-160 kbps for stereo audio
• Set 224-384 kbps for 5.1 surround sound

Common Use Cases for VidCoder

Converting Videos for Devices

• Optimize videos for smartphones and tablets
• Create compatible files for older devices
• Reduce file sizes for limited storage

Archiving DVD Collections

• Digitize personal home video DVDs
• Create backup copies of disc collections
• Preserve family memories in digital format

Compressing Large Videos

• Reduce 4K video file sizes
• Make videos easier to share via email or cloud
• Free up disk space while maintaining quality

Preparing Videos for Editing

• Convert to editing-friendly formats
• Extract specific audio tracks
• Prepare footage for video editing software

Automated Video Processing

• Set up folder watching for automatic conversion
• Batch process entire video libraries
• Create standardized formats for media servers

Portable vs Installed Version

VidCoder offers two installation options:

Installed Version (44 MB)

• Integrates with Windows
• Automatic updates
• Requires .NET 8 Runtime
• Standard installation in Program Files

Portable Version (84 MB)

• Self-contained with no installation
• Does NOT require .NET Runtime
• Run from USB drives
• Perfect for systems without admin rights
• All settings stored in program folder

Both versions have identical features. The main difference is portability versus integration with Windows.

Open Source and Free Forever

VidCoder is released under an open source license and will always be free. There are no premium versions, no upgrade fees and no hidden costs. The source code is available on GitHub for developers who want to contribute or examine how it works.

Benefits of Open Source:

• Community-driven development
• Transparent code anyone can inspect
• Free forever with no subscription fees
• Regular updates from contributors
• No privacy concerns or telemetry

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Encoding Fails or Crashes

• Update to latest version
• Check that source file is not corrupted
• Try using software encoding instead of hardware
• Ensure enough disk space for output file

Hardware Acceleration Not Available

• Update graphics drivers
• Check Hardware tab to see supported codecs
• Some older GPUs do not support hardware encoding
• Try different hardware decoder settings

Audio Out of Sync

• Use 2-pass encoding for better sync
• Check if source file has sync issues
• Try different audio codec or passthrough
• Ensure consistent frame rate in output

Folder Watcher Not Working

• Enable polling mode in Global Options → Advanced
• Check folder permissions
• Ensure watcher service is running
• Verify output folder has write permissions

Performance Optimization Tips

Speed Up Encoding:

• Enable hardware acceleration
• Use faster presets
• Reduce output resolution
• Disable unnecessary filters
• Process multiple files simultaneously

Improve Output Quality:

• Use slower encoding presets
• Enable 2-pass encoding
• Lower CRF value (higher quality)
• Use software encoding instead of hardware
• Apply appropriate filters (deinterlace, denoise)

Reduce File Sizes:

• Use H.265 instead of H.264
• Increase CRF value (lower quality)
• Reduce resolution
• Use lower audio bitrates
• Remove unnecessary audio and subtitle tracks

Frequently Asked Questions

License – Free

Homepage

Download

Size – 44 MB

VidCoder 12.11 

Portable