Almost every remote team is meeting through Zoom these days, and most of those meetings are routinely recorded for posterity and simplicity of follow up activities. The only impractical thing about this amazing video chat software is that it records videos in its proprietary format and they need to be converted to .MP4 before they can be exported.
Since this usually happens automatically, most users don’t care too much about format conversion but in some cases it might be necessary to do it manually. This is a simple task that can be accomplished in several ways within a few minutes, so there is nothing to fear even if for some reason you have to perform it on your own. This article will show you several approaches that can promptly resolve the situation and allow you to save the recording as MP4.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Convert Zoom Recording to MP4
The first decision you have to make when you want to convert a Zoom recording is which tool to use. In some cases you could rely on internal features of Zoom to complete this action, but there are also some quite good third-party recording apps that include user-friendly conversion features. To help make an informed decision and pick an approach that makes the most sense under your circumstances, we outlined how to convert Zoom recording to MP4 format using 3 different methods.
Using the Default Zoom Client App
If you are regularly participating in online meetings with Zoom, you must already have Zoom Client application installed on your machine. As it turns out, this is the only software you need to complete the conversion and save the file in your preferred format. There is a built-in conversion button in this app, so the whole procedure comes down to finding where your recording is stored and clicking on button next to it. Here is the sequence of steps that will take you there.
Step 1. Run the Client app on your device and open the Meetings icon in the header
Tap on the Meetings icon
Step 2. Click on the Recorded tab to open the list of all saved recordings
Step 3. Find the recording file that you would like to convert in the list and select it
Step 4. If the recording is in .zoom format, there will be a Convert button next to it, click on this button to start the conversion process
Recording the Meeting as MP4 with Gemoo Recorder
As one of the more successful screen recording tools of the latest generation, Gemoo Recorder is an excellent choice for a wide range of tasks. It works perfectly on a Windows-based PC or a Mac laptop, so its value is almost universal. While it doesn’t contain a video conversion feature so it can’t transfer your .zoom recordings into a different format, Gemoo Recorder can help you avoid this predicament in the first place by letting you record the meeting directly in MP4, eliminating the need for conversion. The following are the main features of Gemoo Recorder:
- With four recording modes, you can easily capture your computer screen and audio, as well as your camera and screen simultaneously.
- Offer more advanced editing features than the built-in screen recorder. You can insert shapes, text, memes, and animated GIFs during recording to make your videos more engaging and entertaining.
- Allows you to add filters and virtual backgrounds to your camera feed, making it easy to hide your real location.
- All your recorded videos are automatically stored in the cloud, so you never have to worry about losing your content.
Here is how you can record a Zoom meeting with Gemoo Recorder and save the recording in any format you find the most practical:
Step 1. Join the Zoom meeting, then run the Gemoo recorder on your computer and sign in to your account.
Sign in to Gemoo
Step 2. Choose the Screen only option from the menu (or Screen + Camera if you want to include your face). Click on the Start recording button and wait for the 3-second countdown to pass.
Choose the Screen Only Mode
Step 3. Annotate your video while you are recording and add comments or mouse highlights.
Annotate your Recording video
Step 4. Click on the Finish Recording button when you are done.
Step 5. The new recording will automatically be saved in the cloud and will open in a new tab, click on it to download the file to your hard disc.
Switching with new .zoom files
There is a simple trick that can be used to quickly convert recordings without the need for any third-party software. It involves only a small maneuver within Zoom’s archive library, and once you learn how to switch an existing file with a new .zoom file you might prefer this method over any alternatives. It basically takes advantage of Zoom’s automated conversion function, and all you need to do to activate it on an old recording is the following:
Step 1. Go to Zoom app and navigate to Meetings\Recordings to find your old .zoom file
Step 2. Copy the .zoom file, then initiate a new meeting and start recording it
Step 3. Go back to the storage folder, find the new recording file, and paste the old .zoom file over it
Go Back to the Storage Folder
Step 4. Now stop recording and let Zoom automatically convert the file to .MP4
Step 5. Rename the MP4 file and move it to a permanent location
What are the Benefits of Converting Zoom Recordings to MP4?
While the difference between file formats may not seem like a big deal to users with limited technical knowledge, there are many reasons why it’s better to have your Zoom meetings saved as MP4 videos. Here is a short list of benefits that users can gain by converting all of their videos from the default .zoom format into a more widely used one such as .MP4:
- MP4 is one of the most common formats that almost any playback app can open
- Files saved in this way retain the high image and sound quality while requiring very little storage space compared to other formats
- The frame rate is fixed so performance doesn’t change, with a maximum of 60 bps
- Uploading or sharing MP4 files is easier than with .zoom files
- Some of the best video editing suites support MP4 format
FAQs about Conversion of Zoom Recordings
Is .MP4 the only format into which Zoom recordings can be converted?
While .MP4 is by far the most popular option, Zoom allows you to convert recordings into several alternative video formats, including M4A, M3U, and VTT. If you are using a third-party video converter then the list of possibilities might be much more extensive.
Do recordings converted to MP4 format suffer from any loss of image or audio quality?
You don’t have to worry about losing any sharpness or decreasing the level of detail when you convert your recording into MP4. One of the reasons why this format is so popular is that it supports a high resolution and fast bit rate without having too large file sizes.
Should I use an external recorder for Zoom meetings instead of the native recording function?
There are some advantages to using a premium recording app, for example, better live annotation tools and a wider range of file formats, but in most cases the built-in recorder in Zoom can do the job well enough. If you decide to use an external recorder, you won’t have a shortage of options.
Conclusion
Zoom is a very user-friendly app and does much of the technical work automatically, but even when users need to manually change the format of a recording there are simple solutions at hand. You can use a function in the Zoom Client app or a file switching technique in the file directory and convert .zoom files with a minimum of effort. Still, some users prefer to rely on more powerful recording software to capture their most important meetings, and apps like Gemoo Recorder allow them to do that. In any case, you will be able to have your recordings in the format you need.
