“I’ve got some video files with .asf file format extension. I’ve no idea upon asf files. What is ASF file? How to open ASF files on my computer? Do I need to turn to some kind of video converter designed for converting ASF file if I want to upload these ASF file to Facebook or YouTube?  Please tell me.”

ASF, the abbreviation for Advanced Systems Format (formerly Advanced Streaming Format, Active Streaming Format), is a container format for Windows media audio and video files. It is a frequently used file format for Windows media files, but this format is not supported by some software. Although there are media players that can play ASF audio and video files directly, but in order to manage ASF file efficiently, you need to convert it into a friendly file format like MP4.

If you need to convert ASF video files to the more appealing MP4 format, there are a large variety of video conversion software that can help you with this. Some of this software tools are free for downloading from the Internet. And some of the software needs to pay for some downloading fees as they can provide you with the editing functions. Therefore, you can custom some specifications of the video formats.

The below content would show you how to convert ASF to MP4 with different ASF to MP4 video converter tools. You could freely choose the one that meets you most.

Part 1: Brief Introduction to ASF File Format

As mentioned above, ASF file extension is a container format for Windows media audio and video files. The extension wma or wmv is used to specify an ASF file that contains content encoded with the Windows Media Audio and/or Windows Media Video codecs. An ASF file can contain metadata too, like a title, author data, rating, description, etc.

Brief Introduction to ASF File Format

The below are the primary goals of ASF file format:

1. To play back files from media servers, HTTP servers, and local storage devices smoothly.

2. To support scalable media types such as audio and video.

3. To permit a single multimedia composition to be presented over a wide range of bandwidths.

4. To be independent of any particular multimedia composition system, computer operating system, or data communications protocol.

To open ASF files on computer, it would be quite easy. You could play ASF files with multiple media players such as Windows Media Player, VLC media player, MediaPlayer Lite, etc. Leawo Blu-ray Player is highly recommended because of its high capability of all file formats playback. It is an expert media player that could perform as region-free Blu-ray player, free DVD player, free HD video player, free audio player, etc. The quality will be highly retained and displayed. Non protected 4K Blu-ray movies could be played back even. 

Part 2: Convert ASF to MP4 with ASF to MP4 converter online free

Due to the fast development of the Internet and technology, there are many free online ASF file converter. If you search on the Internet, you will find the free online ASF to MP4 converter, such as ZAMZAR, Convert.Files, FILEZIGZAG and many more. Here I will introduce one of the free online ASF to MP4 converter ZAMZAR to you.

Guides on how to convert ASF to MP4 with ZAMZAR

First, you need to go to the website of ZAMZAR. Please input the link https://www.zamzar.com/convert/asf-to-mp4/ in your browser. And then do as the following instruction to finish the whole ASF to MP4 conversion process.

Step 1: Import the original ASF file

Select the original ASF file from your computer, or you can also drag and drop it on the program directly.

ASF to MP4

Step 2: Set MP4 as the output file

Choose MP4 as the output file from the drop-down list.

ASF to MP4

Step 3: Enter Your email address to receive the converted file

ASF to MP4

Type your email address into the blank bar to receive the converted file after converting.

Step 4: Convert ASF to MP4

ASF to MP4

Then, click the "Convert" button to start converting ASF file to MP4 file online for free. When the conversion finishes, you could then get a download link from your email to download the converted ASF files.

Part 3: Guidance on how to Convert ASF to MP4 with Leawo Video Converter

In order to pursue high quality and clear video effects after converting ASF to MP4, some people will choose some good ASF to MP4 converter software even though it needs to download and install first. Here I will introduce a popular ASF to MP4 converter – Leawo Video Converter.

Leawo Video Converter is a very famous video format converter software, it can resolve any video compatibility issues, including the ASF to MP4. It has powerful video converter ability which can convert more than 180+ audio and video formats. Besides of helping you resolve the ASF file converter problem, it can also help you covert other video and audio formats, such as MPEG, Quacktime, Apple TV, AVI, FLV, MKV, MP3 etc without any loss in quality.

   

Download and install Leawo Video Converter on your computer (Mac users should switch to Mac version of Leawo Video Converter), and then follow the guide below to convert ASF to MP4.

Step 1: Import the original ASF file

On the main interface of Leawo Video Converter, click "Add Video" button on the sub-menu to load the ASF video files which you want to convert. And you can also drag and drop the original ASF video files on the program directly.

Convert ASF to MP4

Step 2: Set MP4 as output format

Click the drop-down box which is next to the "Add Photo" button. Select the "Change" option on the drop-drown list. Then you will see a popup Profile window, here you can select "MP4" from "Format" column as output format.

Convert ASF to MP4

Note: Here is the method on how to custom the specifications of the video format if you want to. Click the "Edit" button on the drop-down profile setting box, here you can adjust the video and audio parameters like video codec, aspect ratio, frame rate, resolution, audio codec, bit rate, channel, sample rate and others.

Convert ASF to MP4

Step 3: Convert ASF to MP4

Click the big green "Convert" button on the sub-menu bar next to the format setting drop-down box. Then set the output directory on the popup sidebar. After you have finished setting the output directory, click the "Convert" button right below. Leawo Video Converter would start to convert ASF to MP4 video immediately.

Convert ASF to MP4

Part 4: Convert ASF to MP4 with VLC Player

We know that VLC media player could help you play ASF files. However, it is actually an ASF to MP4 converter as well to help you convert ASF files to MP4 format in simple clicks. The converter function of VLC, however, is hiding something, and in this tutorial, I'll show you how to convert ASF to MP4 with VLC media player for totally free.

Convert ASF to MP4

Follow the below steps to learn how to convert ASF to MP4 within VLC media

1. Click on the Media menu in VLC, and then click on "Convert / Save".

2. On the newly popup "Open Media" window, under the "Files" tab, click "Add" button to browse and load ASF files from local drive. You can add one or more ASF files fore batch ASF to MP4 conversion.

3. Then, on the next "Convert" window, select MP4 as output in the "Profile" drop-down menu. "Video – H.264+MP3(MP4)" is recommended.

4. Set advanced settings including video and audio parameters by clicking the wrench icon if you like.

5. In the "Destination file" box, select the output directory and set the output file name.

6. Finally, click the "Start" button to start converting ASF file to MP4 format. You could then view the converting process on the play window.

After converting, you will get ASF files in MP4 format in the folder you've set.

Part 5: ASF to MP4 Converter Online vs. Leawo Video Converter vs. VLC

All 3 above mentioned methods for converting ASF file to MP4 format are easy and effective. You may wonder which one is the best. We have made a simple comparison between these 3 ASF to MP4 converters below in the table for you. You could check these features to get to know these tools more.

 

Online ASF to MP4 Converter

VLC Media Player

Leawo Video Converter

Convert video files between different formats

Yes. Almost all video formats are supported as input and output.

Yes, but only outputs video files to limited file formats like MP4, AVI, etc.

Almost all video formats are supported as input and output

Convert audio files between different formats

Yes

Yes

Yes

Quality lossless conversion

No

No

Yes

Adjust output MP4 video and audio parameters

No

Yes

Yes

Batch ASF to MP4 conversion

No

Yes

Yes

Edit ASF files before converting

No

No

Yes

Create 3D movies

No

No

Yes

Add watermark for output files

No

No

Yes

Turn photos into slideshow

No

No

Yes

Add subtitles

No

No

Yes

Select subtitles and audio tracks

No

No

Yes

Internet connection

Required

No

No

Cost

Free

Free

$29.95/1-year code, $39.95/lifetime license

Availability

Windows, Mac, Linux

Windows, Mac, Linux

Windows, Mac

For me, I prefer to use the Leawo Video Converter as it can help you convert ASF to MP4 without any loss in the video quality, and the price is very reasonable. What's more, the customer services of their team is very good, they can give you quick reply to any questions in the process of downloading it and using it.