How to convert MOV to MP4 with an API
MOV files from phones and cameras do not always play in browsers or embed cleanly. Converting to H.264 MP4 with fast-start makes them play everywhere and start streaming immediately. Here is the one-call way.
The manual FFmpeg way
Remembering -movflags +faststart, the right codecs and a machine to run them on is the difference between a video that streams and one that stalls. A typed API bakes the good defaults in.
ffmpeg -i clip.mov -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -movflags +faststart clip.mp4
Do it with one API call
- 1
Point the tool at your file
Use a public URL, or upload a local MOV with POST /api/v1/uploads and pass the returned media URL.
- 2
Call the convert tool
Send the source as the input named "main". KinoPipe returns an H.264 MP4 with fast-start enabled.
- 3
Retrieve the MP4
Poll the returned job until it succeeds and download the converted file from the signed URL.
curl https://kinopipe.com/api/v1/tools/video-to-mp4 \
-H "Authorization: Bearer kp_live_..." \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{ "inputs": [ { "id": "main", "url": "https://example.com/clip.mov" } ] }'FAQ
Which input formats are supported?
Common sources such as MOV, WebM and others are converted to a compatible H.264 MP4.
Is fast-start enabled?
Yes. Outputs are written with the moov atom at the front so they begin playing before fully downloaded.