Convert RM to OGV — Free Online Converter
Convert RealMedia (.rm) to Ogg Video (.ogv) online for free. Fast, secure video conversion with no watermarks or registration....
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Works Everywhere
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How to Convert
Upload your .rm file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .ogv file when it's ready.
About RM to OGV Conversion
OGV (Ogg Video) is the Xiph.org Foundation's open-source video container, pairing Theora video codec with Vorbis audio. Theora descended from On2 Technologies' VP3 codec — the same lineage that led to VP8 and VP9 used in WebM. OGV was once the leading candidate for HTML5 video before MP4 and WebM won broader support. RM (RealMedia) was RealNetworks' 1997 streaming format using proprietary RealVideo codecs (RV10, RV20) with constant bitrate encoding for dial-up modems.
Converting RM to OGV moves content from one era of web video to another — from proprietary RealPlayer streaming to open-source, patent-free web video. While OGV has been largely superseded by WebM in modern web usage, it remains relevant for open-source projects, Wikimedia Commons, and environments that mandate patent-free formats.
Why Convert RM to OGV?
RM is proprietary and dead. OGV is open-source and patent-free. For organizations and projects committed to open standards — Wikipedia, open-access educational repositories, GNU/Linux distributions, government agencies with open-format mandates — OGV provides a video format with no licensing or patent encumbrances.
OGV also plays in Firefox, Chrome, and some other browsers via the HTML5 video element, though support is less universal than MP4 or WebM. Converting RM to OGV is primarily about principle (open standards) rather than practicality (maximum compatibility). For pure reach, MP4 or WebM are better choices.
Common Use Cases
- Contributing recovered RM content to Wikimedia Commons, which prefers open formats
- Converting RM educational videos for open-access platforms that mandate patent-free formats
- Migrating RM archives for use in open-source video applications and players
- Preparing RM content for web publishing on sites committed to open web standards
- Creating patent-free video from RM sources for use in free software projects
How It Works
FFmpeg decodes RealVideo (RV10/RV20/RV30) and RealAudio (Cook) from the RM container. Video is re-encoded using libtheora at quality level 7 (moderate quality), and audio is encoded with libvorbis at quality 4 (~128 kbps). The OGV container multiplexes the Theora and Vorbis streams. Theora is less efficient than H.264 or VP9, so OGV files tend to be larger at equivalent quality — but the format is completely patent-free.
Quality & Performance
Theora at quality 7 can match or slightly exceed the quality of the original RM source, since RealVideo codecs were even less efficient than Theora. However, both are significantly behind H.264 in compression efficiency. For the low-bitrate, low-resolution content typical of RM files (100-500 kbps, 176x144 to 320x240), the quality difference between codecs is minimal — the source material is the limiting factor, not the output codec.
Device Compatibility
| Device | RM | OGV |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Recommended Settings by Platform
YouTube
Resolution: 1920x1080
Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps
H.264 recommended for fast processing
Resolution: 1080x1080
Bitrate: 3.5 Mbps
Square or 9:16 for Reels
TikTok
Resolution: 1080x1920
Bitrate: 4 Mbps
9:16 vertical, under 60s ideal
Twitter/X
Resolution: 1280x720
Bitrate: 5 Mbps
Under 140s, 512MB max
Resolution: 960x540
Bitrate: 2 Mbps
16MB limit for standard, 64MB for document
Discord
Resolution: 1280x720
Bitrate: 4 Mbps
8MB free, 50MB Nitro
Tips for Best Results
- 1Unless you have a specific patent-free requirement, convert RM to MP4 or WebM instead — both offer better quality and broader compatibility.
- 2Use Theora quality 7-8 for converted RM content — the source quality is low enough that higher settings waste encoding time without visible improvement.
- 3For Wikimedia Commons uploads, OGV is the preferred video format — convert with proper metadata including source description and licensing information.
- 4Provide MP4 or WebM fallback alongside OGV for web publishing — Safari and some mobile browsers do not support OGV.
- 5If the RM content is audio-only, use OGG (Vorbis) instead of OGV — there is no need for the video container overhead for audio-only files.
RM to OGV conversion is the right choice for open-source projects and platforms that require patent-free video formats. While OGV is less efficient and less widely supported than MP4 or WebM, it fulfills the important role of providing completely unencumbered video for the free software ecosystem.