XSPF to MP4: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking to convert your XSPF playlist into MP4 format? Before you do, you need to know. XSPF stands for XML shareable playlist format, which is a text-based playlist. An XSPF file is made of XML tags that list the path to various local media files or URLs to online streaming media. They could be pointing to either audio or video files.

The XSPF format is highly portable and generally pronounced "spiff" in internet lingo. Since it contains information about several media files, you may want to convert the XSPF file into one, unified media file that stitches together all the disparate items in its list. Can you do that? If so, how? If not, why? This quick guide to XSPF to MP4 conversion discusses these and many more questions.

Part 1: Why Need to Convert XSPF File?

1. What is XSPF (XML Shareable Playlist Format)?

The XSPF format is a metadata file containing information about the media to which it is linked. It does not contain any media files to begin with.

Each XSPF file is structured into three primary components:

Media Metadata: This includes metadata about each item in the playlist, such as Title, Creator, Date, Identifier, etc.
Track Information: Information such as album, image, duration, etc.
Links to Media Files: The final piece of the puzzle, i.e., the actual links to the media files, such as URLs or local paths, are listed in this component

XSPF files are relevant in every context in which media playlists are created. This could be online streaming platforms like YouTube, SoundCloud, etc.; media players like VLC, Winamp, etc.; podcast aggregators; and more.

As useful as it is, XSPF has its share of limitations. For instance, they contain only information about media in their lists and not the media itself. They also lack some advanced features like automatic updates, cloud synchronization, etc. Many mainstream media players do not support them either. For these reasons, XSPF's popularity is steadily dwindling.

2. Why Convert XSPF to MP4?

The reasons for converting XSPF to MP4 format are as varied as consumer preferences. Perhaps you wish to consolidate all media on a playlist into a single jukebox. Or, maybe, because it's just more convenient to share with your friends or family.

From a technical perspective, converting XSPF files to MP4 ensures that all media on the playlist is converted into a high-fidelity mainstream format that can be played on any device or media player. Whatever your reason, converting XSPF files to MP4 is not going to be a walk in the park.

Part 2: Can I Convert XSPF to MP4 Format?

The short answer-no!

The longer version-yes, but not directly.

XSPF to MP4 conversion is not possible because there's nothing to convert to MP4 in XSPF files. XSPF files do not contain any media; they just contain paths to the media on their list. In contrast, MP4 files are full-fledged media containers that store both video, audio, and metadata, among other information.

However, there is a workaround, albeit a tedious one. You can extract the location of each media item in an XSPF playlist and convert them all into MP4 format. And, we've created a simple tutorial to help you do precisely that.

How Can I Convert XSPF to MP4?

Step 1: Extract the File Locations from the XSPF Playlist

An XSPF file can be opened with a simple text editor like Notepad in Windows. Open it and get the locations of all media files from it. A typical XSPF file looks like this in Notepad:

extract file location from xspf playlist

Step 2: Combine Media into MP4 Format

Download or collate the media files from their various locations >> Use a video editor like HitPaw Univd (HitPaw Video Converter) to import and convert these files into MP4 format.

Step 3: Create an MP4 Playlist

You can use a video editor like HitPaw Univd or command-line tools like FFmpeg to combine all the converted files into a single merged file. Alternatively, you can create a new playlist with all individual media files intact.

Part 3: Guide to Combine Media from XSPF into an MP4 File

Stitching up separate media files into a unified file can be a tedious, time-consuming process with mainstream video editors, but not with HitPaw Univd. Univd Video Merger is a lightweight, powerful, and fast media converter that can merge all your media files in your XSPF playlist into a single MP4 video. Here's why professionals prefer HitPaw Univd over other tools for quick video merging.

How to Merge and Convert XSPF to MP4 in Univd

Step 1: Import Videos to Univd

Once you've located and downloaded or assembled all media in your XSPF playlist in one place, launch HitPaw Univd. Under the "Editor" section, select the "Merge" feature >> Click "Add Files" to select and import all playlist items to HitPaw Univd.

Step 2: Merge Media into MP4 Video

Reorganize the media files imported into HitPaw Univd to change their merge order >> Check the "Merge into one file" checkbox at the bottom of the window >> Click "Export All".

FAQs about Convert XSPF File

Q1. Can I convert XSPF file using VLC?

A1. No. XSPF file is not a media file. So, VLC cannot convert it.

Q2. How to create an XSPF playlist?

A2. Open VLC >> Add videos to the playlist >> Head to "Media" >> Select "Save Playlist to File" >> Use the dialog box to create your XSPF file.

Q3. What player can play XSPF files?

A3. Several media players, including VLC, Winamp, Clementine, and others, can play XSPF files.

Q4. What is the difference between M3U vs. XSPF?

A4. M3U and XSPF are two very different playlist formats. The former has a text structure and stores limited information, while the latter is an XML-based format and can store rich information, such as metadata.

Conclusion

The web is full of guides and tutorials that claim to teach you how to convert XSPF files to MP4 format, but it's impossible. There's only one proven method of doing it and that's locating and converting all the items in an XSPF playlist into MP4 format manually. The best tool for converting the media files quickly to MP4 format is HitPaw Univd. It's fast, intuitive, converts, and merges media files in seconds. Convert your first XSPF playlist to MP4 using HitPaw Univd today.

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