Free video downloaders and conversion tools are ten-a-penny, particularly on the PC platform, but Adapter has a few interesting features that make it stand out from the overcrowded opposition. The first is that it’s designed primarily for the Mac platform, where such freebies are much thinner on the ground. And second, it includes trimming options, allowing you to shave as little or as much time off the start and end of the video or audio you’re converting.

While the functionality is broadly similar on both Windows and Mac platforms, the user interface is anything but. The PC version looks a little clunky if we’re honest, but the Mac version does a much better job of blending in nicely with OS X’s look and feel, reflecting the fact that development seems to have been very much focused on this platform.

Ultimately, though, the functionality is the same, and that will include having to download and install additional packages depending on what you plan to do with the program – thankfully this process is handled automatically by Adapter itself, letting you get on with the less arduous task of locating video to convert.

You can drag and drop files from a wide variety of formats into the Converter window (this is split into three separate tabs – Video, Audio and Image – on the PC version) or switch to the Downloader window and go hunting for online video to download. Adapter supports a wide range of formats, and while it defaults to YouTube, you aren’t beholden and can simply go hunting via its built-in web browser for alternative sources.

The app gives you three options for output: same as the source directory, directly into iTunes or your choice of folder. Pick a preset from the large number available – the latest Mac build supports the new iPad and Apple TV formats, while the PC adds an option for Kindle Fire, tweak your settings if necessary and then leave the app to do the conversion for you.

It’s reasonably quick, and the converted video is optimised for whatever device you plan to view it on. With plenty of customisable settings on hand for those who have exacting demands, plus support for a wide range of input and output formats (including Flash and AVI, both rare on the Mac), Adapter is well worth adding to your video conversion toolkit.