Getting content ready to run

[brainpaint]

So.... Newb here!! Have been acquiring content via downloading vimeo video's of Free VJ loops from some people I've been following. After I change it to a .mov from .mp4 it starts to lag in resolume. I'm downloading in 720p straight from the Vimeo website. Want do be able to run it smoothy.... Don't really know much about a codec but would like to keep it decent quality. Any advice would be awesomeeeeee. Thank you!

[Oaktown]

Convert it to DXV 3 using mpegstreamclip

[brainpaint]

any other sites other than megastreamclip that you would recommend? id like to look around for my options. I am operating on a macbook pro

[Oaktown]

QuickTime Pro 7 which is a great tool to have on both Mac & PC
Adobe Media Encoder but that's part of the CC package
Apple Compressor 4 which is a great companion software to Apple Motion 5