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Has anyone come across one of the many video format converters which are FREE and tackle the MKV format. Other than doing another d/l, this time checking for AVI, I've run into nothing but frustration. The word FREE is often used to mean one can d/l the software for free, but you're either given a short usage (say 60 seconds of converting) or mindless dribble which turns out to waste time, than anything else.
I thought Media Coder would work, but it the newer versions only do part of the file and say they are finished. Odd, since I was very pleased with this product, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Hey MB - I'm hearing you on the liberal, and often, misleading use of 'FREE' when searching for actual freeware. The format you are looking for is 'Matroska Video', it is a container rather than a compression format.
If you merely wish to view the video on a computer this can be done using either VLC Media Player or MPlayer. If you want to go ahead with conversion I can highly recommend 'Any Video Converter Free'. I've never used it to convert from MKV but have for most other formats and it is very easy to use and works a treat.
Link to home page:- http://www.any-video-converter.com/prod ... ideo_free/ you will see that MKV is included in the list of supported 'Input formats'.
cheers mate....JIM
A big thank you ozbloke. Tried it out, and it truly words. You're aware I knew what MKV stood for - but what's with the term CONTAINER. That's something I saw Media Coder use, but I just ignored it (all I want/need is to convert - don't require all that techno babble).
I'm at a loss figuring out the difference between the FREE and PRO, apart from parting with $$$ (since the FREE version does batch conversions as well). An clues, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
You are most welcome MB.
A 'container' in video terms is very similar to the 'Zip' container for files and data. Just as a ZIP file can contain any sort of file within it, video container formats only define how the things within them are stored, not what types of data are stored. It's a tad more complicated than that but, quite frankly, I find most of the 'official' explanations difficult to fathom, much of the techno-babble and terminology is beyond my comprehension.
Any Video Converter FREE v Any Video Converter PRO:- The main difference is the number of portable media devices and output formats which are supported. Obviously there are many more included in the Pro version. The younger ones would have more need for the extra features in the Pro version, including support for; iPhone, iPod, Sony Play Station, Zune, Nintendo, Creative Zen...well, you get the idea. The free version would be adequate for most of us 'older' folk....
cheers....JIM
P.S. Yes MB, I've known you long enough now to realise you would be aware of what MKV stood for .....my reference was for those who may read this thread and not be aware.
[size=200:13fgkifn]Video formats [/size:13fgkifn]might be a better topic, but after considerable and much time spent talking it over amongst myself, decided this is where it belongs.
I did some searching and reading on the MKV (format/container). It's open source, and some consider it to [b:13fgkifn]become the standard of multimedia container formats[/b:13fgkifn]. [size=150:13fgkifn]Give me a break!!! [/size:13fgkifn]
Though many players like GOM have no problems with MKV, this limits one to computer viewing. Unless you have some sort of remote, you're back in the stone age as viewing goes (how lazy we've become). Are there any DVD makers that include this MKV style?
The DivX format is widely accepted on DVD players (with the DivX option). This means that any program with an AVI or Xvid (might be others = I'm not sure) extension can also be played.
Thought I'm happily to find shows others uploaded (torrents), I wish they'd get some common sense. I'm off topic here for sure, but some waste their time as well as that of others by uploading password protected, and leaving no clues how or where to obtain them. Guess beggars can't be too picky, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
[i:252sf9k8][b:252sf9k8]"some consider it to become the standard of multimedia container formats. Give me a break!!!"[/b:252sf9k8][/i:252sf9k8]
LOL....I concur MB. The reason they are saying that is because it[i:252sf9k8] is[/i:252sf9k8] open source and therefore completely non proprietary.
You are right, MKV cannot be burned direct to DVD for viewing on T.V. via standard home DVD player....but it can be converted and [i:252sf9k8]then[/i:252sf9k8] burned using any number of freeware products.
My home DVD player will not accept DivX (it's like me, getting a tad long in the tooth). So, whenever I download a torrent in DivX format, I first use VirtualDub to resize (when necessary) and then convert and burn to DVD using Windows DVD Maker (built-in to Vista). I have tried and tested other freeware converter/burners which do the same job as DVD Maker and there are some very good ones around....I stick with DVD Maker simply because it is already built in to my OS.
So, one could use something like Any Video Converter to convert the MKV file to AVI and then, if the home player does not support that format, convert and burn the AVI file to DVD using one of the freeware products. Convoluted, I know, but it does work.
cheers now.....JIM
Thanks for sharing your sad story with us ozbloke. Believe the main purpose (goal) in obtaining torrents (therefore in sharing) is the size (where smaller is better) and why some use MKV (it is smaller without the need to compress); unlike AVI which is extremely popular (my number one pick). I need to laugh when I notice a torrent in DVD format.
I once was able to place 35 shows (each about 40 to 45 min in length) onto one 4.7G DVD. Now that's awesome. Though I sometimes watch a show (20" monitor in your face is big), I prefer to spread out on my sofa or recliner and have total remote control over what I watch on a bigger screen with surround sound.
The only advice (and I'm sure it's crossed your mind), is when you thing of upgrading your current DVD player (forget the Blueray hype) and get a DVD player with the DivX option. I have not regretted, plus the difference was 10-20% more. Just think of all that converting time (yours and that of your computer you'd be freeing), Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
[b:3eflc1bx]Hey MB[/b:3eflc1bx] - There are many advantages to living in this fair land downunder but being up with the times (electronically speaking) is definitely not one of them. HD video is still a comparatively new technology here...the battle between Blueray and HDD formats, which raged in the U.S.A., was well and truly over and won by the time the first players hit our shores. DVD players which support the DivX format are a very recent introduction. My DVD player/recorder was an expensive one, it includes a standard definition tuner and 250gig hard drive, I won't be rushing out to replace it any time soon.
The advantage, for me, of the compressed format is only when downloading.....once I have the file saved size it doesn't really matter. Blank DVD's are around 30cents each so the cost factor is unimportant. Besides which, by converting and burning them in DVD (vob) format I can manipulate the way they are displayed and end up with much better quality. The time factor? Well being retired I have plenty of that on my hands and I have enjoyed the learning curve.
It's not something I do very often, just when there is a rare title I want which is no longer available via other avenues.
[b:3eflc1bx]Hey Zig[/b:3eflc1bx] - I assume your computer is the 'heart' of your entertainment center? i.e. Is connected to your T.V., home theater, etc? Mine is out in the shed, where peace and quiet reign supreme.... If I want to view a DVD on my big screen plasma T.V. I have to play in through the attached DVD player....no WMP in there I'm afraid
cheers....JIM
I feel jilted ozbloke. A recorder/player is indeed something one does replace quickly (you knew I was talking about players). From what I've experienced, you're not missing much in the HD battle. We're told beauty is in the eye of the observer (poetic licence), so I still prefer watching movies on tube sets (something about the colours), and visiting the movie houses who went totally digital, I see too many flaws in the picture quality on that screen (still prefer the days of the tape projector).
Having a hard time swalling the fact you have a player/recorder, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Hey Jim--
Yeah, the computer is the heart of my media center, but the PC is in a different room and I just extended the necessary cables to the TV. a bit inconvenient for movie watching (going to the other room to drop in a disk) but very convenient for eliminating the fan noise.
I wish I had a DVD Recorder with Hard Drive. I presume it does Live TV Recording? That's the sole reason I built a media center. LoL
As for HD, I still don't get the appeal. Why pay extra for something you hardly notice? ~shrug~
Hey MB and Zig - I agree with you both....HD does not seem worth the effort or overall cost to me. My brother has a HD T.V. (built-in HD tuner), when last there I installed a new DVD player/recorder for him. The recorder included an SD tuner so I had the opportunity to switch quickly between SD and HD on the same channel. Yes, there was a difference but to me it was only minimal. My pay T.V. is delivered in SD, I have SD set top boxes for free to air and a huge DVD collection in SD.....they all look good enough to me!!!!
The DVD player/recorder is, undoubtedly, [i:xtfm86lx]the[/i:xtfm86lx] best device I have ever invested in. It is so simple to operate and the quality is superb. I owned VCR's for years and yet [i:xtfm86lx]still[/i:xtfm86lx] had to get out the manual each time I wanted to timer record. Same chore with the HD recorder is a cinch. Recording, dubbing, editing.....the features are terrific and all so simple to operate. Above all, they are so reliable....unlike the VCR's which were infamous for their high breakdown rates. And, yes ZIg it records from anything attached to it...live T.V., pay T.V., video camera, VCR, etc.
The DVD player/recorder is the heart of my entertainment center, connected to plasma 42" wide screen T.V. and 'Kenwood' 5.1 digital home theater amplifier with active sub-woofer....man, I can really shake the walls......LOL.
cheers....JIM
-One final word on MKV guys. Finished converting (using AVC) to AVI, and I'll let the numbers speak for themselves. Original MKV file size is 356k, with AVI became 232k. That means I could put 7 more files on a DVD. As for quality, I ran parts of two files, side by side, using GOM player, identical monitors, and could not see any difference. My personal conclusion, why bother with MKV, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
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