convert .mkv to .avi

[Art Vandelay]

In the past I have used the free version of divx converter to convert .mkv to .avi home theater profile but it ran out of time. I could convert a 2.3 GB .mkv file to a 1 GB avi file with very good results. I download the new free version 8 of Divx converter and and it will take a 2.3 gb .mkv file and it seems output will be 300 gb with the home theater profile. This seems very small compared to the previous free version of divx converter. Does anyone know of a free mkv converter to .avi that will give me a high quality avi that I can then run throug Procoder to get good DVD output? I don't care about the ouput size of the .avi file.

Divx 8 converter would get to 50% then it wouldn't advance, HDD light was on and it was spinning but there was no advancement of the conversion.

[MilesAhead]

You could try AviDemux. I recommend version 2.4 since version 2.5 the xvid one pass is just about useless. Even for 2 pass, version 2.4 has better motion detection.

If you don't have to use ProCoder you can input .mkv to AVStoDVD and get excellent DVD output. Or if the audio is standard DVD audio(such as ac3 or whatnot) you can demux the audio and put the .mkv through HC Enc using an .avs script to get an .m2v video file, then just put the .m2v and .ac3 through an authoring program.


Another app that can handle .mkv input is StaxRip. But I have very limited experience with it. It should output .avi from .mkv input if you have xvid codec installed.

xvid codec is free and you can download it if you don't have it already.

http://free-codecs.com/

or for a codec pack you may consider Shark's codec pack.

[UncasMS]

handbrake, super or convertx-to-dvd should all be able to convert from mkv to either avi or directly to dvd

procoder of course will not be used

[paglamon]

An avisynth script should help in direct conversion using Procoder.

[nagidar]

Mkv To Avi

Try the freeware Any Video Converter...fast and easy to set up.

[Art Vandelay]

Thanks to everyone. I found a program called Format Factory that seems quite good. I wish Procoder could handle a MKV file, but the output is real good with a high quality .avi file and I can use the Procoder filters if needed. I thought of handbrake but I thought it only worked with DVD compliant material (VIDEO_TS AUDIO_TS)

Thanks everyone.

[paglamon]

I wish Procoder could handle a MKV file

It can, via AVIsynth script(using Directshow decoder).

[MilesAhead]

I'm just curious. Does anyone know of a muxer that will remux mkv as an avi?

Also I'm curious if anyone has discovered a free converter that converts standard DVD to avi HD ?? I use AutoGK for DVD to avi but it would be neat to try something that spits out 720P.

[paglamon]

Does anyone know of a muxer that will remux mkv as an avi?

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/avc2avi

[MilesAhead]

Thanks paglamon. I just now downloaded from videohelp as the latest update popped up.
I'll give it a shot.

[tibaw4500]

Thanks to Art Vandelay for the concise title/question and thanks to all those who have contributed replies since.

[MilesAhead]

Since Art posted this question I've done a few conversions from .mkv to .avi using Quick Avi Creator:

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/289721-Quick-AVI-Creator

(It's on a software list on this board too but I can never find it except by accident. Must be in the archive or something.)

I'm not as patient as some. I found I could make an .xvid "One Pass Mode" by editing the xvid.presets file and adding a [One Pass Mode] section. Even with one pass mode I find the results very good. If you input say a 1080P .mkv file, and don't edit the .avs script, the output will be the same resolution .avi file. But you can just add Spline16Resize(720,480) line to the .avs to output a standard .avi that should play on .divx stand-alone players. For a 2 hour or less video I usually set the bitrate around 4800 kbit. You get an .avi that will fit on a DVD5. Very nice program.

I think the .mkv output is a bit faster at least on a dual core since the .xvid engine dedicates one thread to reading the input. The x264 engine maxes out my cores.

Both produce nice output even in one pass mode.

[ww927bin]

AutoMKV

[Uriel78]

I use MelodyCan for all of my video converting needs.
The best way to convert mkv to avi))

[happylily]

i am so happy to learn so much from the above posts, thanks for sharing