Better to transcode or get a media player?

[sampalmer21]

Now that there are so many options to view mkv, divx and avi files such as Blu Ray players with MKV support (LG BD370/390) and media players like the WD TV, is it really worth it to convert your content to BD/AVCHD compatible files and author them or is it more worthwhile to play them as is?

The way I see it, authoring your assets allows you to add menus, include subtitles and possibly have better video quality if the direct show decoder is better at decoding than the media/blu ray player.

What's you opinion? Pros and Cons of either?

[redwudz]

Converting will always cause some quality loss, so I wouldn't convert anything unless it was required for your playback. If all you have is a set top DVD player, then you may need to convert to DVD format. If you have a higher quality file, above DVD standards, then use a better player.

A BD player can also play DVDs, though not usually that many other formats. That's where a HTPC may be the best option. It should be able to play about anything with no conversions, and use multiple players with lots of playback options and settings. Next, on my list anyway, is a box like the WD Live that can play most formats, including some HD types. Not as versatile as a HTPC, but a lot cheaper.

If you want assets like menus, chapters and the like, then DVD or BD formats may be a better choice. It depends on the quality of your files. BD quality reduced to DVD quality will just be DVD quality. No advantage there. DVD quality converted to BD formats won't give you better quality, more usually lower quality because of the conversion.

[fritzi93]

Another vote for HTPC. It's the most versatile alternative.

I make BD 5/9 discs, just for the Blu-Ray set-top in the living room TV the wife uses. Don't care for menus, although chapters are convenient. So I keep videos on the HTPC in that format as well and play them with TME. I've only ever made a few MKVs.

The owners of the WD media player generally have nothing but good things to say about it.

[jman98]

You can certainly have subtitles in MKV files. It's not like you have to have a menu to access them. I have the first generation WD player and in my opinion it's not worth the time and trouble to convert from MKV just so my BluRay player can play it. I have a minority opinion on this too, but I think that menus are horribly overrated and sometimes unnecessary. If you disagree, that's fine. That's just how I see it.

[cal_tony]

I agree with everything jman98 said.

Also, with disk space being so cheap,I don't reconvert anything for my WD player. It seems to play everything but Iso.
I find menus to be an inconvenience and if I want chapters from a BD I use Clown BD and just split each chapter out as a separate .ts

I have a PS3 that's great for disks so I don't think I'll be getting a BD player just to play stuff from the USB port.

Tony

[jman98]

Also, with disk space being so cheap,I don't reconvert anything for my WD player. It seems to play everything but Iso.

The WD player will play DVDs in ISOs. I have personally tested this just for the heck of it as I was curious if it worked. I don't keep video in ISO format, but I had an ISO handy of a DVD rip that I could use for testing. Other formats inside of an ISO may not work though.

[cal_tony]

jman98,
I have read so many posts in the large Wd player thread that indicated the WD would play DVDs in ISO. However, mine will not. When I tried there was a popup stating It would not play that type of file and that I should use the included conversion software to convert the file to another format. In reviewing my manual no mention is made of playing ISO.

My assumption, since everything else works, is that they recently changed the firmware. Maybe I'll try it with a few more to see if I can get it to work.

Tony