convert mkv to avi or dvd

[robotica71]

Been trying to convert mkv files to avi or dvd using virtualdub and having no luck.Is there any other freeware i can use?

[zoobie]

try Xvid4PSP

[guns1inger]

AVStoDVD for DVD conversion. Xvid4PSP for AVI

[Baldrick]

MKV2AVI for MKV to AVI.

[robotica71]

Thanks.Tried xvid4psp,video converted fine but the audio is out of sync by about 3 seconds.Will try mkv2avi.

[robotica71]

Used mkv2avi.The sound is in sync but the framerate has dropped and theres also a lot of artefacts!.

[guns1inger]

Post a mediainfo tree output of the avi file.

Artifacts are usually a symptom of using too low a bitrate

[miniboss91]

Hey, I wrote up a tutorial, if you will, as a reply to a question in this forum section. I've been fighting with this for a little while now, with different .MKV files that I have, and a lot of trial and error and experimentation, has gone into my method. Granted it is a more time consuming process than others, it's got a few steps. But I've been getting good results, consistently. I wanted my end result to be dvd. I found it best to first use a media player that will playback the .MKV file smoothly. I've been using KMplayer or GOMplayer, then use the audio capture function in either program to capture the audio track, while the video is playing, in real time. In .WAV format (GOM Player), or .WAV, or .MP3 160kbps(KMPlayer). then you end up with an audio file that will be remuxed later. Demux the video from the audio with MKVextractGUI, so you end up with a raw video file, usually with an .H264 extension, you really don't need the raw audio part. Then open the raw video in a program called "dgavcdec109", and save project. That will give you a file with an .DGA extension. Then create a basic avisynth script so you can open it in virtualdub, or virtualdubMod. You have to make a reference to a file in the folder containing a .dll file for "dgavcdec109".

sample avisynth template:

LoadPlugin("...\DGAVCDecode.dll")
AVCSource("mystream.dga")

You wite it with a text editor, like notepad, and HAS TO be saved as an .AVS file. The "...\" is the path where the .DLL file is located. Same thing goes for the second line, after the first ", you enter the full path of the .DGA file, then the actual name of the file with ".DGA" at the end. NOTE: You have to download and install all the programs I mentioned, they are all legit freeware, not warez, so it's ok.

If you've written the script correctly, you will be able to open it in virtualdub. Personally, I prefer to resize the video within the .AVS script, a sample resize script is:

LanczosResize(720,390)

You have to do some math to figure out proper aspect ratio. Depending on if it needs to be resized. My samples were all 1280 x ###, so they needed to be resized. Anyway, if not, less work. I re-encode to XVID. I try to create an .AVI file that's as close to original quality as possible, so when I go to turn it into a dvd, it has a good source to start from, that's why I didn't care how big the resulting .AVI file was, min, 2gb. So I cranked up the bitrate of the video. Set the encoder to "fast recompress" and under Audio streams, add the audio file you created earlier, and set it for "direct stream". Save the file, and when it's done you will have an .AVI file with sound that should be in sync ready to be used as a source to create a dvd.

I apologize if it's a little hard to follow, I'm still experimenting, it's an ongoing process. I'm not very good at explaining "How to". I hope this helps anyway.

[creamyhorror]

I re-encode to XVID. I try to create an .AVI file that's as close to original quality as possible, so when I go to turn it into a dvd, it has a good source to start from, that's why I didn't care how big the resulting .AVI file was, min, 2gb.

Why are you re-encoding to XviD then again to DVD? Aren't you just destroying the video quality? Why not just create a DVD directly?

To create a DVD from any video input source, use AVStoDVD. It's all been automated for you, all the resizing and codec configuration.

[stewiegriffin711]

I've used this method with 100% success rate and the video looks great.

1) If you have subtitles and you want to keep them, use MKVcleaver to extract the subtitle.

2) Use DVDflick on the mkv file and if you want to add a subtitle, Cilck on Edit Title from the menu and add the subtitle and let DVDflick do it's job.

This is as simple as it gets with a mkv file.

[robotica71]

No i said that i wanted to convert into dvd or avi.Avs to dvd is not freeware!.Does anyone know if the sumvision cyclone plays mkv files?

[olyteddy]

No i said that i wanted to convert into dvd or avi.Avs to dvd is not freeware!.Does anyone know if the sumvision cyclone plays mkv files?

AVStoDVD is. (not to be confused with http://www.avs4you.com/AVS-Video-Converter.aspx?type=GoogleAdWordsSearch&gclid=CMCqgLq...FR4Wawod1CBA0w the forum spamming payware).

[miniboss91]

I would use dvdflick, but it's giving me grief. The video seems to freeze at chapter points. From what I've read, it's a codec issue, I don't feel like uninstalling all of them and reinstalling a good codec pak. To burn dvd's I use Nero vision, it works well with an avi file as the source. It says you can use mkv files, but it crashes. I've tried to include audio in the avs script, but the video plays very slowly, but when I mux the audio into the video to create an avi file, the resulting video plays fine. I've also used my method with great success, which means there is more than 1 right way to do this.

[guns1inger]

I use AVStoDVD to do this frequently with no issues. It is free, relatively simple once you get past the initial configuration, and does a good job. ConvertxtoDVD also work well with mkv files. I wouldn't use Nero for anything other than burning data discs, and because it is way to big and bloated to justify installing for such a simple task, it really has no role any more. There are far better free tools.

[miniboss91]

I'm going to try AVStoDVD, and see how it goes. I'm always up for learning something new, but I usually do things the hard way first. I'll let you know how it works out.

[miniboss91]

since I'm here, I'll ask. According to the file input types, I can use an MKV file as input, the MKV files I'm working with are all 1280 x ###. Do I need to resize the input , or can I leave it as is? Also, are there sync issues with the audio? Thanks.

[guns1inger]

I have never had sync issues.

What are you creating ?

If you have a DVD player and want a DVD output then yes, you have to resize. DVD is standard definition only (720 x 480 - NTSC, 720 x 576 - PAL : see What is DVD - top left corner - for other allowed resolutions), so any files you convert will be resized for compliance. (Note: You don't have to resize them, AVStoDVD will do that for you)

If you have a bluray player then you might look at MultiAVCHD, and create AVCHD structures for burning to standard DVD blanks. These can be played on PS3s and many bluray players, but not DVD players.

[miniboss91]

THANK YOU, that's what I wanted to know. All this conversion business is a learning process, I had a feeling that the authoring program, should resize to output for standard DVD compliance, regardless of input, but I wasn't 100% sure. the only thing is encoding may take longer, because there is more data to go through. What I'm trying to do, is to create a fantastic quality NTSC standard dvd from an HD source, that I can't mention in this forum, that would be equal to or better than a regular standard dvd.

Thanks.

[miniboss91]

I'm in the process of encoding with avstodvd, using the HCenc encoder. That's an avi file as the source. 5+ hours later and still not finished. Nero may be "bloated", but it can do the same job in around 3 hours, that's encoded and burned to disc. The results I've gotten are decent. Even dvdflick would do it in less time, but it's giving me grief, so... I'm sure the results will be decent, but 5+hours? I did notice the quality setting is set for best, is that why it's taking so long? I just used the default settings.

[guns1inger]

You have a very slow computer and are using a high quality encoder. Quality takes time, especially on a system like yours. If you are happy with Nero, use it by all means, however as you have discovered, it doesn't work very well in a lot of cases.

You want faster results, invest in hardware.

[AlanHK]

I just use an AVS script like this:

DirectShowSource("A803.mkv", fps=23.976, convertfps=true)
ConvertToYV12()
EnsureVBRMP3sync()
LanczosResize(704,480).AddBorders(8,0,8,0)
AmplifydB(3.95)

You can open that in Vdub.

I give it to HCEnc to make DVD compatible Mpeg video, and use wavi to stream the audio into Aften to make AC3.
The "fps" options and EnsureVBRMP3sync() all together keep it in sync, may not be necessary in all cases but don't hurt.

[robotica71]

Using avstodvd to convert the mkv file.The file has embedded utf-8 subtitles,which i dont need.Is there a way i can remove them?

General
Complete name : K:\converted films\mkv files\moon.mkv
Format : Matroska
File size : 4.37 GiB
Duration : 1h 37mn
Overall bit rate : 6 441 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2009-11-16 13:24:23
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.9.8 ('C'est le bon') built on Aug 13 2009 12:49:06
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Muxing mode : Container profile=Unknown@4.1
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 37mn
Bit rate : 4 803 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 4 931 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 528 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.40:1
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.296
Stream size : 3.26 GiB (74%)
Writing library : x264 core 79 r1342 e8501ef
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=1 / wpredp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=4931 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Audio
ID : 2
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 1h 37mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 24 bits
Stream size : 1.02 GiB (23%)

Text
ID : 3
Format : UTF-8
Codec ID : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info : UTF-8 Plain Text