MP4 vs M4V vs MKV vs AVI

[shapper]

Hello,

I am encoding my movies (DVD / VOB files).

I would like to use H.264 since I think it has better quality.

Which container should I use?
MP4, M4V, MKV or AVI?

What are the main differences between all of them?

And how audio and subtitles are handled by each container?

Thank You,
Miguel

[Baldrick]

It depends. How are you going to play the video later?

For computer/htpc playback would I use mkv. Open source and free container. You can easily keep the ac3 audio (even if now mp4 supports ac3 does not many converters/muxers supports it yet).

[shapper]

Hi,

I will mostly use WD TV:
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=572&language=en

What would be the best option for this?

But I might in the future see it in PlayStation 3:
http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/video/filetypes.html

And in case I also want to use in PlayStation 3 what should I use?

Thanks,
Miguel

[Baldrick]

I guess mp4 would be better then. Handbrake has good profiles for the ps3. And it should work on the wdtv also.

But I don't think you will be able to use switchable/soft subtitles. MP4 supports it but I doubt that the ps3 supports it.

[shapper]

What is switchable/soft?

Yes, HandBrake is the software I am using ...

[shapper]

I will be using the following:

Format: M4V
Video Codec: H.264
Framerate: Same As Source
Advanced Encoding Settings: 2 Pass Encoding (Turbo First Pass)
Avg Frame Rate: 1800 kbps
Audio Tracks: AC3

Is this ok?

Thanks,
Miguel

[nonoitall]

What is switchable/soft?

Subtitles that can be turned on or off and are not directly rendered onto the video stream.