convert mkv to avi?

[volam1]

Alltoavi can convert mkv to xvid, but it also auto compresses down to 55% of the original video(1.4 gb). This really compromises the quality. Is the another progam that can convert mkv to avi, xvid w/o compressing. Thank you.

[neomaine]

The only way you can avoid re-compressing is if the video in the .mkv is already xvid/divx. Otherwise, no choice. You can use mkvextract to extract the audio and video to put in an .avi container. Use mediainfo to find out the audio/video codecs in use in the .mkv.

[Baldrick]

And if it's not xvid then try something else then alltoavi where you can adjust the quality and bitrate settings like Handbrake.

[creamyhorror]

Are you sure it doesn't allow you to specify a filesize or bitrate? What kind of converter is that?

[usta]

AlltoAvi is a simple converter, but it does allow to set bitrate. I've used it some time ago, then got irritated with it and ditched it...
For mkv to avi video encoding task I pick Handbrake or xvid4psp.

[volam1]

Thanks for all responses. 1/ I fed a 81mb xvid file into alltoavi, set video bitrate at 1000 (maximum), also xvid for the output. the out put was compressed down to 55mb. I think alltoavi is only good to convert dvd to avi knowing that some video quality will be lost.
2/ I tried handbrake and the output is pretty much similar(the output is smaller)- still loose video quality I believe.

I will try mkvextract to extract video and audio. which software will be best to remux them to avi file?

[KBeee]

1000 kbps is not the maximum bitrate AllToAvi can use. You can type in any value you want. 1000 kbps in merely the maximum shown in the drop down box.

[volam1]

inorder to avoid compression and maintain the video quality what bitrate has to be?

[mail2tom]

An alternate solution, though not as simple as a "One Button" approach, can be found at

http://anime.nickistre.net/blog_entry/anime/2007/03/03/mkv_h_264_codec_to_avi_xvid_codec_conversion

Although it does take longer, is more complex, and addresses MKV files that use h264 video, it can be adapted for just about any type of video stream. I've had excellent results using that method.

[creamyhorror]

2/ I tried handbrake and the output is pretty much similar(the output is smaller)- still loose video quality I believe.

Set a higher bitrate or set a higher quality.