HELP: Convert MKV to DivX (and more questions!)

[Booklet]

Dearest Videohelp members,

I rarely ever post to fora, because I usually get the job done without asking questions, just searching. However, I have recently decided to do something, which although conceptually VERY simple, has taken me several hours of searching & failure with NO end result, hence the post.

I want to convert a MKV file (MPEG4 video, AC3 audio and subs), to a format that a DivX-compatible DVD player can play. I assume this would be an AVI container and the DivX codec for video and MP3 for audio,right?

Now, HOW do I accomplish this. I have downloaded a zillion converters, ALL of them had at least some kind of issue:

• Could not convert to DivX (no such option)
• Couldn't recognize the file for some reason (e.g. the DivX Converter from the official divx site)
• Crashed (for example ConvertHDtoX launches some other programs, one of them crashes, because "the file is already in use". On another computer, it couldn't recognize file attributes
• Suspicious installers (Super (C), wtf)
• Other issues that don't come to mind right now

2 Questions:
How do I go about making the conversion (what programs and exact procedure if possible, I'm exhausted)
Is there ANY converter that can handle (nearly) all codecs and conversions in-between with any compatible containers? I know I'm asking for too much, but this would put an end to video/codec conversion hell. It's really a mess, and one shouldn't have to learn a new program from scratch for each different conversion

3rd question (bonus): This is unrelated but I see ppl mention that "this or that program does a terrible job at converting" (ie the end result is of terrible quality). Isn't applying an encode/decode process a deterministic action, and as such the same codec in 2 different programs should produce the same result? How can a program encode in MPEG4 (for example) with better quality than another?

Thanks...

[mike20021969]

• Couldn't recognize the file for some reason (e.g. the DivX Converter from the official divx site)

Post mediainfo for the .mkv file you're trying to convert.

DivX 10 recognises two of my random chosen .mkv files (both have AVC video, one has DTS audio, one has AAC audio).

[jman98]

Try Xvid4PSP to do the conversion. It's not difficult to use and there are guides on the internet. I feel sure it will meet your needs. I use it from time to time for converting to Divx (actually Xvid, but it's close enough) and I love it.

That damn "The file is already in use" thing is a Windows bug. If Xvid4PSP gives you problems. too, you'll have to research how to fix it. It's been a while since I've done it so I don't remember the steps, but what it took to fix it was fairly ridiculous.

With regards to your excellent 3rd question, a lot of people use tools that do serious hand holding so the tool itself decides on the bit rates and other settings that it uses. Some tools use crappy settings or crappy encoders so there can be some variation. I recommend that you NOT use Divx Converter. It has almost no user settings you can change and is really intended for people far below your level of expertise.

[dfisher052]

Format Factory works for me.

[Booklet]

Thanks for the replies.

I only do this because I have a friend that would like to play movies on a DVD player. So quality is not that important (It'll be SD anyway, and other artifacts may not be noticed)

I wouldn't want to use the DivX converter, as it's one program that does one thing, which is terribly inefficient. BTW I'm talking about the "official" Divx converter from the "official" DivX website (current version: 10), not some other tool that may be hosted here under a similar name.

I believe DivX is a proprietary codec and therefore it must be licensed to software developers, is that correct? If so that would explain the general lack of "convert to DivX" options.

I think the Dvd player will not handle Xvid formats, so that it out of the question.

I am now trying Format Factory, I'm in the middle of the conversion. Also, seems to handle many formats & conversions and is multi-threaded which is excellent. I'll report back soon

[Booklet]

Just to make sure:

To write a DivX DVD disc (a DVD disc that will play on a DivX compatible player) all I do is, create a data DVD and just throw the .avi file (encoded with DivX) in the root folder? Or is there a different protocol that I have to follow?

Thanks

[Booklet]

I am now facing a different problem alltogether: The DVD player does not recognize the discs I put in. It says "Bad disc". This happens with any and all formats that I've been trying on a TDK DVD+RW. This is surprising because:
1) TDK is supposed to be a quality brand
2) DVD+RW is explicitly supported in the DVD player's manual.

The model is a Philips DVP3040/12. I can't even try a firmware update because it just won't read from the disc. I also tried a CD-RW and the same problem appeared (also of TDK brand). It plays commercial DVDs just fine though.

I understand that this is an entirely different problem from the one this thread started, but does anybody have any suggestions, aside from throwing the damn thing in the garbage?

[sanlyn]

1) TDK is supposed to be a quality brand

It isn't. hasn't been for years. Outsourced garbage.

Could be your player's optical drive is developing problems.

[jman98]

The ONLY good quality RW discs made are Verbatim. That is it. Period. EVERYTHING else is garbage. Taiyo Yuden doesn't make RW discs at all, which should tell you what they think of the format. Throw out your TDK discs and replace them with Verbatim.

A long time ago (5 years? 7 years? Longer?) TDK was using Taiyo Yuden to make their DVD discs, but they were among the very first of the major brand names to switch to cheap CMC made junk and various other low cost, low quality manufacturers. For a while TDK did continue to use TY made DVD media, but ONLY for the Japanese market. Almost forgot - for 1 or 2 years after they switched to low quality manufacturers for DVD media sold in North America, they did continue to use TY to make their European branded DVDs, but that hasn't been true for years now. I have no idea what they are currently selling in Japan, but the odds are that it's not TY made discs and for sure everywhere else in the world, all their discs are crap and have been for years.

[Booklet]

Heh, didn't know that. I thought they were still using TY.
Whatever

Is there any consensus on this forum about a quality DVD media brand? I'll keep an eye on Verbatim (they were high on my list too).

As for my previous issues, I actually found another DVD+RW (again from TDK) that DOES get recognized! The only apparent difference is that this one (the one that is recognized) is rated at 4x in contrast to the previous 8x. And a different packaging. I'm pretty sure they're a newer batch though.

Now my player says that it doesn't support HD (for the DivX file I wrote using Format Factory). According to media info, the resolution is 856x480, not HD, but out of bounds of the "standard" DVD resolution, so I'm gonna re-burn another file with proper settings.

[dfisher052]

As a rule A standard definition DVD player will play up to a maximum of 720X480 NTSC (U.S.) or 720X576 (pal). Anything higher will require a BluRay player. There may be acceptions, but if there are I don't know what they would be, but if you are converting video's this is a good rule to bear in mind.

[Booklet]

OK, I've run MANY tests on this DVD player - probably wasn't worth the time but anyway.

It does NOT play Divx video, no matter the resolution. I created a proper, DVD-resolution file (720X480), and a shitty quality low-res file, didn't play any of them, even though it explicitly states that it's Divx compatible in the manual. It recognizes both the .avi and .divx extension.

Now, there was no mention of Xvid in the manual, yet the player DOES play Xvid files (720X480 res)! However, playback is buggy here too, because I must select the file to play, press stop, return to menu, then play the file again, otherwise it won't start.

Note: I tried to update the firmware. It didn't work even though I followed the manufacturer's instructions to the letter. Tried more than once, too.

I consider my problem solved (ie crappy DVD-player), however I have two last questions to settle if possible:

1) What brand of CD/DVD-RW media would you consider most reliable? I do not want to waste time due to crap media ever again.

2) If DVD-Player "A" supports Divx ==> It also supports Xvid ? These codecs seem to go hand in hand, yet also be different

Thank you