Whirlpool

I've got a 720p *.mkv video on my computer and I'd like to watch it on my TV which has a DivX player that plays most of the *.avi s i've thrown at it.

I presume it won't be able to play my *.mkv? If so, what's the best way of getting it to work? Converting? If so, what would I use?

Also it's a 4.91GB MKV so i'd have to put it on one of my dual-layer DVDs, that should be fine though right, because other DVD movies are on dual-layers?

Claire Bennet writes...

Also it's a 4.91GB MKV so i'd have to put it on one of my dual-layer DVDs, that should be fine though right, because other DVD movies are on dual-layers?

All DVD players would be able to read dual layer DVDs so it should be able to read the dual layer DVD. But i don't think the Divx player will be able to read .mkv files.

Claire Bennet writes...

I presume it won't be able to play my *.mkv? If so, what's the best way of getting it to work? Converting? If so, what would I use?

You might be able to try Any Video Converter Free which is able to convert MKV to AVI in Divx or Xvid. That's if the Divx player doesn't support .mkv files.
http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/

I'm checking that out now, I'll convert something see how it goes. I wonder why 720p/1080p videos are in *.mkv instead of *.avi?

Claire Bennet writes...

720p/1080p

That's why!

:D

If your divx player cannot play mkv, it is likely that it wont be able to play an avi in 720p. So converting it probably won't work.

Matroska (mkv) is a container for video and audio, much like audio-video-interleave (avi). mkv has become the standard in the Scene for 720p/1080p encoded video.

You can try converting the MKV to DVD format and burning it onto a dual layer DVD blank. I was able to do that by downloading the latest version of k-lite mega codec pack and latest version of ConvertXToDVD. My MKV video file was about 1.5gb so I burnt it on single layer DVD but ConvertXToDVD should be able to convert and burn it to dual layer DVD as well.

HaloHunter writes...

If your divx player cannot play mkv, it is likely that it wont be able to play an avi in 720p.

The only way may to be convert and resized to Xvid 720x576. I have most of my videos that format because my media player can only play standard SD video and doesn't support x264.

Claire Bennet writes...

I presume it won't be able to play my *.mkv? If so, what's the best way of getting it to work?

.mkv files are Matroska, have you installed the codec?

Matroska Codec Pack

Cheers :)

Edit: link fixed

HaloHunter writes...

Matroska (mkv) is a container for video and audio, much like audio-video-interleave (avi). mkv has become the standard in the Scene for 720p/1080p encoded video.

Yup. But why *.MKV over *.AVI ?

Le Dude writes...

.mkv files are Matroska, have you installed the codec?

Haali Matroska

Cheers :)

I can play them fine on my computer using VLC player, I'm trying to play it on a DVD DivX player.

Claire Bennet writes...

Yup. But why *.MKV over *.AVI ?

From what I know MKV is higher quality in smaller size. If it was AVI format and same high quality then the AVI file would be higher file size (double/triple) then the original MKV file

Claire Bennet writes...

I can play them fine on my computer using VLC player, I'm trying to play it on a DVD DivX player.

You can try converting the MKV to DVD format and burning it onto a dual layer DVD blank. I was able to do that by downloading the latest version of k-lite mega codec pack and latest version of ConvertXToDVD. My MKV video file was about 1.5gb so I burnt it on single layer DVD but ConvertXToDVD should be able to convert and burn it to dual layer DVD as well.

Claire Bennet writes...

I wonder why 720p/1080p videos are in *.mkv instead of *.avi?

Two main reasons are:
1. because they typically use x264 rather than xvid/divx, which can't be (sensibly) stuffed in an avi
2. because they're not playable on standalone devices anyway, so there's no cost of dropping ancient avi format

If so, what's the best way of getting it to work? Converting?

Yeah converting to Xvid with resize to SD resolution. Depending on audio track you might need to convert it to mp3 as well.

You really need a High Definition media player and a HD tv to display 720p / 1080p videos.

The only other way to get it display on the Divx player is to convert and resize to Xvid 720x576 which is Standard Definition.

One of the most confusing things you will ever get into is multimedia formats, codecs and how different devices use them. You can waste a lot of time getting a file such as a 720P mkv which I assume has x264 inside it to an avi.

You could do it. I would suggest you find someone on the net that has exactly your device and then use the setting they use to recode it. Testing is going to take a long time too cause your job is going to have to not only change from mkv to avi but recode as well. (hours).

here are two forums which will help you...the first being the best.

http://forum.doom9.org/index.php
http://forums.afterdawn.com/

I would suggest you buy a cord and connect your computer to your tv.

Claire Bennet writes...

I've got a 720p *.mkv video on my computer

it's a 4.91GB MKV

just out of curiosity, is this its filename?

beijing.olympics.2008.opening.ceremony.720p.hdtv.x264-orenji.mkv

Claire Bennet writes...

I wonder why 720p/1080p videos are in *.mkv instead of *.avi?

Different codecs are used to store them ...

720p/1080p is compressed using H.264 because it is about 25% better quality for size then XviD (which is generally used for downloaded .AVI's) ...

There are tools that will do .MKV -> .AVI, but they generally aren't that easy to use ... your best bet might actually be to use something like DVDFlick or ConvertXtoDVD to just copy it across to DVD format (and not worry about .AVI or XviD) ...

I use MeGUI for any .MKV (H264) to .AVI (XviD), but it is complicated and quite difficult to learn, however if you are keen, follow these steps!

- Download and install MeGUI and Avisynth (both are needed).
- Open MeGUI and let it auto-update
- Click "Tools" and select "Avisynth Script Creator"
- Alongside "Video Input" click the three dots "...", and select the .MKV file
- Make sure "crop" is unticked, and "resize" is ticked (and tick "suggest resolution", it keeps the aspect ratio in check)
- Reduce the first "resize" number to 704 (that should automatically adjust the second number to somewhere around 400)
- Down the bottom left, tick "On save close and load to be encoded", and then click "Save" and give it a filename.
- Under "Encoder settings", select the "XviD: Xvid 2pass HQ (no Qpel)"
- File format should be "AVI"
- In the "Audio" section, click the three dots "..." alongside "Audio Input"
- Select the .MKV file you are converting
- Under "Encoder Settings" select "LAME MP3: MP3-128ABR"
- Then click on "AutoEncode" down the bottom right
- When the "Auto Encode" window comes up, select "AVI" for "Container"
- Click on "No target size (use profile setting)"
- Then click "Queue"
- In the "Queue" tab, down the bottom left, click "Start" and let it run

Good luck,
Tek