Thread: Format Converter

Peter no need to convert, here's 2 great free players that I use for playing .mkv files. They also handle ALL other movie files, with no need for codec download.

GOM Player GOM
VLC Media Player VideoLAN - VLC: Free streaming and multimedia solutions for all OS!

Some cheap DVD players in Lotus can play .mkv too, I got one not long ago. Just need a usb input on the dvd, then just plug the stick into the dvd player and watch.

Thanks Scando, Have not seen a DVD/USb player that can handle .mkv. Most of the BBC stuff incl F1 is in mkv now, so it would be handy to have one, converted files just loose quality.

Try the Daum PotPlayer

Plenty of settings to mess around with. It's played everything I've thrown at it.
From PotPlayer x86/x64 (aka "KMPlayer Reloaded") ...in english now! - Doom9's Forum

It works w/ madVR/HR/EVR and Reclock of course...it's a much improved/faster version of KMP, including ffdshow and some other stuff to connect to a Korean video network.
It supports seamless playback(up to 1000 -one thousand- AVI/WMV/MKV/MPG files at once, mixed containers are allowed), auto-resume on all previously opened files, has fully configurable skin files(written in XML) and also a D3D exclusive mode
You can always get the latest x86 english translated beta from here(thank you so much to the translators, without whom none of this would be happening ): http://www.dvbsupport.net/download/i...ct=view&id=230
and the latest x64 beta from there: http://www.dvbsupport.net/download/i...ct=view&id=236
Older betas are available here: Latest Version of Daum PotPlayer - DVB Software (registration required, but you can also subscribe to their thread for instant software update email notifications )
The latest changelog can always be found here: DVB Support - PotPlayer
There's a big pack of skins available here: http://good.gd/372905.htm

Buy one of these puppies:

brite-View | Multi Format Media Player | Digital Life Solutions

Plays everything I've thrown at it, including Matroska's up to 20Gb in size.

Confused exactly is that damn box? Looks like a hard drive of sorts.

Originally Posted by Rascal

Confused exactly is that damn box? Looks like a hard drive of sorts.

It's a media player.

It will play just about anything.

It plugs into your network, and can download torrents directly (LEGAL ONES OF COURSE).

It can play files off other PCs in your home network.

It will play files off USB storage devices (Hard Disks, flash drives).

1080p HDMI output straight to your HD TV.

Best value I've seen in this market, and it updates online as well (and they appear to keep it updated).

But as far as I can see not available in Thailand, they do ship to OZ tho, maybe can arrange something from there

They sell similar kinds of things in Thailand, but they are more expensive, and the manufacturers go out of business by the bucketload, so you tend never to get firmware updates and the likes.

I don't get it. Is EMS from the US to Thailand that unreliable?

Originally Posted by peterpan

For some reason (Geeky) uploaders are using the MKV format more widely, apart from the PC there is nothing I can play them on so they have to be converted, takes a long time even when I turn every thing else off. Any help with the best pref free converter to AVI or MP4

This one rocks. Free of any bs.

Video Converter Ultimate- DVD Video Converter, Video to DVD Burner

Originally Posted by dexter

]


This one rocks. Free of any bs.

Right

VLC plays MKV and is truly no bs.

Camel Toe has it right - if you want to play it on the PC, use VLC.

But if you want something that can play media around your house, to your sound system or your TV, I recommend the Briteview .

I use both.

Either way you don't have to convert.

By the way, the best converter, if you know your way around formats, is free:

SUPER &copy

I think finding the download link is part of the aptitude test.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I think finding the download link is part of the aptitude test.

You are so right. That's the most tricky part.

Changing formats or ripping the audio and burning to CD/VCD my wife now manages without help (usually).

I've been looking at one of these The Xtreamer

How is it a Russian format is making an entrance? I know they rip very well and often but why would they choose an off-the-wall-format? Something wrong with MP4 and avi?

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

How is it a Russian format is making an entrance? I know they rip very well and often but why would they choose an off-the-wall-format? Something wrong with MP4 and avi?

And here's your answer:

Q: What are the advantages of matroska compared to AVI ?
A: The AVI container was originally introduced by Microsoft in the early 90s, and was designed as a very flexible A/V container format for the video and audio compression formats of those days. It is necessary to understand that AVI is only one ( but important ) part of a complete multimedia framework called 'Video For Windows' ( VfW ), offering programmers not only a container but also a complete set of API commands to be able to program their own video and audio codecs, using either the VfW or the ACM interface ( this was back from the days when Microsoft was still dedicated to sell their operating systems to people, instead of multimedia solutions as they are trying to do today with WMV, so they had to make their OS attractive to other programmers ).
Unfortunately this VfW framework cannot support many of the more advanced features that modern audio and video compression formats will offer, such as Variable Bitrate audio encoding ( VBR ), or Variable Framerate video encoding ( VFR ). Although AVI was extended with an additional standard called 'Open DML AVI' in the mid/late 90s, overcoming most of its very annoying limitations like the 2 GB file size limit, there is still no proper and spec compliant way to support modern compression formats like the excellent, opensource Ogg Vorbis audio compression format.

Matroska has overcome all those limitations and can support all known audio and video compression formats by design. To make sure it will also be capable of coping with the future standards it is based on a very flexible underlying framework called EBML, allowing to add more functionalities to the container format without breaking backwards compatibility with older softwares and files.

Originally Posted by BigRed

I've been looking at one of these The Xtreamer

I have an Xtreamer, works very well, plays everything I poke at it and streams effortlessly over my wifi....money well spent.

I have an 8TB Drobo connected to my laptop downstairs, which is wifi connected.

I have a wireless bridge in my bedroom and the Briteview plugged into that and HDMI into the 52" LED. I have a 2TB plugged into the Briteview also.

Can play off either, Matroskas at 1080p or anything else for that matter.

And I'm still running out of disk space.



Oh, and a Logitech Harmony Remote for all of it. Saves having all those bleeding remotes to lose down the back of the sofa.

Try using a freeware called Switch. If i remember correctly, it should able to convert mkv as well.