Converting mkv files to avi

peil

I need to convert a bunch of mkv files so that I can play them on my Xbox.
I tried AlltoAVI, but it seems to stop converting about 1/4 the way through each file, and I have tried individually as well as a batch convert.

Ideally I need a converter which will let me pick which audio stream to work with as well.

useless4

If you have an intel mac I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Handbrake SVN 64bit.
And I would do mpeg4 level 3 h.264 as a format, not AVI.
It will be smaller, efficient and cross platform compatible.

peil

Thanks, but I'm on a PC.
Will consider trying mpeg, haven't really done this kind of thing before

Bionic Monkey

Check out XenonMKV. It converts to MP4, which depending on how you stream to your Xbox will work, and if it doesn't, you can simply rename them .AVI which will make them work (don't ask me why, I just know it does).

Don't think it lets you work with audio streams though.

pacbowl

I use Super. It can handle pretty much anything you can throw at it and is very configurable. The actual download link can be hard to find and is at the bottom. He makes you go through a couple pages for the download.

Blake T

PS3 media server (depsite being named this) will stream MKV files on the fly to the xbox.

It's a bit finicky with choosing audio but it's the easiest solution.

Shurakai

GOTsent was made with this express purpose in mind. Also if the file is too big to fit on to a fat32 device it automagically splits it for you. Dont re-encode unless you are baking subtitles, as it takes much, much longer to process.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/GOTSent

Local H Jay

i'm not positive, but won't VLC player convert files? and if you don't have VLC how on earth do you watch your [strike]amputee[/strike] porn?

peil

I had a look at VLC player and it only does the conversion in real time - which ould take a while.

I appear to have a working solution(albeit a bit roundabout) using MKVMerge to strip out the unwanted language and subtitle steams, and then running the output through Super (as recommended above).

Thanks for everyones suggestions, mods can lock this now.