Converting MKVs to MP4: Would This Decrease File Size?

Nic

The hassle of re-encoding stuff is generally not worth it. I'd say just download mp4 versions of everything and that would save you time. Either way, with storage being so cheap I wouldn't bother with either.

Same goes for mkv its an open source wrapper - mainly used by apple.

Well apparently even iTunes doesn't use mkv anymore haha. But anyway most likely they are both going to be H.264. You could lower bit rate with something like Mpegstream clip or hand break.

Nic

Good thread here on the differences: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2295992

scottalanmiller

I've switched between them and nothing changes at all. Since the codec doesn't change, there is really no advantage. MP4 is the only one still used of the two, I believe.

scottalanmiller

Handbreak them and change the size of the file that way.

thanksajdotcom

@scottalanmiller said:

Handbreak them and change the size of the file that way.

That's what I'm hearing overall.

Nic

MKV is still used a lot - it's a more versatile container.

Dashrender

What makes one container better than another?

thanksajdotcom

@Dashrender said:

What makes one container better than another?

That's also one of my questions.

thanksajdotcom

Compatibility, especially cross-platform, I'm guessing.

Dashrender

@thanksajdotcom said:

Compatibility, especially cross-platform, I'm guessing.

I'd like a bit more information than that..

Compatibility. Mp4 is more compatbible. Almost all non theather release deliverables are done in the mp4 wrapper. The only down side is it requires a licsence to use it. Mkv is open source but not well adopted.

Nic

MKV is pretty well adopted in piracy circles

@Nic said:

MKV is pretty well adopted in piracy circles

So now we know where AJ got these torrent-ed files..

JaredBusch

@thecreativeone91 said:

@Nic said:

MKV is pretty well adopted in piracy circles

So now we know where AJ got these torrent-ed files..

Already known as he has posted about it blatantly more than once.

coliver

@Nic said:

MKV is pretty well adopted in piracy circles

I've gotten MKVs from some legitimate sources... but since it is a FOSS alternative it is being used to package a lot of pirated media.

tonyshowoff

I answered this on Spiceworks already, but for the sake of cross posting since you did, I will say again: get a new drive, lowering quality is always a terrible idea, you can't go from lossy to lossy without destroying quality.

thanksajdotcom

@Nic said:

MKV is pretty well adopted in piracy circles

This is true...quite true.

scottalanmiller

@tonyshowoff said:

I answered this on Spiceworks already, but for the sake of cross posting since you did, I will say again: get a new drive, lowering quality is always a terrible idea, you can't go from lossy to lossy without destroying quality.

More like brutally destroying the quality.