Anyone know of free software to convert MKV files to MP4? To play on the surface

[Highdefjunkie]

To play on the surface

 

[Digital Moe]

I am using this Convert MKV to MP4 with FREE MKV to MP4 Converter for Windows till I find something better, it is lightweight and just changes the container not converts the file so only takes about 20-30 for a 20-30 minute video.

 

[neova333]

mkv2vob Forums takes just a few seconds to make a mkv file playable, be sure to select "transcode dts" in options. Another option Is HandBrake if you're short on space, this can do a more thorough conversion and convert the audio to stereo or w/e making the file size significantly smaller. Obviously this will take much longer to do.

Edit: mobile.HD in the windows store will play back MKV files, right now it does not support DTS but the developer says it'll come in a future update. It costs $2.45 but you can try before you buy and make sure it works with your files (worked great with all of my mkv's, minus the ones with DTS audio of course).

 

[Highdefjunkie]

MK2VOB works wonderfully! Thanks!

 

[Digital Moe]

Edit: mobile.HD in the windows store will play back MKV files, right now it does not support DTS but the developer says it'll come in a future update. It costs $2.45 but you can try before you buy and make sure it works with your files (worked great with all of my mkv's, minus the ones with DTS audio of course).

That is a good spot I just downloaded the trial version and played a MKV which ran silky smooth, it is a heft download though at 358MB I wonder what makes the app so big.

Edit: It even plays mkv files that are stored on my desktop over the LAN, although I got the message about not being able to play a DTS track even though I am pretty sure the files is a DD one.

 

[mrmprince]

Vuze is good too

 

[tomm1ed]

[...]
. Another option Is HandBrake if you're short on space, this can do a more thorough conversion and convert the audio to stereo or w/e making the file size significantly smaller. Obviously this will take much longer to do.
[...]

My vote definitively goes to HandBrake. Easy to use and on modern CPU more than fast enough

 

[addicusbrown]

I came to say Handbrake also.

 

[StevesBalls]

Second the Handbrake recommendation. That is if you really want to transcode, which in most case you really need to do only with the AC3/DTS audio part as you already have H.264 video in the MKV file.

And if you ever need to do some simple editing, there is Avidemux.

 

[Mark_Venture]

Not Free, but relatively cheap... DVD Catalyst 4 from -> Home of DVD Catalyst 4 - convert fast and easy AVI DVD MKV to Bionic Droid iPad3 iPhone4 iPod Touch4 Iconica Innotab Galaxy Tab Nabi Playbook Transformer Prime Thrive Vita Xoom XyBoard and more
It does a great job.

 

[power5]

Handbrake. I have not transcoded on my new 2600k system, but on my old e4300 @3.4ghz I was transcoding a 1.5 hour movie in approximately 1.5 hours. I was able to use the queueing list and transcode all the movies on my server in a couple weeks. My CPU was begging for a vacation after that.

 

[msdugn]

To play on the surface

While the other suggestions are great - my personal favorite is Handbrake (there's nothing it can't convert, it has a great interface, and it's FREE).

But while Handbrake does conversions for me, I use the mobile.HD app to play my MKV files natively either from my local SD drive or streaming from my home network. Check it out before you spend a ton of time converting files that the right app can play natively. I love mobile.HD.

 

[SteelSteve]

Not Free, but relatively cheap... DVD Catalyst 4 from -> Home of DVD Catalyst 4 - convert fast and easy AVI DVD MKV to Bionic Droid iPad3 iPhone4 iPod Touch4 Iconica Innotab Galaxy Tab Nabi Playbook Transformer Prime Thrive Vita Xoom XyBoard and more
It does a great job.

Another vote for DVD Catalyst.

 

[TeknoBlast]

I gave up on looking for a free converter, so I purchased DVD Catalyst for 9.99. I'm glad I bought this because it can convert files to each specific devices.

 

[Jrexxx]

Handbrake is by far the best converter I have ever used! It's open source and free

 

[AR2186]

I've spent the past few months working with different tools for backing up my blu ray collection, and settled on a combination of MakeMKV to rip the blu rays to the HD and then Handbrake to convert the MKV to M4V. Handbrake is by far the best video encoding tool, as it allows the most options and works very quickly. I probably average 45-60 minutes per encode of full 1080p blu-ray with passthrough audio and/or dolby digital 5.1 encoded audio (using a core i7-3770). If you need any help on creating the right encode profile, PM me and I can try to create a good one to test on my Surface.

 

[Guzzler3]

Here is a FREE MKV to MP4 converter: MKVToMP4 It works great if the video is already H.264 and the audio is AAC/AC3, it just dumps the contents from the MKV and repacks into MP4 (goes quickly).

If... the audio/video is in another format, it will try to transcode the files to H.264 and AACorAC3, but it takes awhile. If that's the case, I recommend using Handbrake.

 

[mattcald]

Another vote for Handbrake.

I use DVD Fab(the free decode only option) to decode my DVD's, and then handbrake to convert them to MP4. That way the files play on both my Surface RT, and my kids Kindles.

 

[berty6294]

This might be a dumb question... but why on earth do people even use these stupid formats. Can't they just use avi wmv or mp4 to begin with?

 

[AR2186]

This might be a dumb question... but why on earth do people even use these stupid formats. Can't they just use avi wmv or mp4 to begin with?

MKV, MP4, M4V, AVI and WMV are all containers for underlying video and audio formats, with MKV being the most versatile and allowing the most A/V codecs to be held within it.
Comparison of container formats - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

People like to use MKV because it is open source and can incorporate more standards in the same container