AVI to MKV Converter
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Convert AVI to MKV online
Convert AVI to MKV to move an old recording into a modern container. The MPEG-4 Part 2 or DivX video inside the AVI is re-encoded to H.264, and the result sits in Matroska, which can hold everything AVI could and a great deal it could not.
When should you convert AVI to MKV?
- Modernise a legacy video archive
- Get a file a media server will index properly
- Move away from AVI's poor handling of variable frame rates
- Reduce file size by re-encoding to a better codec
Before you convert
The source quality is the ceiling
H.264 encodes efficiently, but it is encoding an already-compressed old AVI. The result is smaller, not sharper.
Consider MP4 instead
Unless you specifically need MKV's multi-track flexibility, MP4 is the more portable destination for the same content.
What happens to your file
AVI to MKV is a full re-encode, not a container swap: the video is decoded and re-compressed with libx264 (H.264) at CRF 23, preset medium, and the audio is re-encoded to AAC at 192 kbps. Matroska has no faststart concept and no pixel-format restriction, so the stream is written as-is once encoded.
Settings this conversion runs with
| Engine | ffmpeg |
|---|---|
| Video codec | libx264 (H.264) |
| Video quality | CRF 23, preset medium |
| Audio codec | AAC |
| Audio bitrate | 192 kbps |
What changes
- The AVI picture is decoded and re-compressed with libx264 (H.264), so this is a generation loss: the output is built from an already-compressed source, not from the original camera data. Converting AVI to MKV and back will soften the clip a little more each time.
- Only one video and one audio stream reach the MKV file. Additional audio languages, embedded subtitle tracks, and chapter markers are not carried across.
About AVI and MKV files
AVI video
Strengths
- widely recognized
- simple container
Limitations
- large files
- dated format
MKV video
Strengths
- holds many tracks
- flexible container
- high quality
Limitations
- not supported on all devices
AVI vs MKV
| Format | AVI | MKV |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Transparency | — | — |
| Best for | legacy Windows video, older recordings | high-quality video, multiple audio and subtitle tracks |
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Frequently asked questions
- Does converting AVI to MKV re-encode the file?
- AVI to MKV is a full re-encode, not a container swap: the video is decoded and re-compressed with libx264 (H.264) at CRF 23, preset medium, and the audio is re-encoded to AAC at 192 kbps. Matroska has no faststart concept and no pixel-format restriction, so the stream is written as-is once encoded.
- What should you know before converting AVI to MKV?
- The AVI picture is decoded and re-compressed with libx264 (H.264), so this is a generation loss: the output is built from an already-compressed source, not from the original camera data. Converting AVI to MKV and back will soften the clip a little more each time.
- Is this AVI to MKV converter free?
- Yes. You can convert AVI to MKV online for free, with no account and no watermark.
- Do I need to install software or sign up?
- No. Use the converter from your browser without installing software or creating an account. Files are uploaded to our servers for processing.
- Will converting AVI to MKV reduce quality?
- MKV uses lossy compression, so the file can get smaller while some visual quality may change.
- Are my files safe?
- Yes. Files are processed only to complete the conversion and are auto-deleted after 2 hours. We never share them.