Video Format Uncertainty

thedarkwolf25 · 06-29-2009, 02:04 AM

Ok not too sure if this is the correct spot for this post but here goes:

I have some video files on my computer that are in OGM and MKV formats, this isn't a problem as I have the K-Lite Codec so that WMP can play them just fine.

I just got some video conversion software (Any Video Converter) and am in the process of converting them to AVI. I just picked AVI because I am pretty familiar with it and so that I can add all my videos to WMP's library as it doesn't support OGM or MKV as a correct format for the library.

Well I started to wonder, what (if any) is the best format for video? I am not using an HD monitor or any fancy tuners or such. My video card is a modest GeForce 7950, and does just fine.

I am asking out of curiosity mostly. Anyone have any opinions?

**zuluclayman** · 06-29-2009, 02:48 AM

When choosing video file formats you have to remember that things like avi and mpeg are only the containers that the file is transmitted or stored in. For compatability either avi or mpeg formats are probably the best - most players will accept and play either format (avi probably wins out here marginally as some players still don't like mpeg formatted files) depending on the codecs used to Compress and Decompress the files. Many files these days are compressed using high compression, high quality codecs such as H.264, XviD, DivX, etc.
Once upon a time avi's were thought of as larger sized, higher quality files and mpegs as smaller sized, more highly compressed files but with the advances in compression techniques, using codecs as mentioned above, it is quite possible to have an avi file that is smaller in size than an mpeg and better quality.

I tend to favour avi files compressed using one of the abovementioned codecs

Hope this doesn't add to the confusion surrounding video file formats.

thedarkwolf25 · 06-29-2009, 05:38 PM

LOL only a little, but that's ok. That does explain why when I use AVC and I select AVI as the format it also says Xvid next to it.

At least now I know that I am picking a good one, one more question though: Why do I keep seeing people using OGM and MKV file formats? Do they offer any advantages?

**zuluclayman** · 06-30-2009, 01:03 AM

Matroska (MKV is the video file format of this) is an open source container format that allows multiple streams of data - it is often used for DVD rips
Ogg media (OGM is the video file format of this) was developed as a multi stream container format that was used as an alternative to other container formats in conjunction with a number of audio codecs (Vorbis etc) that were being developed a few years back - Matroska sort of developed out of Ogg.
There is no real reason I can see for either format to be used over others available as some media players won't play them.

thedarkwolf25 · 07-01-2009, 07:41 AM

Ok kewl thanks a ton!

06-29-2009, 02:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
thedarkwolf25 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 358 OS: WinXP SP3 My System	Video Format Uncertainty Ok not too sure if this is the correct spot for this post but here goes: I have some video files on my computer that are in OGM and MKV formats, this isn't a problem as I have the K-Lite Codec so that WMP can play them just fine. I just got some video conversion software (Any Video Converter) and am in the process of converting them to AVI. I just picked AVI because I am pretty familiar with it and so that I can add all my videos to WMP's library as it doesn't support OGM or MKV as a correct format for the library. Well I started to wonder, what (if any) is the best format for video? I am not using an HD monitor or any fancy tuners or such. My video card is a modest GeForce 7950, and does just fine. I am asking out of curiosity mostly. Anyone have any opinions? __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." ~Albert Einstein Last edited by thedarkwolf25; 06-29-2009 at 02:07 AM.

06-29-2009, 02:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Video Format Uncertainty When choosing video file formats you have to remember that things like avi and mpeg are only the containers that the file is transmitted or stored in. For compatability either avi or mpeg formats are probably the best - most players will accept and play either format (avi probably wins out here marginally as some players still don't like mpeg formatted files) depending on the codecs used to Compress and Decompress the files. Many files these days are compressed using high compression, high quality codecs such as H.264, XviD, DivX, etc. Once upon a time avi's were thought of as larger sized, higher quality files and mpegs as smaller sized, more highly compressed files but with the advances in compression techniques, using codecs as mentioned above, it is quite possible to have an avi file that is smaller in size than an mpeg and better quality. I tend to favour avi files compressed using one of the abovementioned codecs Hope this doesn't add to the confusion surrounding video file formats. __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

06-29-2009, 05:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
thedarkwolf25 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 358 OS: WinXP SP3 My System	Re: Video Format Uncertainty LOL only a little, but that's ok. That does explain why when I use AVC and I select AVI as the format it also says Xvid next to it. At least now I know that I am picking a good one, one more question though: Why do I keep seeing people using OGM and MKV file formats? Do they offer any advantages? __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." ~Albert Einstein

06-30-2009, 01:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Video Format Uncertainty Matroska (MKV is the video file format of this) is an open source container format that allows multiple streams of data - it is often used for DVD rips Ogg media (OGM is the video file format of this) was developed as a multi stream container format that was used as an alternative to other container formats in conjunction with a number of audio codecs (Vorbis etc) that were being developed a few years back - Matroska sort of developed out of Ogg. There is no real reason I can see for either format to be used over others available as some media players won't play them. __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

07-01-2009, 07:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
thedarkwolf25 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 358 OS: WinXP SP3 My System	Re: Video Format Uncertainty Ok kewl thanks a ton! __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." ~Albert Einstein