Anything wrong with using virtualdub/directshow to convert video?

[spiderdan]

I occasionally convert some very large x264 encoded mkvs to smaller xvid avis so that they can fit on a flashdrive or for my friends netbook. Currently, I use virtualdubmod. This of course requires me to use the directshowsource method, passing the video through avisynth and mkvsplitter. As far as codecs I am using ffmpeg and the standalone xvid codec. When I was reading, I heard of several other, simpler options, namely megui. I opted for virtualdub because it was what I was used to. I am wondering now whether programs which handle mkvs natively, such as megui, hold any performance or quality advantages? Does my current method lead to any quality loss or sync issues? Thanks!

[Guest]

Where do you get these MKV files?

[spiderdan]

I had a friend rip some movies for me. I think he may have used AutoMKV. The only reason I just had him do it rather than learn how to myself (which I intend to do anyway) was that I don't have a Bluray drive. Anyway, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't downloaded some movies in the past, which is what I'm sure your concern is, but that's not what I'm worried about converting. The quality on most of those sucked anyway, so its not really worth worrying about a good conversion IMO.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I had a friend rip some movies for me.

Uh oh :scared: :readrule:

[spiderdan]

I did skim through the rules before posting. I thought copyright laws allowed you to copy as long as you did not redistribute. That being said, my friend may well have kept a copy. I figure that's his choice/legal issue. Don't think he'd be so willing to do it without getting something. Perhaps my understanding is wrong though? Maybe I have to rip myself for it to be legit?

[Guest]

You have to legitimately own the content. Your desire to re-encode the already transcoded MKV instead of using the original bluray stream files is enough to persuade me that you don't own the content. If you do, let's talk about M2TS files, and not MKVs.

We also don't want to hear about you giving copies of movies to your friends.

Thread closed for rule 6 violation. As a noob, you avoid the strike.

Please send me a PM with an explanation if you think I have erred in my conclusion.