MKV or MP4 container for x264 encodes?

[jsquare]

I recently started converting some of my titles from my DVD collection to x264 using Staxrip, and was wondering which container would be more appropriate for hardware compatibility and future proof, MKV or MP4?

Seems like MKV is becoming very popular and flexible, while MP4 have some limitations and more like an outdated format, maybe I just answered my own question but I would like your feedback anyways.

[Blue_MiSfit]

It all depends on what your devices support. If you just play back on the PC, I'd go with MKV because you can put almost anything in it.

MP4 is a perfectly good container too. Both have plenty of traction in the hardware market.

Alternatively, if you just use reasonable x264 settings (stick to High Profile @ L4) you can easily remux your videos if necessary in the future for hardware devices.

~MiSfit

[Sharc]

I normally author my stuff to Blu-Ray or AVCHD using TSmuxeR.
I can then playback it on my Blu-Ray standalone, and for playback on PC or similar I just select the .m2ts from the Blu-Ray structure.

[hydra3333]

MP4 is an ISO standard and thus well and truly patented for $$, I don't think MKV is.

MP4 would probably attract license fees from s/w builders, MKV I'm not sure but maybe not.

[nm]

MP4 is an ISO standard and thus well and truly patented for $$, I don't think MKV is.
File format patents are not allowed in most countries. MP4 file format is not patented and there are no royalties for using it.

[hydra3333]

ISO make you pay for their specs ?

[nm]

Some of them, yes. Specs for MPEG-4 Part 12: ISO base media file format are freely available, and they cover most of the important stuff.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I recently started converting some of my titles from my DVD collection to x264 using Staxrip, and was wondering which container would be more appropriate for hardware compatibility and future proof, MKV or MP4?

I wouldn't worry too much about the container. It's just the container. You can re-mux your streams from one container to another at any time. Re-muxing is an absolutely lossless process.

Software players generally support all relevant containers (MP4, MKV, FLV, OGG/OGM, TS/M2TS, AVI, etc). And for Hardware players it depends on the individual device :rolleyes:

So what container will be most suitable in the future cannot be answered now. It will mostly depends on what Hardware you will be using then. And re-muxing to the required container should be easy.

Just my 5 cents ;)

[jsquare]

MKV was my first choice since I'm using the DivX Plus profile from Staxrip and the specs calls for it, but MP4 seems like the right choice for now, except for the limitations of the type of audio streams supported, and I agreed that re-muxing the streams to another container in the future if need it makes better sense.

[dstln]

For hardware compatibility? Generally mp4. Although if you're going for compatibility, there are more issues at play than just the container. mkv is generally nicer though as you said.