editing MKV files

[QueBert]

building a HTPC I've ripped about 3 dozen UFC dvd's I have into MKV format. I had no real reason to go with this format other than I just did. I decided since I have so much footage I would go ahead and edit it up and make a nice highlight reel.

I have Vegas 8, which of course doesn't support MKV. I don't want to re-rip the DVD's to a usable format. I Googled and only found 1 program that lets you edit MKV files, and I use edit loosely. It's pretty much just a program that'll let you set points and export. I read an article that said something to the effect that as long as you keep the codec the same as whatever you used when you encoded it when you convert it you won't lose quality.

Not sure that make sense to me, if the MKV contains .264 video. And I use a proggy to convert it to straight AVI with the same codec won't there be degradation of the video?

sorry if this is a dumb question but Google isn't giving me good information here. I just want to find the best way to edit these MKV files so I can make my compilation.

 

[TheStu]

Download Handbrake.
Set it to MP4, or similar with the x264 codec.
Convert videos.

 

[QueBert]

the problem is it will take forever to convert 36 2-3 hour video files, I just want to edit them and pull out the parts I want to combine. Well I guess combverting the whole damn thing will be easiest way. That will teach me to rip my videos to a non DiVX format for no reason

thanks for the suggestion, I already have Handbreak installed.

 

[0roo0roo]

there are probably programs that move h264 streams from one container to another.

mkv is mostly a final rip format.

mkvextract will demux mkv
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=611147

 

[Gooberlx2]

you could try using avidemux if you just want to place the streams in to a different container.

 

[nufan292]

I think the simplest solution would be to demux with mkvextract or avidemux as suggested before. It appears that Vegas 8 should accept the elementary streams. At least from it's product info page.