To Convert or Not to Convert

[lc25]

So after spending a good few days reading around i can't work out which is the best option, convert all my tv shows and movies to mov files with metadata and stick them into iTunes or to just leave them as they are.

I like how iTunes can organise them for me and they can contain meta data but a vast majority of my files are mkv's (seems thats the future nowadays) and all of the dvd rips of bones/early CSI i have seem poor quality in iTunes (might be me but im sure they have lost quality since converting to movs through iFlicks)

Im really at a loss can you point me in the right direction of what most of you are doing ?

In the future i want to watch them on an ATV with no hassle (possibly one for the parents next door as well), currently i just open them with VLC or Quicktime and drag the window across onto the TV. Storage isn't a problem as i have shed loads.

Many thanks

LC

 

[bohbot16]

I've been using the latest iFlicks beta to re-wrap .mkvs into .m4vs (mp4) and feel like it's the best option. The program doesn't transcode the original video, it just changes the container and adds metadata. For an mkv that contains a h.264 video track and an ac3 audio track it will also encode a stereo AAC track and add that in. mkv is a modern and flexible container format, but in the end mp4 has all of the features that I want in a container plus it's compatible with my AppleTV.

 

[Peteman100]

You should consider using Plex. It plays just about anything. And if you're willing to jailbreak your ATV, you can put Plex on those as well.

 

[spacepower7]

I've been using the latest iFlicks beta to re-wrap .mkvs into .m4vs (mp4) and feel like it's the best option. The program doesn't transcode the original video, it just changes the container and adds metadata. For an mkv that contains a h.264 video track and an ac3 audio track it will also encode a stereo AAC track and add that in. mkv is a modern and flexible container format, but in the end mp4 has all of the features that I want in a container plus it's compatible with my AppleTV.

I use iFlicks too, but sometimes subler or MKVtools. The first 2 will tag the file with metadata.