Convert AVI to Matroska
We turn AVI into Matroska right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
Nothing to lose, and nothing to gain: {to} keeps exactly what {from} hands over, and the file grows several times over.
How they differ
| AVI | Matroska | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | yes | yes |
| Lossy | yes | yes |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | no | yes |
| Released | 1992 | 2002 |
| Author | Microsoft | CoreCodec |
AVI
Good at
- Opens where nothing else does any more: nineties hardware, old players
- People put uncompressed video inside, so some archives are still masters
- Simple enough that a damaged file can often be read at least in part
Awkward about
- Several times heavier than modern containers at the same quality
- Neither browsers nor phones will play it
- Keeps no titles or cover art, and handles subtitles and extra tracks badly
Use it when
- The file came out of an old archive and just needs to open
- Some program insists on it and understands nothing newer
- In every other case it is worth turning into MP4
Matroska
Good at
- Takes anything inside: any codec, a dozen tracks, subtitle fonts
- The one common container people fill with lossless audio
- Tracks and subtitles can be swapped without touching the picture
Awkward about
- TVs and phones often refuse to open it
- No browser plays it directly
- Files run larger: what goes inside is usually less compressed
Use it when
- A home archive where everything should be kept as it was
- Several audio languages and subtitle tracks in one file
- The file is watched on a computer, not on household hardware
Common questions
- Does the file get uploaded to a server?
- Yes, this pair needs the server: browsers cannot encode that format. The file and the result are deleted within a couple of hours and never shared.
- Will surround sound survive?
- Yes, Matroska carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- Nothing is lost, but nothing is gained either. Matroska stores exactly what AVI hands over, including the gaps AVI left behind when it compressed. No tool can bring those back, and the file grows several times over. This conversion makes sense for editing, not for quality.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 3 files at a time, 500 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.