Do I need to upload my video file?

No. This tool only generates the FFmpeg command. All actual video processing happens on your own computer using FFmpeg, so your files never leave your device.

Where do I install FFmpeg?

Download FFmpeg free from ffmpeg.org. On Windows use the pre-built binaries; on macOS run "brew install ffmpeg"; on Linux run "sudo apt install ffmpeg" or the equivalent for your distro.

Will I lose quality when converting to AVI?

AVI does not support modern codecs like H.265, so some re-encoding is required. Use a higher bitrate (e.g. 2000k+) or choose "same as source" to keep quality as close to the original as possible.

Why is my AVI file larger than the MKV?

AVI uses older, less efficient codecs than modern MKV. To reduce file size, lower the video bitrate in the settings above. A bitrate of 1500k is a good starting point for 1080p content.

Can AVI contain AC3 or AAC audio?

The AVI container officially supports PCM and MP3 audio. MP3 offers the best compatibility. AC3 and AAC are sometimes used but may cause playback issues on older software.

How do I convert multiple files at once?

On Linux/macOS use a shell loop: "for f in *.mkv; do ffmpeg -i "$f" "${f%.mkv}.avi"; done". On Windows use a .bat file iterating over %~n1 variables.

MKV to AVI Converter

Name: MKV to AVI Converter
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Configure your MKV-to-AVI conversion settings and get the exact FFmpeg command to run on your computer.

Conversion Settings

Input file name

Just the filename — or a full path like /home/user/videos/movie.mkv

Output file name

Video codec

MPEG-4 works on virtually all AVI-capable players.

Video bitrate: 1500 kbps

500 kbps (small) 6000 kbps (high quality)

Audio codec

Audio bitrate: 192 kbps

64 kbps 320 kbps

FFmpeg Command

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v mpeg4 -b:v 1500k -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 192k output.avi

Command breakdown

Quick tips

Run the command in the same folder as your MKV file, or use full paths.
Add -y before the output filename to overwrite without a prompt.
Speed up encoding with -preset fast (only works with libx264/libx265, not mpeg4).
For subtitles inside MKV, use -vf subtitles=input.mkv to burn them in.

Command copied!

Summary

Configure your MKV-to-AVI conversion settings and get the exact FFmpeg command to run on your computer.

How it works

Enter the name of your MKV input file (e.g. movie.mkv).
Choose a video codec — MPEG-4 (xvid) for broad compatibility or MPEG-2 for older players.
Set a video bitrate or leave it on auto for best quality.
Choose an audio codec — MP3 is the safest choice for AVI containers.
Click "Generate Command" and copy the FFmpeg command shown.
Paste the command into your terminal and run it to convert the file.

Use cases

Play MKV files on older TVs and DVD players that only support AVI.
Import footage into legacy video editors that lack MKV support.
Reduce file size while converting by adjusting the bitrate slider.
Batch-convert multiple MKV files by adapting the generated command.
Archive video collections in a widely supported container format.
Convert MKV files recorded by screen capture tools for compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu