MKV file size

[mwrench74]

Some movies I compress to 22 GB. I then convert them to MKV. Most of the time the file size is 4-5 GB smaller than the 22 GB file. If MKV is just a container and doesn't modify the video why is it smaller?

This is what I found out ...

Bit rate of the original movie = 23999 kbps
Bit rate of the compressed movie = 19231 kbps
Bit rate of the MKV file = 17357 kbps

I understand the first two, but why would the MKV have a lower bit rate? Shouldn't it just wrap up the compressed movie into a single file?

Thanks

[Woodstock]

My car won't start. Should I paint it?

Your question asks much but provides little information relevant to rendering an answer.

HOW did you compress them to 22GB? HOW did you convert them to MKV? HOW did you measure the bit rate? HOW is this related to MakeMKV?

[Grauhaar]

If MKV is just a container and doesn't modify the video why is it smaller?

MKV is a container which contains the ripped parts (Video, Audio(s), Subtitle(s)) 1:1 without changes (except decryption). The only conversion option is for audio tracks, but the default is to save the orginal.

[anothermkvuser]

My car won't start. Should I paint it?

Brilliant analogy, perfectly said. Thanks for the laugh.