Matroska (MKV) Files

[tranzparentl]

I’ve seen more and more videos in a Matroska container instead of an AVI container. I know MKV is a much newer container and can hold things like optional subtitles and stuff like that.

About 6 months ago I ran into some MKV files and tried to install some software to view it but it never worked properly and I gave up. (Without putting too much effort)

Now I’m seeing a resurgence of MKV containers being used.

Currently I use my Xbox 360 Media Center to stream to my TV with Transcode 360. Is there any software that I can use to stream the MKV files to the 360 or will I need to convert them?

I heard someone say Nero Media Home would work to stream it? Anyone using this program?

Also if I used a MKV to AVI converter on a 720p file would the AVI lose any quality?

[B.Greenway]

Originally Posted by tranzparentl

I’ve seen more and more videos in a Matroska container instead of an AVI container. I know MKV is a much newer container and can hold things like optional subtitles and stuff like that.

About 6 months ago I ran into some MKV files and tried to install some software to view it but it never worked properly and I gave up. (Without putting too much effort)

Now I’m seeing a resurgence of MKV containers being used.

Currently I use my Xbox 360 Media Center to stream to my TV with Transcode 360. Is there any software that I can use to stream the MKV files to the 360 or will I need to convert them?

I heard someone say Nero Media Home would work to stream it? Anyone using this program?

Also if I used a MKV to AVI converter on a 720p file would the AVI lose any quality?

Can you point me to any legal download services that use MKV's for their movies? I'd like to try a few.

[tranzparentl]

I actually don't know of any downloading services at all that have HD video. iTunes only rents their HD titles currently. But over the next year or 2 you will see iTunes, Amazon and I'm sure other companies start to offer HD downloads.

As I said I've never used an MKV file but have seen them being popping up online more often.

These types of newer formats usually get adopted first by illegal sites and then get picked up by more mainstream outlets later after they are already very common. (like DivX and XviD)

I did find this writeup on MKV files on After Dawn. They are a respected site (I think)

http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/arch...o_play_mkv.cfm

I've heard VLC isn't the best player to use though.

[Tokkie]

MKV is used pretty much 100% for piracy.

I know a user or two here will say "hey I use it to backup my movies!"

Thats crap. People that encode movies for backup purposes or the smart ones anyway use the MP4 container, as its much more viable...you can have your multiple sub files, its compatible with a wide range of portable video players (and stand-alones) along with the game consoles (PS3 and 360).

Anybody who uses MKV for "backup" purposes is just lying to themselves.

[tranzparentl]

Originally Posted by Tokkie

MKV is used pretty much 100% for piracy.

I know a user or two here will say "hey I use it to backup my movies!"

Thats crap. People that encode movies for backup purposes or the smart ones anyway use the MP4 container, as its much more viable...you can have your multiple sub files, its compatible with a wide range of portable video players (and stand-alones) along with the game consoles (PS3 and 360).

Anybody who uses MKV for "backup" purposes is just lying to themselves.

You were the one in the other thread who mentioned using Nero Media Home to stream MKV files....

and once upon a time the same thing was said about DivX and Xvid

[Tokkie]

Originally Posted by tranzparentl

You were the one in the other thread who mentioned using Nero Media Home to stream MKV files....


and once upon a time the same thing was said about DivX and Xvid

Yeah and?

Its true Nero Media Home CAN stream MKV files (transcode). I do believe in that thread I said its playback stutters.

I admit, I tried to get some of my files into a MKV container for multiple audio languages and sub tracks, but the trade off is less compatibility.

Thats why you should go the MP4 way.

I dont think you understand the difference between DivX and XviD....please tell me where any legit sites will sell you episode in the XviD codec? XviD is the hacked version of the legititmate DivX codec (MPEG 4). Both share the same .avi container, but the majority of files out there (illegal) are in the XviD codec.

They are not the same.

[tranzparentl]

There's a reason many DVD players now play DivX files along with the PS3 and Xbox 360. People are using them.

I don't know or care where they got the files from and that was not the point of this thread.

[Tokkie]

Originally Posted by tranzparentl

There's a reason many DVD players now play DivX files along with the PS3 and Xbox 360. People are using them.

I don't know or care where they got the files from and that was not the point of this thread.

But thats what I am trying to say...the fact that XviD and DivX share the same genesis, makes it easier for them to be used in other electronics. Because DivX is (was) a legit format.

Now, MKV on the other hand is used pretty much for piracy, so for this reason any legit video HD service will use the MOV container or some other container, but its pretty much an MPEG-4 format. I doubt were gonna see any legit service use MKV. So when you say you see more and more files using that container, its pretty much a given your looking at illegal files. Maybe thats why the mod replied with that statement...

Please dont misunderstand me, it wasnt an attack on you. As for playing them, yes, you CAN stream with MKV but it will stutter during playback.

So lets just through everything else out the window, and you want to encode your own legitimately owned movies, I suggest encoding them to a MP4 formate with the correct profile so you can play them back on a PS3 or 360.

Otherwise you will have to re-encode the MKV to a more compatible format...WMV or MP4.

[tranzparentl]

Well first of all the other person that responded wasn't a Mod, just a person.

I'm just trying to look at all the different formats available and see what will give me the best quality. I've been hearing about MKV and figured there must be a reason people are using it for HD movies.

I'm really hoping for a 1080p media extender to be released sometime. Next Apple TV?

[Tokkie]

Originally Posted by tranzparentl

Well first of all the other person that responded wasn't a Mod, just a person.

I'm just trying to look at all the different formats available and see what will give me the best quality. I've been hearing about MKV and figured there must be a reason people are using it for HD movies.

I'm really hoping for a 1080p media extender to be released sometime. Next Apple TV?

My bad, I thought it was a mod, it would be great if the 360 and PS3 could play the MKV format without transcoding it, I mean you know it has enough horse power to do so....

The closest thing so far is the PS3, with its Linux support, if they could somehow free up the GPU in the OS, the PS3 would be a super media machine! It could play pretty much any format you throw at it....its something the homebrew people are working on.

[Th7Dude]

I've found this to be pretty simple after doing a little research beforehand. First if all, simply using a program like mkv2vob will produce a PS3 compatible VOB file that can be burnt to a disk, put on flash drive etc and then played directly on the PS3. The other good thing is that by doing this you will retain the 5.1 DD soundtrack.

One problem of course is that the only removable media the PS3 supports that can use files bigger that the Fat32 limit is UDF on a DVD limiting you to 4.7GB or double for dual layer.

Hope that helps.

[CaptainCanuck]

I believe a free program called vlc media player will play matroska vids on computer but i use a free program called Super to convert them into vob or avi files so i can play them on my home dvd players.
I really hate it when people use matroska because its a pain in the ass.
It would be much better if they use the divx 6 and up program to add extra audio streams and menus because many home players have divx and none use matroska.

[tranzparentl]

When converting MKV to VOB or AVI do you lose any sound or audio quality?

I would figure with AVI, maybe unless you use whatever program you mentioned in conjunction with it.

I have heard mixed reviews of VLC.

[Th7Dude]

If you use mkv2vob it neither changes the video or sound so you retain the full 5.1 dd soundtrack. I've tested it now on 8 separate MKV files and it has proved to be perfect :-)

[Coolpplse]

Originally Posted by Th7Dude

If you use mkv2vob it neither changes the video or sound so you retain the full 5.1 dd soundtrack. I've tested it now on 8 separate MKV files and it has proved to be perfect :-)

I believe this is why most ppl use MKV right?

Doesnt MP4 not support AC3, or at least not natively?