MKV files

[DR]

I've some of these files and I want to burn them to a DVD so I played with iDVD the issue is it doesn't seem to like the format of the video (aka won't read it!) So - I need to transcode them but I don't want to lose any of the quality.

Help? Which app - How?

[directhex]

mkv is a container format, not a codec. depending on the codec in the files, you might be able to just re-container the file in something else, then idvd will read it

[DR]

& how do I do that... ?

AVC1 is the codec

[directhex]

that's h.264, so you should easily be able to turn it into mov (.mp4)

[directhex]

Mac Forums - View Single Post - Convert mkv movies into mp4

i can search for a GUI equivalent, but that's the "down & dirty" way

[DR]

Command line? WTF? thats why people invented a GUI

[threap]

Meh, the CLI is a scary place. Get your local tech support to do it for you :-)

[DR]

I tried, he failed...

... he took over like weeks to fix my laptop and did an apprentice style job on it... disabling the web cam tsk...

[directhex]

no promises, but Avidemux - Downloads is clicky and OUGHT to work. set both codecs to Copy, and format to MP4.

in theory. maybe.

[directhex]

try also MKV to any Quicktime-supported format - for Mac - VideoHelp.com

[arthurleung]

Try MeGUI, there is a "Adaptive Muxer" tool in there which support MKV input.
You may need to convert your audio-track of the MKV in order to make it a MP4 file.
Not sure if there is a Mac version for it though :S

TBH I always think MKV is an awesome container, but more flexible -> harder to make it work in standalone players. I encode use MKV exclusively.

[directhex]

the bottom link seems overcomplex for what you need.

IN THEORY, install Perian - The swiss-army knife of QuickTime components and then idvd will Just Work(tm) with MKV files. that assumes idvd uses the same quicktime-based codec engine as quicktime player and itunes, when importing files

[SiM]

You can play mkvs in video lan, which comes in a mac flavour iirc...

[directhex]

You can play mkvs in video lan, which comes in a mac flavour iirc...

playing isn't the issue, getting it into iDVD for conversion to DVD with the best possible picture quality is.

i reckon the perian option is best - i can't test it here, but i suspect it'll be great, assuming a logical approach

[DR]

the bottom link seems overcomplex for what you need.

IN THEORY, install Perian - The swiss-army knife of QuickTime components and then idvd will Just Work(tm) with MKV files. that assumes idvd uses the same quicktime-based codec engine as quicktime player and itunes, when importing files

I already have Perian installed and it didn't work

[directhex]

I already have Perian installed and it didn't work

bugger. did the slightly lengthier process involving opening in quicktime (w/ perian) and exporting to mp4 work? it's described in one of my earlier links