Cut/Trim the first few second of MKV File

[jslegers73]

Hello,

I have an MKV file where I want to delete the first 16 seconds.
If have tried Avidemux but this application crashes. I have also tried SolveigMM AVI Trimmer + MKV but this one doesn't save the edited file for some reason but the the whole file.


What is the best tool to do this without reencoding ?

[johns0]

Mkvmerge.

[jslegers73]

I have tried that but how does it work with MKVMerge ?

[EDIT]
I think I have to use the split option. I will test it. Thanks.

[Baldrick]

I have no problems with solveigmm avi trimmer. Open mkv, set and start and save. But it might not work all kinds of mkvs.

But try mkvtoolnix / mkvmergegui. Add the mkv, under the global table enable splitting, set the after timecodes to 16s and it will create two files, one with the first 16s and the other with the rest.

See screenshot:

[jslegers73]

I have tested it and it creates 182 files not what i suspected.

[EDIT]

If I set it to two files it works only mkvmerge doesn't cut at the right time. When I enter 16s the first file is 20 seconds long.
MKVmerge has a limitation on this from the FAQ:

mkvmerge can only split right before a key frame. This is an intentional limitation that you cannot get around when you use mkvmerge for splitting.

A key frame is a frame type that can be decoded and shown independently of any other frames in the file. That's how mkvmerge ensures that the next file starts with a key frame and can be played correctly right from the start. If mkvmerge allowed splitting at arbitrary timecodes, and therefore at any frame type, then the next file would show disrupted images until the next key frame is encountered.

In general there is a way to split video files at arbitrary frame positions. This requires that all non-key frames after the split point up to but excluding the next key frame will have to be re-encoded so that the next file does start with a key frame.

However, this requires that the program splitting the video file contains video decoders and encoders for all video formats that it can split. mkvmerge is not such a tool as it does not contain a single decoder or encoder, neither for audio nor for video. That's not its purpose. Therefore mkvmerge will never be able to split before arbitrary frame types.

[Baldrick]

It can only cut at keyframes.

[jslegers73]

It looks like if i want to cut it at 16 sec i have to re-encode it.

[Baldrick]

Or use an editor that just reconverts at the cut. But I don't think you will find anything free for that.

[jslegers73]

Or use an editor that just reconverts at the cut. But I don't think you will find anything free for that.

What would you recommend?

[Baldrick]

SolveigMM Video Splitter but as solveigmm avi trimmer doesn't work with your mkv it might also not work. But you can always try the trial.