How to play MKV, MKV to AVI, MKV to DVD, MKV to Xbox 360 or Playstation 3

Baldrick · Administrator Joined: 09 Aug 2000 Location: Sweden

What is MKV?
The Matroska Multimedia Container is an open standard free Container format, a file format that can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, picture or subtitle tracks inside a single file.

How to play MKV?
Easiest, play with latest VLC Media Player. If you want to use Windows Media Player or other directshow players like Media Player Classic install haali media splitter, ffdshow, ac3filter.

MKV to AVI DivX/Xvid
Use AllToAVI. Or use Super, AutoMKV, Total Video Converter, Winavi.

MKV to DVD
Use ConvertXtoDVD. If you get problem converting to DVD directly you can try use AllToAvi and then convert the AVI to DVD.

MKV to Xbox 360 or Playstation 3
Use GotSENT or for Playstation 3 use MKV2VOB.

MKV to MP4
Use GotSENT.

MKV to HD-DVD or Blu-Ray
See http://www.videohelp.com/guides/convert-mkv-files-to-m2ts-for-pla ... d1063#1063 . Or maybe use AllToAvi and convert to avi xvid HD and then use a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray all-in-one tool like Ulead DVD Moviefactory.

Problems
Slow playback
If the MKV contain H264 HD video, identify the video codec in a MKV with MediaInfo, use latest ffdshow or Coreavc and play with Media Player Classic. If that wont help you might need a new computer or a new graphic card because High Defination H264 video requires a fast computer.

The subtitles disappear when converting
Extract the subtitles with mkvextractgui and add it manually when you convert to DVD( with for example ConvertXtoDVD) or to AVI DivX/XviD (with for example AllToAVI).

Audio sync issues when you convert
It's probably because of VFR video and it's not easy to solve. Try latest AllToAVI. If that wont work Give UP, it's not worth the trouble. If you want to play mkv on your TV then get a HTPC or media center with MKV support see http://www.mpcclub.com/ .

Okey, no more mkv questions.