More problems with MKV files

[carlmart]

Now when it seemed I had more or less tamed my issues with MKV files, I had to move to Windows 7 x64 and new problems came by.

My problems are mostly related to re-merging the files, converting the DTS files to AC3 to size the files down, so I wonder if part of the process is not being tainted in some way by this new environment.

That is, I am using Avisynth to convert the DTS files to AC3 and two versions of MKVmerge for the merge.

Maybe it's a coincidence that the latest files I tried to merge had problems, but it's been a few days where I'm trying to get things done and can't.

Problems in burning with ImgBurn could be added to the equation, but that could be attributed to other variables. So I'm for now trying to solve what is happening in the merge process that does not allow the new file to be played as it should.

That is: the original file plays fine, but does not when remerged.

Is there anything the data may show to understand what might be happening?

[dragonkeeper]

Why two versions of mkvmerg, and why use avisynth for the audio conversion? There are tools better suited to do the audio conversion than avisynth eac3to comes to mind. It sounds like the problems you are experiencing stem form process you are using. Are you following / or have you tried following any f the guides on the site?

[carlmart]

I am not sure if there are guides on this site for what I do, or I never found them. But this is not the first time I come here with my "mkv problems".

I did use eac3to in the past, but the avisynth solution has proved, until now, transparent and effective. BTW: the same as the avisynth tools when compared to ANY video program I have tried, and I have tried the best there are.

This time there're two additional elements: Windows 7 and x64 bits.

But I may try eac3to again to see if that helps me, no problem. Nothing against it.

The versions of mkvmerge is because some of the mkv files have header stripping, and I have to delete it when I merge the file. My LG player does not accept headers.

[dragonkeeper]

Detail what it is your doing and we can provide options.

[carlmart]

Problems in eac3to-gui. First I tried an old version I had, and it stuck and did not convert it.

Then I downloaded version 1.10.01, apparently the latest one, and I get this message in a DOS window after loading the dts file, setting the bitrate and starting:

"The filename, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect"

... and it does not process anything.

I wonder if eac3to-GUI works in W7 x64.

[dragonkeeper]

It can be done using should be able to do it using ripbot (don't worry not gonna re-encode the movie just use ripbot to convert audio), load MKV into ripbot once it scans and de-muxes the the file set output as MKV, now on your audio profile you should now have some AC3 options select your desired bitrate for your ac3 and click done.
Go into your ripbot temp folder in the job folder you should find a file named "job1_EncodeAudio.cmd" If you double click this file it will be nice enough to give you the AC3 file your looking for.

[netmask56]

Look in videohelp tools for Popcorn Audio Converter - it is designed to changed DTS to AC3 or whatever.

Edit: here you are... https://www.videohelp.com/tools/PopCorn-MKV-AudioConverter

[netmask56]

Re Header Stripping in later versions of MKVMerge this can be turned off under the tab "extra options". You need to highlight the video and set it to none and then highlight the audio and do the same.

[carlmart]

It can be done using should be able to do it using ripbot (don't worry not gonna re-encode the movie just use ripbot to convert audio), load MKV into ripbot once it scans and de-muxes the the file set output as MKV, now on your audio profile you should now have some AC3 options select your desired bitrate for your ac3 and click done.
Go into your ripbot temp folder in the job folder you should find a file named "job1_EncodeAudio.cmd" If you double click this file it will be nice enough to give you the AC3 file your looking for.

After I load the mkv file in ripbot I don't get any options demuxed from my file, or find any temp folder for jobs either.

What version are you talking about? Mine is 1.10.6

[carlmart]

Look in videohelp tools for Popcorn Audio Converter - it is designed to changed DTS to AC3 or whatever.

Edit: here you are... https://www.videohelp.com/tools/PopCorn-MKV-AudioConverter

I will need some tutorial for this program. It's far from intuitive.

[carlmart]

Re Header Stripping in later versions of MKVMerge this can be turned off under the tab "extra options". You need to highlight the video and set it to none and then highlight the audio and do the same.

That was I use two MKVmerge versions: 4.8.0 and 4.9.1.

The the file header stripped I use 4.9.1 and turn them off. When not I trust 4.8.0 better.

[carlmart]

My work routine is:

1) Check file with Mediainfo, to see if there is any header stripping.

2) Demux the file with MKVextract for the DTS file.

3) Convert the DTS file to AC3 with AvsP/Avisynth.

4) Merge it all with one version or the other of MKVmerge.

As I said, these days I got three different files that caused some trouble, probably because of the audio file.

[dragonkeeper]

My work routine is:

1) Check file with Mediainfo, to see if there is any header stripping.

2) Demux the file with MKVextract for the DTS file.

3) Convert the DTS file to AC3 with AvsP/Avisynth.

4) Merge it all with one version or the other of MKVmerge.

Thje method i previously told should work, (it prevents you from havig to use CLI. But if you're comfortable with CLI
Try this, (requires bepipe.exe and aften.exe)

"C:\Program Files\bepipe\bepipe.exe" --script "import(^O:\MyMovie.avs^)" | "C:\Program Files\aften\aften.exe" -readtoeof 1 -b 640 - "O:\MyMovie.ac3"

[carlmart]

Even if I haven't yet tried this last suggestion from Dragonkeeper, I could get to a solution that let me stream the file, then burn it and play it. Let me tell you how I did it.

In the last three days I had tried several combinations, and none worked. No need to tell you how many but, besides the ones that you suggested and did not work, also a few more.

Today I had gone back to my XP based HDD, so that I still have to prove if it has anything do with it too, that is if Win 7 x64 is not messing things up.

Anyway the steps were:

1) Remerge the original file keeping the DTS track to file-2, just eliminating the header strippings in video and audio, with MKVmerge 4.9.1

2) Check that the files in file-2 were indeed with no headers.

3) MKVextract the DTS file from file-2.

4) Convert the DTS track to AC3 with AvsP/Avisynth

5) Remerge the file-2 using the new AC3 track using MKVmerge 3.1.0. This is the version I have been using on the last two years with no problems. So even if I will re-try things to confirm my discoveries and make into a method, that had been the only version I hadn't yet tried.

As they say, everything is well when it ends well. So we did.

Thanks, and I'm still open to improve my understanding on why things work like that in mkv files.

[netmask56]

Look in videohelp tools for Popcorn Audio Converter - it is designed to changed DTS to AC3 or whatever.

Edit: here you are... https://www.videohelp.com/tools/PopCorn-MKV-AudioConverter

I will need some tutorial for this program. It's far from intuitive.

I really is quite simple under File Specification browse for your file
next set the path for Target file ie processed file - you can browse for your desired location and then click on run.
Couldn't be simpler

[thegeeman]

Anyway the steps were:

1) Remerge the original file keeping the DTS track to file-2, just eliminating the header strippings in video and audio, with MKVmerge 4.9.1

2) Check that the files in file-2 were indeed with no headers.

3) MKVextract the DTS file from file-2.

4) Convert the DTS track to AC3 with AvsP/Avisynth

5) Remerge the file-2 using the new AC3 track using MKVmerge 3.1.0. This is the version I have been using on the last two years with no problems. So even if I will re-try things to confirm my discoveries and make into a method, that had been the only version I hadn't yet tried.

It is possible to shorten the steps you use by not extracting the DTS track.

Steps i use:

1. run my mkv files through mkvmerge whether header stripping is present or not; this is just to be on the safe side;
2. with my 'new' mkv file, i load it into popcorn audio converter and select the 'convert to dolby digital' tick box. That's it!

No need to remux streams as the ouputted mkv file from popcorn as already done this for you

[carlmart]

Usually things are much more simple than on this file, so I just extract/convert the DTS file and merge everything, with no headers.

What I do need is:

1) End with a file with no headers.

2) Add one of more subtitles.

Will Popcorn allow me all that?

Any concerns about quality?

[thegeeman]

so I just extract/convert the DTS file and merge everything, with no headers.

There is no need to extract and merge everything back together. This is done for you by popcorn.

Simply load your mkv file into mkvmerge (along with your subtitles, if need be) and then select compression as 'none' in the extra options tab. The resulting mkv file will now have no headers.

Now load this ouputted file (not the dts file on its own; thus no need to extract the audio) into popcorn and after you have selected your desired AC3 settings, just press run! That's all there is to it.

What I do need is:

1) End with a file with no headers.

2) Add one of more subtitles.

Will Popcorn allow me all that?

Any concerns about quality?

You will end up with a mkv file with subtitles (as you added these in with mkvmerge) and also no headers (as you set compression to 'none'). So mkvmerge will solve your above points. As for the quality; well i have had no problems at all with the ouputted mkv file. You may notice that the audio can seem a little low with AC3 files; problem solved, as you can tweak the volume setting with popcorn. I usually set mine at 150% output. But this is just a personal preference.

If you are unsure in anyway, then try popcorn with a mkv sample file to get your desired output before trying it with your other files. Good luck.

[RappinRod]

I cant believe how you are making a mountain out of a molehill,,download Mkv2Ac3 in videohelp tools.Some Mkv 720p or 1080p files with ac3 audio have header stripping,only files encoded to ac3 that is.Ive never seen an mkv with dts audio with header stripping.Just input the entire mkv file wheather it has dts audio or ac3 audio into Mkv2Ac3,you can keep all the same settings as the original or you can set bitrates and normalize.Put the finished file in the folder of your choice and just clic start it will automaticly fix the header problems in both audio and or video.And you can also add the subtitles at a clic.The new finished mkv with ac3 audio takes about 18 minutes to complete and will play in every type of media player that plays mkv files and if you dont believe me chec the finished files with MediaInfo.You dont need any other tool for this problem,,you dont have to strip,remux,merge or rencode anything.This program only takes 2 clics and no brains to fix your mkv files that have header stripping...~

[carlmart]

Believe me: I want a program that needs no brain for me to do it!

I will try that program you suggest soon enough. Get back here after I try it.

[carlmart]

I've downloaded MKC2Ac3. How do you add the subtitles? There's no way to load them that I can see.

BTW: about 99% of mkv films you can find on the web coming from Bluray originals have DTS tracks.

The path I chose is quite versatile, as it lets you add as many subs as you want, specifying which language it is; you can add chapters; you can cut parts out (very useful on some TV series), you can split the film, etc.

When converting DTS to AC3, you can set levels too keeping the 5.1 tracks. I don't know why AC3 tracks usually end lower than the DTS they came from, about 4dB lower.

On some cases I check levels with Soundforge to find out how much can I adjust up.

[RappinRod]

carlmart,If the mkv dts file you have has subtitles embedded they will show up in the main window when you input the file into Mkv2Ac3,,just clic on the little plus sign next to the video and audio they will dropdown and show you whats embedded in the file and from there you can check mark them if you want to keep them in your finished mkv ac3 file.Its that simple,,I have changed hundreds of mkv files with dts audio to ac3 and kept most of the embedded digital subtitles and or added srt subtitles.Remember to keep the name of the srt file the same as the video file and keep them in the same folder and Mkv2Ac3 will automatcely find them and add them if you want,and as I said before,if the headers are messed up it will fix them automatecly and all you have to do is clic start.There is NOT a program out there that is as easy to use as this.Not all of my media players passthru the dts sound,,and for the life of me I cant tell the difference between 6 channel 1500k dts or 640k ac3 but the best part to me is you save alot of space with no loss to video quality while still keeping high quality surround.The program has aften to do the encoding but if you have eac3to in your computer,just point the program to the executable eac3to file.(you only do this one time)Then you can choose either Aften or Eac3to to encode your mkv and remember checkmark NORMALIZE then you will not have any decible dropoff from dts to ac3..

[carlmart]

No, the subtitles are never embedded on the movies I do. Those that are embedded, usually English, I extract and correct characters per line and other things. Besides that I always add at least one sub in Portuguese.

So unfortunately that's one thing this program won't provide, from what I could see. It's a pity because in fact it's very simple to use. I like that.

I have a lot of experience in dealing with subtitles, so that's not something I have problem with. Other stuff is, like headers and else.

I don't listen to any difference between DTS and AC3 tracks quality wise, and AC3 is certainly smaller, which is good for me.

Be careful with the Normalize function, because AFAIK I think the correction is not fixed and one for the whole track.