mkv to avi : convert or "repackage"

[Din Viesel]

Hello,


I Have an mkv file that I would like to play on my Lacinema Classic Mediaplayer. Unfortunately it doesn’t support the mkv format.

Can I simply repackage it to avi? IIRC the videofile in the mkv is H264 encoded. The Lacinema’s manual says it supports “MPEG-4 (AVI), XviD, DivX (3.11, 4.x, 5.x, 6.x)”. I thought avi was a container like mkv so I’m confused but this is exactly how it’s mentioned in the manual. It also states about xvid that it’s completely compatible with this format.

So the question is : do I need to convert or can I just change the container from mkv ro avi which I assume would be faster.

Am I making myself clear here? Sorry if I’m misstating things, I’m new at this.

Also if I can repackage, which application would be best?

Greetings and thanks already for your feedback.

[yoda313]

I thought avi was a container like mkv

Yes it is.

However it seems a lot of manuals for players seem to not go into enough detail on these matters. Or also they will play fast and loose with terminology sometimes.

I would like to hazard a guess that since h264 is NOT specifically mentioned in your manual it will need to be converted.

Though there is nothing to lose by testing a rewrap of the video. You'll just lose the time it takes to convert and test.

Unfortunately I am not a mac user but I do believe there is a ffmpeg variant for the mac that would do the job. It should also be able to convert from h264 to divx/xvid as well.

[Hoser Rob]

I don't know of any tools to do it myself, but it's worth trying.

However, mkv is a newer container and the avi container doesn't support all the same features like AVC. It may not work.

[Din Viesel]

I thought avi was a container like mkv

Yes it is.

However it seems a lot of manuals for players seem to not go into enough detail on these matters. Or also they will play fast and loose with terminology sometimes.

My sentiments exactly!

And you're right I should just go ahead and give it a try. I've tried converting but I somehow lost audio after conversion with ffmpeg. When I tried converting with Easy Video converter for mac it wouldn't do it because it couldn't convert 6 channel audio to 2 channel audio. I think that has something to do with it. That's why I was wondering if "repackaging" would be a better idea.

@Hoser Rob : the Lacinema itself is not very recent either. I guess there's only one way to find out.

I'll try and find an app for it. I think I read a topic where someone was trying to go from avi to mkv and Baldrick suggested an application.

[yoda313]

Also have you looked into using handbrake? I thought that was mac compatible edit - I just looked it up in the tools section here and it is mac compatible. I'd give that a through look over for your needs - end edit. That should have options for you.

THough I don't believe it has a full passthrough option to remux it to mp4 or avi. I know it has audio passthrough or at least I think it does. I wouldn't be surprised if it does let you copy audio and video over to a new container.

I think -vcopy and -acopy are the extensions you need for a full copy in ffmpeg. That is from the assistance I've gotten from user bat999 with the winff program (uses ffmpeg). Though I'm not sure if acopy is for audio or not. There should be guides out there.

[locotus]

Here: http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10453, they include mkv
files in the video format supported list, perhaps your problem is not the file
but the MKV header compression.

[yoda313]

Here: http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10453, they include mkv
files in the video format supported list, perhaps your problem is not the file
but the MKV header compression.

YEs I see it now. Also it does list h264 as a supported codec.

A remux would be in order.

I know they have the mpeg4modifier and avirecomp programs to fix header and fourcc issues. Are there similar tools for mkv?

Mkvtoolnix perhaps?

Oh I don't know about mac equivalents - sorry. If there aren't any direct mac equivalents do you have access to that parellels program or perhaps a dualboot if you have a legit copy of xp or newer available?

Edit - mkvtoolnix is a mac program too - maybe it can help

[jagabo]

Enable the setting called "Disable header removal compression..." in MkvToolnix, exit the program then restart it (it only checks the option when it starts up). Then remux your MKV file. It will take only a minute. See if the new version plays.

[Din Viesel]

Here: http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10453, they include mkv
files in the video format supported list, perhaps your problem is not the file
but the MKV header compression.

That's not the one I have. This is the more recent HD version which supports a lot more codecs and formats.

This is mine http://www.lacie.com/support/support_manifest.htm?id=10294

I have to admit the Lacie website had me fooled too. I even started a topic about not being able to update firmware because I downloaded the wrong firmware update.

[Din Viesel]

Yesterday I downloaded mkvtoolnix but I haven't had time to check it out yet. I'll probably try tonight.

Also there is supposed to be a way to use iMovie to remux.

I'll surely keep you posted. Thanks already for the many replies.

[Din Viesel]

Yesterday evening I looked into the mysterious world of (re/de)muxing.

Mkvtoolnix seems to only be able to make mkv files. Not avi.

I installed avidemux but it doesn’t work. I think it’s not compatible with my operating system.

I tried iMovie but it doesn’t support any of the files I have on my mac. I tried some avi’s and some mkv’s and one extracted h264 videofile and it won’t open them. Maybe it only supports some codecs from videocamera’s?

Mymp4box seems to be a great little application for my purpose but it’s windows only.

I was however succesfull in converting the file from mkv to divx avi using Easy Video Converter for mac. I extracted the subs with imkvextract and was able to play them on my Lacie. It supports external subs. At maximum bitrate and fps quality is pretty good. It’s a little time consuming but it’s not like I have to hold it’s hand, right?

So I’m going to stick with converting for now.

Thanks all for your help.

Greetings and have a nice weekend.

[jagabo]

Mkvtoolnix seems to only be able to make mkv files. Not avi.

MkvToolnix was suggested in order to remux as MKV without header removal compression, not to make an AVI. Many players that can play MKV cannot play MKV files with header removal compression.

[emmgunn]

FYI. It is possible to "repackage" h264 video into an avi file, but it's iffy. It depends on how the h264 was encoded. Also, whether or not your hardware would play such a video is hard to say. The LaCie documentation is lacking in that department. If in the mood for experimentation, you can use AVItools to try the repackaging route. It's trialware, but it's pretty much fully functional (though there is a nag screen) so it should work for your purposes. AVItools should also warn you if the MKV has header removal compression and offer to make a copy with it turned off. That's important because header removal compression is not only problematic with playback, it also can mess with conversions. Typically, however, as you discovered, converting is the safest, and in the long run, the quickest way for AVI creation. Handbrake is another good app that will create AVI's.

Cheers.

[Din Viesel]

Mkvtoolnix seems to only be able to make mkv files. Not avi.

MkvToolnix was suggested in order to remux as MKV without header removal compression, not to make an AVI. Many players that can play MKV cannot play MKV files with header removal compression.

So I'v heard. In fact, one of the firmware updates of the Lacinema classic HD fixes a header removal issue. My Lacie is a "non HD" one which can't play mkv's at all.

[Din Viesel]

FYI. It is possible to "repackage" h264 video into an avi file, but it's iffy. It depends on how the h264 was encoded. Also, whether or not your hardware would play such a video is hard to say. The LaCie documentation is lacking in that department. If in the mood for experimentation, you can use AVItools to try the repackaging route. It's trialware, but it's pretty much fully functional (though there is a nag screen) so it should work for your purposes. AVItools should also warn you if the MKV has header removal compression and offer to make a copy with it turned off. That's important because header removal compression is not only problematic with playback, it also can mess with conversions. Typically, however, as you discovered, converting is the safest, and in the long run, the quickest way for AVI creation. Handbrake is another good app that will create AVI's.

Cheers.

I could give it a shot but I get the feeling it won't work. You're so right about the incomplete Lacie information. However, it says in the manual it supports avi (divx and xvid) so I don't think it can read h264. At least if I'm not mistaken thinking those are types of codecs. Still kinda new, you know.

EDIT : re-read the topic and realised I'm repeating what yoda313 said earlier on, haha.

[jagabo]

it says in the manual it supports avi (divx and xvid) so I don't think it can read h264.

You can be almost certain it doesn't. Players of that generation didn't have the ability to decode h.264 -- which requires more powerful chips than Xvid/Divx, or MPEG decompression.

[Din Viesel]

it says in the manual it supports avi (divx and xvid) so I don't think it can read h264.

You can be almost certain it doesn't. Players of that generation didn't have the ability to decode h.264 -- which requires more powerful chips than Xvid/Divx, or MPEG decompression.

You're right. I'm going drop it for now and just convert. I don't do it that often so converting is really not a problem.

Thanks to all for your kind help.