Need help converting demuxed 720P 7 GB mkv file

[anonmous]

Hello,

I started with an ~7 GB mkv file. It plays great on my system and I wanted to bring it into to work to share with some friends. I didn't want to use Dual-layer DVD media, so I decided to attempt to convert it using one of the various software products I have, so that it would be more friendly-sized and fit on a DVD or a CD (I know I will lose quality, but it doesn't need to be @ 720p). First in case it matters, the process I used to demux the mkv file into its audio and video streams:

1. I used mkvinfo just to see what I was dealing with. It reported the following
   1. Muxing application: libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1
   2. Writing application: mkvmerge v2.9.8
   3. Video Codec ID: V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
   4. Pixel width: 1280
   5. Pixel height: 720
   6. Interlaced: 0
   7. Display width: 16
   8. Display height: 9
   9. Audio Codec ID: A_AC3
   10. Sampling frequency: 48000
   11. Channels: 2
2. I downloded and installed the MkvToolnix tools and the mkvextract tools as well
3. I demuxed the mkv file into the following
   1. A 6.32 GB video file with an h264 extension which Media Info' reports the following about
      1. Format: AVC
      2. Format profile: High@L4.1
      3. Format settings, CABAC: Yes
      4. Format settings, ReFrames: 5 frames
      5. Bit rate: 5301 Kbps
      6. Width: 1280 pixels
      7. Height: 720 pixels
      8. DAR: 16:9
      9. Frame rate: 29.970 fps
      10. Resolution: 24 bits
      11. Colorimetry: 4:2:0
      12. Scan type: Progressive
      13. Writing library: x264 core 100 r1659 57b2e56
   2. A 234 MB audio file with an ac3 extension

My attempts to re-encode the video file have been comprised of the following:

1. Import the video into Adobe Premiere CS4 (4.2.1). Originally, with the h264 extension I got an 'Invalid format error.' When I changed the file extension from h264 to avc, I was able to import the video as an asset and I could play back (albeit choppily) within Premiere. I then brought in the audio file and attempted to export the video. No matter which preset I chose for my sequence settings (even the 'Desktop' setting), no matter which output format I have chosen, I will get audio, but only solid green for the video.
2. Import the video into TmpgEnc Xpress (4.7.7.307). No matter how I have interpreted the footage (TmpgEnc continually thinks the video is 15 fps, so I have to adjust it), no matter what format I choose, the output is always running @ 1/2 speed (i.e. the first 10 seconds of play time take 20 seconds to view).
3. I have used Avisynth and fooled around a bit with various settings, but when I attempt to open the avs file in VirtualDub does not seem to be able to interpret the footage correctly. If I skip forware an hour into the footage, it will 'think' a few minutes and then it will display the beginning of the footage.

I just want to be able to convert the video into something like Divx so I can then re-unite the audio with it in Premiere. All this trouble just to save a buck or two on DVD media, but now, it's the principle of the thing (i.e. I believe this should be doable). Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks very much for any and all help,

Matt

[netmask56]

You could use Handbrake - just load the mkv file in and save as mp4 using one of the presets or your own parameters.

[anonmous]

You could use Handbrake - just load the mkv file in and save as mp4 using one of the presets or your own parameters.

Thanks! That worked great.

I still am wondering why none of my other attempts worked. Is there something wrong with the way the video is encoded that makes TmpgEnc Xpress, Premiere, etc. not be able to deal with it properly?

Can somebody point me to an avisynnth script that could handle it. I obviously am misunderstanding something about the file's make up and I'd like to come away with this understanding where I went wrong if at all possible.

Thanks again,

Matt

[anonmous]

In case any one else comes across this issue, I found a way to get this to work within Premiere CS4 (4.2.1):

Give the AVC footage a '.mts' extension, then right-click on the asset and select 'Interpret Footage...' and make sure all the settings match the attributes of the footage. Beyond using the wrong file extension for AVC, I believe a part of the problem was that the PAR (pixel aspect ratio) was incorrectly being interpreted by Premiere as .75 whereas it should have been 1.0. Once I did this and created a 'Desktop' sequence using the appropriate settings, I was able to play the footage back within Premiere in real-time and export the media in a variety of formats.

Matt