How do I extract an MPEG2 file out of a MKV container?

[guy24s]

I have an MKV file that contains:
video: MPEG-1/2
audio: three different tracks, all AC-3.
How do I extract the video and one of those AC3 tracks out of the MKV file without re-encoding the quality? I have tried MKVToolNix GUI and deselecting the two unwanted AC3 tracks, but I just end up with another MKV file. I want the result to be .mpg and .ac3. How do I achieve that? Please tell me step by step how.

[Alwyn]

AVIDemux. My guide here. Use the MOV to MP4 guide, but in the Video output, choose MPEG 2 PS Muxer.

Also, go into the Audio menu and deselect the tracks you don't want.

[El Heggunte]

..........
I have tried MKVToolNix GUI and deselecting the two unwanted AC3 tracks, but I just end up with another MKV file.

You could use mkvextract, preferably with a GUI.
But the program will give you only an elementary stream (a .m2v file).
So you should use ffmpeg for remuxing, i.e., for creating a .mpg file. If you don't like the command-line interface, there exists a Clever FFMPEG-GUI.

[guy24s]

AVIDemux. My guide here. Use the MOV to MP4 guide, but in the Video output, choose MPEG 2 PS Muxer.

Also, go into the Audio menu and deselect the tracks you don't want.

Thank you for replying. I followed your instructions, but there is no MPEG 2 PS Muxer in the Video Output dropdown menu. There is one called Mpeg2 (ff). And what should I choose in Output Format? The choices are: AVI Muxer, Dummy Muxer, FLV Muxer, MKV Muxer, MOV Muxer, MP4 Muxer, MP4v2 Muxer, Mpeg TS Muxer (ff), Mpeg-PS Muxer( ff), Video Only, WebM Muxer.

[guy24s]

..........
I have tried MKVToolNix GUI and deselecting the two unwanted AC3 tracks, but I just end up with another MKV file.

You could use mkvextract, preferably with a GUI.
But the program will give you only an elementary stream (a .m2v file).
So you should use ffmpeg for remuxing, i.e., for creating a .mpg file. If you don't like the command-line interface, there exists a Clever FFMPEG-GUI.

What do I click on in Clever FFMPEG-GUI to demux it to Mpeg2? Sorry, I'm dumb.

[ProWo]

What do I click on in Clever FFMPEG-GUI to demux it to Mpeg2? Sorry, I'm dumb.

Click main, extract streams.

[netmask56]

Inviska MKV Extract You can extract which ever track you want as in your case MPEG2, just click to select the track and go! Simple and works

[davexnet]

It's here:

[jagabo]

With ffmpeg you can use a command line like:

ffmpeg -i "input.mkv" -vcodec copy -acodec copy "output.mpg"

[Alwyn]

I followed your instructions, but there is no MPEG 2 PS Muxer in the Video Output dropdown menu. There is one called Mpeg2 (ff). And what should I choose in Output Format?

Sorry, I was shooting from the hip. Davexnet has it.

I meant "Output Format". As per my diagram, set Output Format to "MPEG2 PS Muxer". The Video and Audio Outputs should be on "Copy".

[netmask56]

With Inviska it outputs what ever the track format is within the MKV container - no selecting or any other fiddling about with command lines. Just select the track you want to extract and away you go, takes about 3 minutes. You can do batch extracts if need be etc etc.

[guy24s]

It's here:

Thanks, it's working now! Thank you and everyone else for all your help!

[TE16]

Alternatively if you want a easier to use method with batch functionality I would go InviskaMKVExtract.