.mkv converting with FFMpegX

[ker-plop]

I'm trying to convert .mkv files to AVI files with this, but it keeps dropping frames like nobody's business. Is there anything I can do or set to make it work?

[terryj]

dump that process and go the command line route through Terminal.
I used to have the same headaches until I installed mkvtools
(sp) and learned to love Terminal.

STF for more answers.

[ker-plop]

Um, OK... but could you give me step-by-step instructions, please? I'm not very tech-savvy.

[terryj]

...um..STF...Search the Forum...?

If you did so, it would turn up this gem:

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=301441&highlight=mkvextract

follow the steps listed/posted by mildew.

[ker-plop]

OK, I read through all that... but I still don't know how to get to mkvtoolnix from the Terminal. I keep getting a "command not found" when I type "mkvinfo." Do I need to install the stuff somewhere?


Sorry for bumping this again.

[Mildew]

Do I need to install the stuff somewhere?

Well, it needs to be installed first. Download the package here.

[ker-plop]

Yeah, I have the package. What do I do with it, though?

[Mildew]

Yeah, I have the package. What do I do with it, though?

Double-click it and install it.

[ker-plop]

Ok, that's done... Now how do I tap into it?

[Mildew]

Ok, that's done... Now how do I tap into it?

Read the instructions on this page.

[ker-plop]

Yes, that's where I'm stuck. That "mkvinfo" is a command that isn't found, even after installing that. Does the fact that I'm using a Mac influence this?

[Mildew]

Yes, that's where I'm stuck. That "mkvinfo" is a command that isn't found, even after installing that. Does the fact that I'm using a Mac influence this?

No, Macs work fine. But do you have an Intel Mac? I'm wondering if the mkvtoonix package is for PPC Macs only. If it is and you do have an Intel Mac, you'll have better luck if you install Windows via Bootcamp and use the mkvtoolnix GUI for Windows.

Or you could install the Apple Developer's Tools (Xcode), followed by MacPorts formerly DarwinPorts). From there, you can install a version of mkvtoolnix that should work fine on your Intel Mac (assuming you actually have an Intel Mac).

[Mildew]

OK, I read through all that... but I still don't know how to get to mkvtoolnix from the Terminal. I keep getting a "command not found" when I type "mkvinfo." Do I need to install the stuff somewhere?

Wait, I think I misunderstood you. Did you just type "mkvinfo" and nothing else? If so, then it won't work. You have to type "mkvinfo" in the Terminal and then drop the mkv file onto that Terminal window. It'll add the path to the file. E.g.,

iMac-G5:~ user$ mkvinfo /the_wire.mkv.

In that example, the mkv file is called "the_wire.mkv". After you've added it to the Terminal window, hit Return. You should see something like this:

+ EBML head
|+ Doc type: matroska
|+ Doc type version: 1
|+ Doc type read version: 1
+ Segment, size 242823796
|+ Seek head (subentries will be skipped)
|+ EbmlVoid (size: 4027)
|+ Segment information
| + Muxing application: libebml v0.7.0 + libmatroska v0.7.0
| + Writing application: mkvmerge v0.9.1 built on Jun 15 2004 23:29:28
| + Duration: 3364.052s (00:56:04.052000000)
| + Date: Sat Nov 6 03:18:54 2004 UTC
| + Title: The Wire - 108 - Lessons
| + Segment UID: 0x89 0x3d 0xbf 0xfd 0x94 0x73 0xb7 0x5f 0x39 0x3b 0x04 0x39 0x81 0xb9 0xee 0xf2
|+ Segment tracks
| + A track
| + Track number: 1
| + Track UID: 2553098329
| + Track type: video
| + MinCache: 1
| + Timecode scale: 1.000000
| + Codec ID: V_MS/VFW/FOURCC
| + CodecPrivate, length 40 (FourCC: XVID, 0x44495658)
| + Default duration: 41.708ms (23.976 fps for a video track)
| + Default flag: 1
| + Video track
| + Pixel width: 448
| + Pixel height: 336
| + Display width: 448
| + Display height: 336
| + Lacing flag: 0
| + A track
| + Track number: 2
| + Track UID: 3436493042
| + Track type: audio
| + MinCache: 0
| + Timecode scale: 1.000000
| + Codec ID: A_AAC/MPEG4/LC/SBR
| + Default duration: 42.667ms (23.438 fps for a video track)
| + Default flag: 1
| + Language: eng
| + Audio track
| + Sampling frequency: 24000.000000
| + Channels: 2
| + Output sampling frequency: 48000.000000
|+ EbmlVoid (size: 1024)
|+ Cluster

[ker-plop]

Yes, I did that, too. mkvinfo, space, drag n' drop. "Command not found." I don't know what's wrong...

[Mildew]

Yes, I did that, too. mkvinfo, space, drag n' drop. "Command not found." I don't know what's wrong...

Type the following in the Terminal and then hit return:

/usr/local/bin

Then type "ls" followed by return. You'll get a list of items, three of which should be"

mkvextract
mkvinfo
mkvmerge

If you don't see them, then mkvtoolnix wasn't installed properly for some reason.

[ker-plop]

Yeah, they're all there... but I'm still getting the same "command not found" error.

[Mildew]

Yeah, they're all there... but I'm still getting the same "command not found" error.

Okay, that's weird. What kind of Mac do you have?

[ker-plop]

I use an iBook G4 with OSX 10.4.7.

[Mildew]

Try repairing permissions and then seeing if it works (it's a long shot, but I noticed that the mkvtoolnix installer has a receipt in the Receipts folder, so it is vulnerable to permssion problems).

[ker-plop]

Ooogh... I'm not at all tech-savvy; how do I do that?

[Mildew]

Ooogh... I'm not at all tech-savvy; how do I do that?

Open Disk Utility (in your Utilities folder), select your main hard drive in the list, and click "Repair Permissions." Probably also a good idea to click "Verify Disk" after you've repaired permissions.

[ker-plop]

OK, permissions were repaired... same problem.

[Mildew]

Check your private messages.

[Mildew]

I suspect there is something wrong with your BSD subsystem; possibly, it wasn't installed or needs to be re-installed from your Tiger DVD.

[jpschuck]

I suspect there is something wrong with your BSD subsystem; possibly, it wasn't installed or needs to be re-installed from your Tiger DVD.

There is an mkvextract with GUI for Mac OS X, for those who don't want to mess around with the Terminal.

By the way when using the terminal, the command is not :
mkvinfo
then "space", then drag and drop your mkv file, then "enter"

but rather
/usr/local/bin/mkvinfo
then "space", then drag and drop your mkv file, then "enter"

Else ker-plop will of course get a "mkvinfo: command not found" error, as usr/local/ bins are not "shortcut-able" anymore since Mac OS X 10.2 !

[ker-plop]

O RLY? Thanks for the tip; I'll give it a try.

[ffooky]

ker-plop, you can use the GUI for this purpose but you may as well configure your system to allow to run things from /usr/local/bin.

Just copy/paste the first line into Terminal, hit enter and do likwise for the second.

echo 'PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin' >> ~/.bash_profile

source .bash_profile

[Mildew]

There is an mkvextract with GUI for Mac OS X, for those who don't want to mess around with the Terminal.

That's awesome. I've never come across this before, even at the mkvtoolnix page. Is it new?

By the way when using the terminal, the command is not :
mkvinfo
then "space", then drag and drop your mkv file, then "enter"

but rather
/usr/local/bin/mkvinfo
then "space", then drag and drop your mkv file, then "enter"

Else ker-plop will of course get a "mkvinfo: command not found" error, as usr/local/ bins are not "shortcut-able" anymore since Mac OS X 10.2 !

Hmm, I've never had to enter in the full path name to use mkvtoolnix. And it's even stranger since I'm no UNIX expert. I must've run some installer in the past that automatically added /usr/local/bin to my PATH.

[jpschuck]

There is an mkvextract with GUI for Mac OS X, for those who don't want to mess around with the Terminal.

That's awesome. I've never come across this before, even at the mkvtoolnix page. Is it new?

It was made during this summer by two members of the MacDK forum. Really nice app, isn't it ?

Note that there is also an MKVMerge GUI for Mac OS X and even a Matroska Component for Quicktime (not very useful though, as it's very slow, and as Quicktime still cannot handle "exotic" codecs such as RV40)

[Scallywag]

It was made during this summer by two members of the MacDK forum. Really nice app, isn't it ?

Yes, absolutely. This app should really be submitted to Macupdate.com and Versiontracker.com so it's easily found for those looking for MKV tools.

Note that there is also an MKVMerge GUI for Mac OS X.

I came across this in DarwinPorts and installed it. Unfortunately, it never worked properly. The GUI would launch but none of the buttons worked.