.MKV to .M2V Conversion Problems.

[nerdgeek]

My first post here - please bear with me

I have a short film .mkv which I wish to add into a DVD using DVD-Lab PRO.

MKVExtractGUI extracts audio fine but will not get the video stream.
So I used AVI-Mux GUI 1.17.7 & binary extract - pulls out an .m2v just fine.

Problem is this stream has 0-GOP reported by DVD-Lab PRO & causes compilation abort.

Either the conversion by AVI-Mux GUI has done something to the GOP (timing codes?)?
Or the original MPEG stream had errors & they've just been passed on.

SUMMARY:
Have original .MKV
Have extracted .M2V

Need to 'correct' the stream so that DVD-Lab PRO can compile it into the DVD (not reporting 0-GOP & unknown time).

Is there a Windows tool that will automatically correct this (insert timecodes / GOP ???)?

Failing that - is there a tool that can convert either file to another format (.AVI ??) so that it can then be ReConverted to a VALID & compileable .m2v for DVD-Lab PRO.

This is a short film - quite rare - quality is important but not essential if I have to recode out & back to get a useable file.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Nico M 8)

[mats.hogberg]

AFAIK, AviMuxGUI don't change anything - it just extracts. I also doubt there's a m2v video stream inside the MKV - Not that I'm that familiar with MKV, but m2v seems like an odd video codec for MKV video - All m2v streams I've seen comes from mpg or VOB containers.

/Mats

[nerdgeek]

AFAIK, AviMuxGUI don't change anything - it just extracts. I also doubt there's a m2v video stream inside the MKV - Not that I'm that familiar with MKV, but m2v seems like an odd video codec for MKV video - All m2v streams I've seen comes from mpg or VOB containers.
/Mats

Thanks for replying/information.

OK - AviMuxGUI actually outputs a .raw binary video stream (I renamed the extension to .m2v - plays fine in VLC etc - can't be used by DLP).

How would you recommend I extract the video from the .mkv & use it in DVD-LAB PRO? Will do multiple conversions if I have to.

Tried VirtualDubMod but it reports the .mkv is 'unsupported codec ???' and crashes.

Nico M 8)

[mats.hogberg]

Then it probably isn't m2v - it has to be converted somehow - AVI would seem like a good choice as an intemediate format.
Have you tried any of these guides?
https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?searchtext=&tools=&madeby=&formatconversionselect=...or+List+Guides

/Mats

[guns1inger]

Have you tried opening this mystery video with G-spot to see what it thinks it is ?

Or even looked at the media and streams info page in VLC while it is playing ?

[nerdgeek]

Then it probably isn't m2v - it has to be converted somehow - AVI would seem like a good choice as an intemediate format.
Have you tried any of these guides?
https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?searchtext=&tools=&madeby=&formatconversionselect=...or+List+Guides
/Mats

Thanks Mats,

Thought of a route to go - will use ConvertXtoDVD & then VideoRedo to get the elementary video stream, heh heh heh ..... should only involve a single encode, we'll see.

I'll post if it works & I'll post if it doesn't.

Nico M 8)

[mats.hogberg]

Using Convertx2dvd should do, if it has no problem converting the mkv, yes, even if there qualitywise are better DVD encoders. But to get the job done, this approach seems like a working solution.

/Mats

[nerdgeek]

Have you tried opening this mystery video with G-spot to see what it thinks it is ?

Or even looked at the media and streams info page in VLC while it is playing ?

Sure - 'even' did that - Gspot is great, but in this case neither had anything useful to report.

Wish headband would develop Gspot a lot more (.mkv & .ogg support mainly) - but it's amazing for a freeware product.

Nico M 8)

[45tripp]

use mkvinfo of mkvtoolnix.

so is this a post confiming convertx worked or not? :P

you could upload a sample somewhere if you like

[nerdgeek]

use mkvinfo of mkvtoolnix.

so is this a post confiming convertx worked or not? :P

you could upload a sample somewhere if you like

Yes ConvertXtoDVD (then VideoReDo .m2v extract) worked - sloppy but it worked.

Just tried mkvinfo but the output is not exactly easy to understand for me at least ... this is the output option 'show important elements':

<snip>
(MKVInfo) + EBML head at 0
(MKVInfo) |+ Doc type: matroska at 5
(MKVInfo) |+ Doc type version: 1 at 16
(MKVInfo) |+ Doc type read version: 1 at 20
(MKVInfo) + Segment, size 123550239 at 24
(MKVInfo) |+ Seek head at 36
(MKVInfo) | + Seek entry at 41
(MKVInfo) | + Seek ID: 0x15 0x49 0xa9 0x66 (KaxInfo) at 44
(MKVInfo) | + Seek position: 4099 at 51
(MKVInfo) | + Seek entry at 56
(MKVInfo) | + Seek ID: 0x16 0x54 0xae 0x6b (KaxTracks) at 59
(MKVInfo) | + Seek position: 4263 at 66
(MKVInfo) | + Seek entry at 71
(MKVInfo) | + Seek ID: 0x11 0x4d 0x9b 0x74 (KaxSeekHead) at 74
(MKVInfo) | + Seek position: 123548212 at 81
(MKVInfo) | + Seek entry at 88
(MKVInfo) | + Seek ID: 0x1c 0x53 0xbb 0x6b (KaxCues) at 91
(MKVInfo) | + Seek position: 123539313 at 98
(MKVInfo) |+ EbmlVoid (size: 4027) at 105
(MKVInfo) |+ Segment information at 4135
(MKVInfo) | + Timecode scale: 1000000 at 4141
(MKVInfo) | + Muxing application: libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.0 at 4148
(MKVInfo) | + Writing application: mkvmerge v1.7.0 ('What Do You Take Me For') built on Apr 28 2006 17:20:19 at 4186
(MKVInfo) | + Duration: 239.773s (00:03:59.773000000) at 4262
(MKVInfo) | + Date: Fri Dec 01 20:39:42 2006 UTC at 4269
(MKVInfo) | + Segment UID: 0x8d 0xd3 0x92 0x54 0xa8 0x7a 0xde 0x8c 0x8b 0x2f 0xf6 0x47 0x37 0xfe 0x4f 0xd5 at 4280
(MKVInfo) |+ Segment tracks at 4299
(MKVInfo) | + A track at 4305
(MKVInfo) | + Track number: 1 at 4308
(MKVInfo) | + Track UID: 1609636272 at 4311
(MKVInfo) | + Track type: video at 4318
(MKVInfo) | + Enabled: 1 at 4321
(MKVInfo) | + Default flag: 1 at 4324
(MKVInfo) | + Forced flag: 0 at 4327
(MKVInfo) | + Lacing flag: 0 at 4331
(MKVInfo) | + MinCache: 2 at 4334
(MKVInfo) | + Timecode scale: 1.000000 at 4338
(MKVInfo) | + Max BlockAddition ID: 0 at 4346
(MKVInfo) | + Codec ID: V_MPEG2 at 4350
(MKVInfo) | + Codec decode all: 1 at 4359
(MKVInfo) | + CodecPrivate, length 164 at 4362
(MKVInfo) | + Default duration: 33.367ms (29.970 fps for a video track) at 4530
(MKVInfo) | + Language: und at 4538
(MKVInfo) | + Video track at 4545
(MKVInfo) | + Pixel width: 720 at 4547
(MKVInfo) | + Pixel height: 480 at 4551
(MKVInfo) | + Interlaced: 0 at 4555
(MKVInfo) | + Display width: 640 at 4558
(MKVInfo) | + Display height: 480 at 4563
(MKVInfo) | + A track at 4568
(MKVInfo) | + Track number: 2 at 4570
(MKVInfo) | + Track UID: 4017838991 at 4573
(MKVInfo) | + Track type: audio at 4580
(MKVInfo) | + Enabled: 1 at 4583
(MKVInfo) | + Default flag: 1 at 4586
(MKVInfo) | + Forced flag: 0 at 4589
(MKVInfo) | + Lacing flag: 1 at 4593
(MKVInfo) | + MinCache: 0 at 4596
(MKVInfo) | + Timecode scale: 1.000000 at 4600
(MKVInfo) | + Max BlockAddition ID: 0 at 4608
(MKVInfo) | + Codec ID: A_AC3 at 4612
(MKVInfo) | + Codec decode all: 1 at 4619
(MKVInfo) | + Default duration: 32.000ms (31.250 fps for a video track) at 4622
(MKVInfo) | + Language: und at 4630
(MKVInfo) | + Audio track at 4637
(MKVInfo) | + Sampling frequency: 48000.000000 at 4639
(MKVInfo) | + Channels: 2 at 4645
(MKVInfo) |+ EbmlVoid (size: 1024) at 4648
(MKVInfo) |+ Cluster at 5675
</snip>

Erm ...... doesn't seem to flag any errors but what do I know?

Nico M 8)

[45tripp]

It is an elementary mpeg2 stream.
You started the right way.

I guess you could take the avimux extract into restream and tinker with it, see if you can kick it into something dvdlab will accept.

I've never been in contact with such a file..
but I believe you can import the mkv into dgindex and at least use avisynth bells, and an encoder of your choice instead of convertx.

Avidemux should open your source and offer you an option or two.

gl

[theewizard]

you could try super, i had a very troublesome mkv file and I used super to create an mpeg2 just be sure to KEEP the fps of the source file in the conversion settings, and set a high bitrate like 6000 for the mpeg2

[nerdgeek]

Thanks both 45tripp & theewizard,

Trying out Super & looking at Avidemux etc but right now I'm digging into why an extracted .sup (Japanese subtitles) that I've converted to .son has black opaque background .... more trawling these forums ... sigh ...... but everyone's so nice, heh heh heh.

Forgot to say that I 'tinkered' (ignorance is bliss) in earnest with ReStream but to no joy for my specific purpose.

Ta,
Nico M 8)

[nerdgeek]

you could try super, i had a very troublesome mkv file and I used super to create an mpeg2 just be sure to KEEP the fps of the source file in the conversion settings, and set a high bitrate like 6000 for the mpeg2

Tried it .... rencode to .mpg was no better than ConvertXtoDVD even at highest bitrates etc & I noted the output filesize was 1/4 the input ...

Then tried direct stream copy/no audio but the resultant /mpg was unreadable & there is no facility for a 'non-containered' elementary stream such as .m2v AFAIK.

Like the 'info' popup best - hated the way it flung all output into C:\ (this IS 2007 after all).

Guess it's a work-in-hand & not bad 4 that - pity .m2v direct stream output is not supported.

Nico M 8)

[guns1inger]

That so many programs don't like the .m2v file would strongly suggest that somewhere in the creation of the .mkv, the original stream has been altered or damaged enough that it is no longer recognisable as such. if the latest g-Spot doesn't see it as an true mpeg elementary stream, then few if any other will.

[nerdgeek]

That so many programs don't like the .m2v file would strongly suggest that somewhere in the creation of the .mkv, the original stream has been altered or damaged enough that it is no longer recognisable as such. if the latest g-Spot doesn't see it as an true mpeg elementary stream, then few if any other will.

I perhaps did not explain well - Gspot recognises it fine - just doesn't flag any problem with it.
All program recognise it & all players play it - just that DLP flags 0-GOP & cannot (it appears) derive timing headers or such & therefore aborts the compile. Even DLP 'recognises' it, just won't use it. Various forum posts & other info refer to the 0-GOP but I've not been able to find anything useful, eg a fix.

I'm using a re-encoded .m2v now which is OK but of course if you find info on dealing wiyth 0-GOP that would rock, as it'd be nice to use the original elementary video stream without re-encoding it.

[Abond]

Try to load the m2v in Cuttermaran and look if it begins with B-frame or P-frame.

[nerdgeek]

Try to load the m2v in Cuttermaran and look if it begins with B-frame or P-frame.

Cutterman 1.68a says:
'This video contains errors in temporal reference'
'Not every GOP has a sequence header'
And warnings about cutting it & possible crashes.
Cutterman won't load it & asks for another file ....

Suggestions welcomed,
Nico M 8)

[guns1inger]

Really badly encoded video. Crap source always causes problems.

Will VideoRedo load it and repair the errors ?

[nerdgeek]

Really badly encoded video. Crap source always causes problems.

Will VideoRedo load it and repair the errors ?

No - I had to make a DVD w ConvertXtoDVD, then extract the .m2v with VideoReDo, which made it workable with DLB.

What was bad? This is a Japanese commercial DVD extra ..... from the mid 1990s probably. Film was actually shot in 1985 so might even be an earlier digital artifact.

Nico M 8)

[45tripp]

Tried it .... rencode to .mpg was no better than ConvertXtoDVD even at highest bitrates etc & I noted the output filesize was 1/4 the input ...

Like the 'info' popup best - hated the way it flung all output into C:\ (this IS 2007 after all).

That's to be expected.
It's not a precision tool. If it at least outputed the file at the filesize you wanted you could avoid the step of using videoredo to extract from the convertx vob files. Just load mpg into lab and let it demux.

You can change the output folder. Right click anywhere and go to output management.

Keep in mind videoredo doesn't accept elementary streams. You'd have to mux before importing. But there's nothing it can do, so don't bother.

The GOPs are physically there but there are no sequence headers or group start codes (none).
I don't know of any tools that can insert that information without re-encoding.
There seem to be plenty of tools, that will fix, or change headers but they have to already exist, nothing to create without encoding.
I'm guessing it's possible to manually go in with a surgical knife but I don't really know.
If anybody has more info, let me know.

You can author as is with other tools.
But each gop should have a seaquence header to be dvd compliant and it's not a minor issue.
Most probable outcome: stuttering video.

There might be a hack solution to the problem...

In any case it's easier to re-encode.
Simplest is to load the mkv straight into gdindex, index and load into avisynth.
Get the benefit of some avisynth filtering (recommended),
encode with HC.
Author with lab.
the end.

gl

[nerdgeek]

Thanks for the info 45tripp - appreciated.

Well I got a reasonable result my way - now have a few Japanese subtitle issues to sort out ..... might try your:

here might be a hack solution to the problem...
In any case it's easier to re-encode.
Simplest is to load the mkv straight into gdindex, index and load into avisynth.
Get the benefit of some avisynth filtering (recommended),
encode with HC.
Author with lab.

when I have some time.

BTW - I hate programs that associate file types without telling me. Super pinched .spf - why? This filetype seems to be part of a .son group (but not used) & opening it just opened Super?
Pinching associations & flinging results into C:\ by default, erm.

Nico M 8)

[theewizard]

i've never had super 'associate' with any file type

my guess is it wasn't associate and windwos did it or you click yes on the pop in a hurry

when nothing is associated and you click open and windows ask you to choose a program, windows DEFAULTS to checkmarking the always use this program box, you have to make sure it is NOT checked before clicking OK

[nerdgeek]

Well sorry - it did - maybe you never had any .spf files that showed it.
And if your're the developer please say so.

[theewizard]

no i am not the developer, I started using super for cell phone and portable conversion in early 2006, so i know its been around longer than that. maybe i don't have any spf files.. but i have plenty of mpeg and avi, and super never 'associated or appropriated ' those

sorry , i stand corrected

I did a view file type, and it does list spf as super

I can only assume that file extension is use by super for some of its temp files during conversion,

a real problem ' i guess' IF you have some other program that also uses that extension for its files.

it takes all of xx minutes to change that..

does it keep resetting, when ever you run super ? If so i guess you will have to find a different program to use, in order to avoid the inconveience..

[nerdgeek]

I've already removed the association & no it doesn't keep grabbing after the install.
It's just sloppy programming not to givel the user the option although in my case it was not important. Other features were good as I said - I say it like I see it .....