Idiosyncrasies of MKV files

[carlmart]

Until recently I thought converting MKV files onto DVD files was tricky. And wished to have some way to play MKVs directly so things could get better. No such luck.

Now I have one player that does play MKV files... eventually. The trickines is such that sometimes the player denies to play off a DVD, but plays them off a memory stick. Sometimes the subtitles show on the disc, sometimes they don't. Reasons researched for that: unknown.

In my case the player is an LG BD390 Blu-ray player I am using. Problems that come up:

1) Esporadically there are some files the files won't play at all off the disc. They play from mem stick.

2) Some MKV files refuse to show subtitles, even if they are the same srt type and merged in the same way as all the others.

3) One can only use one sub file, even if you have others.

It's quite likely that this is a problem specific to this LG player. But anyway I would like to research a bit more on MKV files to see the right way to handle them and what not to do.

For instance: I learned that the srt files have to be merged INSIDE the MKV file and not outside. There's no guarantee the sub will show if you don't.

What other things could anyone advise me about MKV files?

[jman98]

What other things could anyone advise me about MKV files?

I can tell you that BluRay and DVD players are much pickier about what they will play in terms of formats like MKV, Divx, etc. than dedicated media players.

[SatStorm]

You won't find a solution on this.

Your best bet is something like the nmt solutions (popcorn hour / eGrate, WDTV, etc). Those media players can playback most mkv files, but not all.
I have a Popcorn hour A100 myself, I hooked to it a USB DVD ROM and I can playback mkv files from DVD-R disks very easy.
Also I can playback the files through a network. Does excellent upscaling when needed too.

Regarding the subtitles, srt is ok, ass/ssa have issues (they are converted on the fly to srt, so they don't show correct on the screen, which can be a huge problem with anime, especially when karaoke shows on screen.)

My rule today: BluRay players are for BluRay movies only. For everything else, media players.

Anyway, if you wish to remain with your BluRay, then do some testing: Remux your mkv files using MKVtoolnix. That may fix playback problems. Also, add the subs that way, inside the mkv file (it is a very fast and easy process. One click).
But the fist time, do a test: open your srt subtitle file with windows notepad and save it twice on 2 separated files: One using ANSI and one using UTF-8 character set. Remux both SRTs on your mkv file and test which one shows on your player. Some players prefer ANSI, but most prefer UTF-8. Since you find which type your player prefer, always convert your subs to that.

[Baldrick]

Yep, a HTPC is the the only solution if you want to the play everything.

[carlmart]

Your best bet is something like the nmt solutions (popcorn hour / eGrate, WDTV, etc). Those media players can playback most mkv files, but not all.
I have a Popcorn hour A100 myself, I hooked to it a USB DVD ROM and I can playback mkv files from DVD-R disks very easy.
Also I can playback the files through a network. Does excellent upscaling when needed too.

The LG BD390 does streaming too. In fact I was going to buy a WDTV Live along with it for that purpose, but it was not available at the time. I will certainly connect a media center to my sistem, whatever it is. If the BD390 I will use it. If not I will sell it and get a WDTV Live.

Regarding the subtitles, srt is ok, ass/ssa have issues (they are converted on the fly to srt, so they don't show correct on the screen, which can be a huge problem with anime, especially when karaoke shows on screen.)

My rule today: BluRay players are for BluRay movies only. For everything else, media players.

Probably so. Then they are not for me, because I am not planning on buying any, and BD rentals are very few where I live. I bought a BD player when I knew you could play MKV files through them, and they seemed to be less problematic than media centers.

Anyway, if you wish to remain with your BluRay, then do some testing: Remux your mkv files using MKVtoolnix. That may fix playback problems. Also, add the subs that way, inside the mkv file (it is a very fast and easy process. One click).

I'm already doing that. I merge my files in MKVmerge, which comes in the MKVtoolnix package. I thought there might be another way to do that which I didn't know of. Or that I might do things in a different way.

But the fist time, do a test: open your srt subtitle file with windows notepad and save it twice on 2 separated files: One using ANSI and one using UTF-8 character set. Remux both SRTs on your mkv file and test which one shows on your player. Some players prefer ANSI, but most prefer UTF-8. Since you find which type your player prefer, always convert your subs to that.

OK, I may try that and see what happens. But I use Subtitle Workshop, that I think saves them as UTF-8.

An addendum, just not to open another thread:

Does anyone know how to precisely split an MKV or an H264 file? I mean in an exact frame.

[zerophi]

Need a little noob help here, I'm trying to watch Naruto .mkv's on the lg bd390 and so far no luck with the subtitles. I've downloaded the .mkvmerge software and remuxed it with utf8 with no success. Any ideas would be great. Thx

[carlmart]

Need a little noob help here, I'm trying to watch Naruto .mkv's on the lg bd390 and so far no luck with the subtitles. I've downloaded the .mkvmerge software and remuxed it with utf8 with no success. Any ideas would be great. Thx

Where are you using to see it from? A DVD or a memory stick?

They behave differently, and DVDs are particularly difficult sometimes. Sticks are better.

When viewing from the PC network, subs work fine when connecting directly, without the Nero media center program. But then the srt subs have to be OUT the mkv file, no in it.

[porfitron]

At DivX, we have an MKV certification that's called DivX Plus HD, which is H.264 video, AAC audio, and includes specifications for handling subtitles, chapters and meta data. That way, your MKV videos that are within spec will behave exactly the same across any DivX Plus devices, much like DivX/AVI files do with the current DivX players. There are going to be some device announcements soon, but our profile and certification aims to solve the problems brought up here, because basic MKV support is just not enough (there are too many holes, as you've discovered).

[zerophi]

I'm viewing it over the usb stick because even though the manual for the Lg bd390 states it reads .mkv it doesn't read they through a media stream, only disc and usb drives. so when i goto watch the .mkv episodes on the usb stick it wont play any subtitles at all, and i've tired remuxing it a couple of times.

[carlmart]

even though the manual for the Lg bd390 states it reads .mkv it doesn't read they through a media stream, only disc and usb drives. so when i goto watch the .mkv episodes on the usb stick it wont play any subtitles at all, and i've tired remuxing it a couple of times.

Yes, it does read mkv files through the media stream. If you can´t get that there must be some other problem.

Can you see your files, which should be on a specific directory, from the LG?

Did you install the Nero media program?

What I could find out is that even through Nero you may not see certain subs. In that case go through a standard network to see a specific directory.

[zerophi]

even though the manual for the Lg bd390 states it reads .mkv it doesn't read they through a media stream, only disc and usb drives. so when i goto watch the .mkv episodes on the usb stick it wont play any subtitles at all, and i've tired remuxing it a couple of times.

Yes, it does read mkv files through the media stream. If you can´t get that there must be some other problem.

Can you see your files, which should be on a specific directory, from the LG?

Did you install the Nero media program?

What I could find out is that even through Nero you may not see certain subs. In that case go through a standard network to see a specific directory.

I run Nero media home and i'm able to watch the .avi files that way but the .mkv files dont even show up on the screen in the lg player. I'm accessing the files through the "My Media" page and then i click on the nero media server and no .mkv files will show up?? any ideas?

[zerophi]

BUMP