Easy MKV -> DVD application? Want 5.1 and max quality (4,4 GB or DVD9)

[bjorsa]

I read countless of guides describing how to convert MKV files to DVD's. These are the typical problems I run into:


*The guides use too many programs and too many steps. There will always be something to give me trouble along the way, like the aspect ratio gets weird or something. Also, I feel the processing claims far too much time. (I have a kid, a business and extra jobs to take care of.)

*The output file often only produces 2 channel sound. I want 5.1 with good quality.

*The output file is smaller than the MKV original. Why would anybody want e.g. 3,3 Gb DVD (VOB's) file when a DVD can hold 4,4? We use a projector and any quality loss is clearly seen.


In short, is there really no decent converter out there that converts MKV to a set 4,4 Gb maxed-out quality - or dual layer - DVD with 5.1 sound in an easy-to-use way? One would think this is a common problem nowadays?


Very much appreciate any tips, help or knowledgeable answer!

[guns1inger]

I use AVS2DVD (free), and if that fails for some reason (which is rare), ConvertXtoDVD (not free)

[bjorsa]

None of those programs produce 5.1 DVD's without useless loss of quality. I tried them both and they kinda suck, messing up the video quality instead of letting me chose target size. Or is it me not knowing how to use them properly?

[Moontrash]

try Multiavchd...it does everything and keeps the audio you want

[guns1inger]

Do you want a DVD, or bluray material on a DVD ?

Both of those will keep (untouched) and DVD compliant audio when creating a DVD from MKV source. If it is not DVD compliant it will be re-encoded, and 5.1 is maintained. I have never experienced the level of quality loss that you are describing.

If you want to create a DVD that holds AVC material then Multi-AVCHD or AVCHDCoder are your best bets. Both can keep the source audio (again, assuming it is compliant). The resulting disc will be playable on the PS3 and some BluRay players, or can be output for devices that read from USB keys. Note : these discs will not be playable in a standard DVD player.

It is also worth noting that most mkv files have been cropped from their original aspect ratio and are no longer compliant. These will have to be re-encoded, adding back the black bars that have been cropped, and this will take time. General expect a 3 - 4 hour encode on a Q6600 quad core, and much more if you choose a higher quality level.

[ulapines]

FAVC

[bjorsa]

Thanks for your input!

I tried multiAVCHD and let the computer work on it over the night. It created a perfect 4,3 Gb clone. But alas, just like you said, Nero refuses the files. My wish is to create standard DVD's for my standalone player.

There are too many formats and tricks. I feel helpless when I see files like this. I don't even know what AVC is. Audio Video Codec? Just give me the VOB's please.... (Whatever VOB means)

FAVC wasn't cutting it either, won't even start. All them programs produce smaller files which, inevitably, messes up the video quality. Or they lose the surround. I would have guessed I'm not the only one who would like to burn MKV's to a DVD disc and keep all the goodies, but apparently few give a damn or the programs would work as I want them to:
Squeezing as much quality as possible into a DVD5 or DVD9 with surround.
Nothing more to it.

I use win7 x64 and maybe some applications are not running as they should. I have tried and disposed of the following:
AviSynth 2.5
AVStoDVD
ConvertXtoDVD 4
dvdSanta
Free MKV Video2DVD
Haali Media Splitter
K-Lite Codec Pack
SUPER version2010

I sincerely thank you for your efforts. Maybe it's best for me to simply stop using MKV all together. I really hate the format by now - not to mention a slow computer can't even play them.

[creamyhorror]

You shouldn't have tried to use MultiAVCHD, it doesn't produce Video DVDs. It produces AVCHD discs or Blu-ray discs. Moontrash shouldn't have recommended it in the first place, but there you are.

I don't know about your 5.1 channel requirement, but AVStoDVD is a well-regarded piece of software and I doubt it has any real failing in the video quality department. I also believe it determines video track sizes it self and you shouldn't interfere with that.

[ulapines]

Did you use FAVC 64 bit version?
Requires Microsoft's .NET framework v2 and at least v2.57 of Avisynth.

OOPS, Just saw this post:
Doesn't work in Win7 x64. The 32-bit flag needs to be turned on using the .NET 2.0 tool corflags, which is part of the .NET SDK, a free download from Microsoft.

Install the SDK, copy favc.exe to the Bin folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft.NET\SDK\v2.0\Bin), open a command prompt in the Bin folder and type the following:

corflags favc.exe /32bit+

Copy favc.exe back to its original folder and you should be good to go.

[guns1inger]

AVStoDVD to convert the file to a DVD, and Imgburn to burn the results. Never, ever, ever use Nero to burn DVD or Bluray Video discs.

[multiAVCHD]

You shouldn't have tried to use MultiAVCHD, it doesn't produce Video DVDs. It produces AVCHD discs or Blu-ray discs. Moontrash shouldn't have recommended it in the first place, but there you are.

I don't know about your 5.1 channel requirement, but AVStoDVD is a well-regarded piece of software and I doubt it has any real failing in the video quality department. I also believe it determines video track sizes it self and you shouldn't interfere with that.

It surely produces Video DVDs (SD DVD) along with HD-DVD, AVCHD, Blu-ray and SD_VIDEO.
Once it is done you get VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders and simply burn them to a DVD disc.

Dean

[creamyhorror]

Woops, I had no idea. Sorry for misinforming.

[Moontrash]

MultiAvchd works just fine when downsizing a mkv or BR to dvd and keeping the 5.1 audio. It's got a learning curve to it but it does do the job quite well. Try using Imgburn instead of Nero to burn the files. I havent had an issue where the created sd dvd files weren't accepted. I use Nero to burn Dvd files and mine were just fine. Have tried Imgburn and the same, no issues. As guns1inger mentions, going from a hd source down to dvd, it will take some time. Depending on the encoder you choose and number of passes, usually between 4 to 6 hrs. I've had good results with MultiAvchd and will keep using it if ever FAVC would update to a few new features that only MultiAvchd has.

The main issue with FAVC is that if your mkv has multiple audio tracks it will pick the first one...even if you want the 2nd or 3rd. If it had a feature that lets you pick audio i would use it all the time, but alas, it doesn't.

[bjorsa]

So multiAVCHD should do the trick? I have to conclude then, I'm just too dumb for the job

It always complains about video height being wrong or something like that. I fiddled with it for quite some time but can't come up with a soultion even for that.

The interface is mindbogging. The program also has a number of really annoying features, e.g. when I give a path to my mkv file, mulitAVCHD simply says "the path contains illegal characters" and forces me to move the whole file to another HDD. What's up with that shit? No other program bothers. I use swedish characters to describe my folders ("filmer, okänd kvalitet" meaning "movies, of unknown quality") but of course not in the file name itself.

I'll try read through the guide again and give it a shot. But if it gets any more complicated I'll digress and wait for a better program instead. Thanks a lot to all of you that are helping me out here!

[guns1inger]

Put your file in a simple folder structure, with a simple name. Avoid filename issues form the outset.

Start Multi-AVCHD.
Click Add Files and select your file. It's name will appear in the list below in either green or red. If it is green, it is compliant. If it is red, it is not.
If it is red, click on the red file name, and the file properties dialogue will open.
Click on Transcode.
Set a bitrate, and select 2-Pass Fast for encoding. There are higher quality options, but this is a good compromise between quality a speed.
Click OK.

The rest of settings concern menus and subtitles for the most part. For single movie discs I generally turn off the menu authoring as I don't need them. I suggest, for this first disc, you do the same. You can play with menus later.

Click start, and select the appropriate output type (In this case, DVD) and let it go.

When it is done, burn the results with Imgburn.

However, as much as I like and use Multi-AVCHD for creating AVCHD discs for the PS3, I prefer and generally use AVStoDVD for DVD authoring because I like HCEnc for encoding.

[multiAVCHD]

multiAVCHD supports QuEnc, HCenc 1-pass VBR and HCenc 2-pass encoder options both for Blu-ray MPEG2 and SD DVD.

[guns1inger]

I will have to look into it's DVD capabilities some more then.

[kpa]

when I give a path to my mkv file, mulitAVCHD simply says "the path contains illegal characters" and forces me to move the whole file to another HDD. What's up with that shit? No other program bothers. I use swedish characters to describe my folders ("filmer, okänd kvalitet" meaning "movies, of unknown quality") but of course not in the file name itself.

This is inexcusable, a tool like this should be able to deal with whatever file names the user feeds it via the standard windows file dialog.

[multiAVCHD]

The tool is win32 application and doesn't handle unicode too well, leading to numerous errors during the compilation process - a lot of errors and bug reports which have nothing to do with the process itself, but with the non-ansi characters in the file/path names.

I use cyrilic and I know how inconvenient it is, but it is for users' best to have it that way.

Dean

[yoda313]

An option that is sounding better and better for the original poster is to invest in a wdtv media player or a similar hd media player.

That way no encoding is involved. Just load the mkv's in a harddrive (ntfs support in wdtv and surely in many of the competing models that have popped up lately). Then you just have the media player connected, I believe the poster said to a projector, it has hdmi and standard rca output (I"m sure there is scart available for the European model though I have the U.S. model so I'm not knoweldgable about those issues).

One downside would be component hookup. I don't believe any of the variants of the wdtv series offers component output - though that may have changed recently, just hdmi and rca as far as I know.

These generally cost 120.00 USD give or take (at least here in the U.S. - don't know about European models - but probably comparable - certainly if you look into used models on online auction sites).

The initial outlay will probably more than make up for the frustration your experiencing with finding a suitable program to work on making dvds. And best thing is if you have a hd setup with this projector you can play the hd content in the mkv without sacrificing a downconversion to dvd.

It is something for you to consider if you are not finding a suitable program at your level of experience.

Edit - and yes it does 5.1 via hdmi or a seperate fiber optic output - of course you will need a dts receiver for dts encoded files - though you need that anyway if its on a dvd so nothing different there.