can i customize the video and audio output format in mkvtoolnix

[jraju]

Hi, i could convert mkv files to mp4 using mkvtoolnix software.
BUt i do not know how to customize my video output to h264 and audio to mp3 from the original video format in mkvtoolnix
is that possible please

[poisondeathray]

It's not possible with mkvtoolnix

[Sviests]

i could convert mkv files to mp4 using mkvtoolnix software...

There is no actual difference if the file is .mp4 or .mkv ,it's just a container. Since MKVToolnix doesn't actually recode anything, you're not "converting" anything.
The software is practically used to mux/demux audio/video streams,subtitles,chapters,etc or apend multiple files or split them (e.g. split by sizes or extract by specific timecodes).

There's a comandline tool called FFMPEG, that actually can do everything you described.

[jraju]

Hi, sviests,
Then please give the formula. i know something in ffmpeg
i want to convert the video codec to x264 of h264 or h264 and audio to mp3.
the original codec is advanced codec of video and audio which does not play in my tv, which ofcourse support mp3
please only give the formula , and i will substitue with my input file

[sneaker]

Try simply:

ffmpeg -i "inputfile" -ac 2 "outputfile.mp4"

(This will select libx264 and aac encoders because those are the default formats for .mp4. -ac 2 will recode to stereo because not all TVs support multi-channel AAC.)


If you absolutely want MP3 you can try:

ffmpeg -i "inputfile" -c:a libmp3lame "outputfile.mp4"

[lomero]

ffmpeg -i "yourfile.mp4" -vcodec h264 -b:v 4000k -c:a mp3 -b:a 256k "output.mp4"

bv is variable bitrate. choose what you prefer... (2000 or 3000, etc)
ca is relative to audio: choose 128 or 192 or 256 or 320

[jraju]

hi, lomero, what if my file is not mp4, but mkv.
Will ffmpeg realize mkv format.
Hi, sneaker, you have given two formula, one for video and other for audio, is it not
Could you combine both to get h264 and mp3
hi, lomero, if mkv is reallized in formula, i will choose and try your formula, will select 2000and 128

[jraju]

hi, lomero, your formula works , but take long time to process and completlle.
i used any video converter and selected the same parameters and converted it , its speed is very good .
Thanks for all the help

[lomero]

first: if u have mkv (not mp4) simply use my string with this changement

ffmpeg -i "yourfile.mkv" -vcodec h264 -b:v 2000k -c:a mp3 -b:a 128k "output.mkv"

second: very stange. i use ffmpeg to convert my video and it's very fast (not tested with mkv file...)

[jagabo]

hi, lomero, your formula works , but take long time to process and completlle.

Of course. It's reencoding the video and audio. You can use faster encoder settings. The quality won't be as good though. Try preset verfast:

ffmpeg -i "yourfile.mkv" -vcodec h264 -preset veryfast -b:v 2000k -c:a mp3 -b:a 128k "output.mkv"

I wouldn't use bitrate based encoding though. Use rate factor based encoding:

ffmpeg -i "yourfile.mkv" -vcodec h264 -preset veryfast -crf 20 -c:a mp3 -b:a 128k "output.mkv"

Use a smaller value for higher quality, higher value for lower quality.

[codehound]

Hi, i could convert mkv files to mp4 using mkvtoolnix software.
BUt i do not know how to customize my video output to h264 and audio to mp3 from the original video format in mkvtoolnix
is that possible please

None of this is possible in MkvToolNix.

You say you are trying to convert mkv to mp4? I assume you mean MPEG-4 Part 2 onwards > But with an Mp3 audio stream ?

A compliant mp4 cannot contain an Mp3 audio stream. Is there any reason you need the audio stream to be mp3 ? What device will you be playing your mp4 on ?

You don't have to re-encode anything, just convert its format, so will take minutes, not hours if you are seeking a 'normal' compliant mp4..

With these default settings ffmpeg will produce a compliant mp4, which by definition, cannot contain an mp3 audio stream.

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c copy output.mp4

You would have to drop onto the 'old' MPEG-II format in order to use an Mp3 audio stream:

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v mpeg2video -c:a mp3 output.mpg

Maybe better if you install MediaInfo or MediaInfoLite. Post the output txt here of your Mkv file and tell us if you want it converting to a standard, compliant Mp4 or not.

[jraju]

hi, codehound,
i need mp3 audio, even vlc have it as the first default, as old say 2016 tv deos not support aac, if that is what you mean
my tv does not play if the extension is mkv.
it does play x-264 and mp3.
if what you say is correct, the mp4 would not contain mp3, then why this is not played in tvs
if your first code is taken, then, it may even just produce the converted file as opus audio, which is not supported by most of the 2016 model tvs.
please clarify. mp4 cantainer can be anthing in audio like opus advanced codec.

[jraju]

HI, lomero,
is that your clue that , after converting the file to mkv extension, i could just rename it as extension .mp4 to play, as the container inside your formula is for h264 and mp3 audio.

[jagabo]

HI, lomero,
is that your clue that , after converting the file to mkv extension, i could just rename it as extension .mp4 to play, as the container inside your formula is for h264 and mp3 audio.

No. But you can simply change the output file extension on the ffmpeg command line to mp4 to directly create an mp4 file:

ffmpeg -i "yourfile.mkv" -vcodec h264 -preset veryfast -crf 20 -c:a mp3 -b:a 128k "output.mp4"

It's my understanding that mp3 has been officially supported in mp4 for several years now. In any case, if your TV only plays mp3 audio in mp4 then you have no choice.

[poisondeathray]

A compliant mp4 cannot contain an Mp3 audio stream.
.
.
.
With these default settings ffmpeg will produce a compliant mp4, which by definition, cannot contain an mp3 audio stream.

Yes it can.


mp3 (mpeg-2 layer 3) audio is definitely and officially compatible in mp4 (mpeg4 part 14) container, as per ISO specs

It was added in 2005 in ISO14496-3 MPEG-4 Part 3, subpart 9 (MPEG-1/MPEG-2 audio in MPEG4)

[codehound]

A compliant mp4 cannot contain an Mp3 audio stream.
.
.
.
With these default settings ffmpeg will produce a compliant mp4, which by definition, cannot contain an mp3 audio stream.

Yes it can.


mp3 (mpeg-2 layer 3) audio is definitely and officially compatible in mp4 (mpeg4 part 14) container, as per ISO specs

It was added in 2005 in ISO14496-3 MPEG-4 Part 3, subpart 9 (MPEG-1/MPEG-2 audio in MPEG4)

You try getting an Mp4 to work with Mp3 audio on an older TV...

[poisondeathray]

You try getting an Mp4 to work with Mp3 audio on an older TV...

That's not the same thing as "by definition cannot contain an mp3 audio stream"

By definition, it can - and it's 100% compliant with specs


If some TV manufacturer chooses not to implement support, that's a different topic

[ProWo]

Hi, sviests,
Then please give the formula. i know something in ffmpeg
i want to convert the video codec to x264 of h264 or h264 and audio to mp3.
the original codec is advanced codec of video and audio which does not play in my tv, which ofcourse support mp3
please only give the formula , and i will substitue with my input file

If the video codec is supported (x264 as stated) you can convert the audio stream only.
Use my clever FFmpeg-GUI, load your video. Set Audio modify, convert to mp3. In the multiplex section set your video as videostream, the new created mp3 as audiostream an remux as mp4. This file should play fine on your TV.

[jagabo]

If the video codec is supported (x264 as stated) you can convert the audio stream only.

For the OP: You can do that with ffmpeg directly with:

ffmpeg -i "yourfile.mkv" -c:v copy -c:a mp3 -b:a 128k "output.mp4"

[codehound]

I don't spend my life studying codec compliance and properties, so if someone cleverer than me says that Mp3 audio is now compliant in an Mp4 then I bow to their better knowledge. And, in that case jagabo's ffmpeg syntax should surely work.

[jraju]

hi codehound, it was humble on your part. i found the compatabie in vlc and so i replied that way.
Moreover, if i change only the audio, the advanced mp4 video codec are not supported in older model.
That is why , i prefer h264 and mp3 audio. my tv suppport mp3 but not aac.
i tried vlc , but it is mostly not saving correctly the subtitle as per the tutorial. mkvtoolnix came in handy in that aspect in embedding subtitles, but mkv does not allow changes in the video and auiio codec. So, what i am doing is just adding subtitle if necessary in mkvtoolnix and then using avc, i convert to comapatible h264, ie.x264 mp3 format.
regarding ffmpeg conversion , it takes more minutes than avc

[jagabo]

regarding ffmpeg conversion , it takes more minutes than avc

ffmpeg with video in copy mode shouldn't take much time at all. For example, I ran a quick test: a 90 minute, 4+ GB, 1080p video, took about 1.5 minutes.

[ProWo]

Moreover, if i change only the audio, the advanced mp4 video codec are not supported in older model.
That is why , i prefer h264 and mp3 audio. my tv suppport mp3 but not aac.

h264 encoder gives x264 encoded (AVC) files. Maybe you mean h263 encoder.