AVC in MKV

[Inventive Software]

Is it possible (yet)? I tried muxing a raw AVC stream created with x264's command line app, and mkvmerge threw a paddy saying that the file format wasn't supported. I checked the specification on http://www.matroska.org, and the only way I can see it happening is by using *gulp* x264 VFW, and muxing it that way. I'm using MP4 for now, but I plan to do an encode of Scrubs Series 1, and wanna keep the AC3 track. I know about the issues AC3 has in MP4, and this is why I think MKV is my best option for the container.

[check]

mkvmerge can't handle raw h264, you need to mux to mp4 with mp4box first.

[Inventive Software]

Eh? Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you're essentially telling me is that I need to mux to MP4, then transcode / re-mux to MKV?

[check]

correct

[Inventive Software]

This with the raw bitstream created with x264.exe, and not the VFW created one? (Sorry for the questions, but I wanna make ABSOLUTELY sure, before I trip up on something!)

[check]

Yes, with raw .264, you must multiplex to mp4 via mp4box before mkvmerge will accept it.
Presumably the rationale is that implementing something that would probably take a while to write twice is a waste of time.

[Inventive Software]

OK, thanks for that!

[GodofaGap]

Why don't you use the mkv output of x264?

[Inventive Software]

Because the 2 times I used that function x264 crashed. Raw output works, and allows me to mux audio and chapters and the like into either MP4 or MKV, as I see fit.

[HymnToLife]

Have you tried using MeGUI ? Works like a charm here.

[Haali]

If you can reliably reproduce such a crash, please file a bug report.

[foxyshadis]

It's an x264 bug that's been reported a few times on the AVC forum already, so I'm sure it'll be fixed soon (or you can use an older rev), but for now raw bitstreams are the only reliable output.

[GodofaGap]

I have been using MKV output from the beginning and I can't remember it crashing. Perhaps it is only with Sharktooth's builds? (He applies patches, and http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=114322) here a guy says x264.nl builds work, and Sharktooth's fail)

[Inventive Software]

Perhaps I ought to clarify the x264 MKV situation. I tried it twice, and it was put down to a rogue setting that I was experimenting with at the time (can't remember, so can't help). Since I used RAW output, everything's been fine, and that's how I'd like to keep things.

@HymnToLife: I've used MeGUI, and when encoding audio to AAC, I've had numerous problems relating to it not enqueuing / encoding, and steered well clear of both MeGUI and AAC since. MP3 and AC3, depending on the backup work fine.

[foxyshadis]

Godofagap, yes, it's something that only affects sharktooth's latest couple builds.