mkv2vob: New App to Remux MKV x264/AC3 which play on PS3

[3r1c]

So far everything seems to work fine for me. Thanks 3r1c. I guess now that subtitles works, and AAC 5.1 can be converted to AC3 5.1, I have just one more request to make this the complete PS3 program for me.

Basically, I know the PS3 is supposed to play Divx and Xvid, but it doesn't always work. I want one program that will do it all. If I have an avi file that has 2ch audio, then let the program make it guaranteed PS3 compatible. Moreover, if the avi file has 5.1 AC3 audio, then let the program make it PS3 compatible.

I try to download only mkv's from now on, but sometimes the only copies available are avi's. I know this goes against the concept of "mkv"2vob, but this would make your program the be all and end all.

Well i happen to already know exactly how to detect avi's which are unplayable too.
I will see what i can do.

[AKarpo]

3ric, I donated last night; I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work. I think I'm going to purchase a PS3 at some point in the near future. Again, thank you , the community appreciates your efforts.

[Glorioso]

I just tested the new version and after some 3 hours of transcoding, a when the progress bar reached the end it says, muxing failed.. :-(

[Stathis]

Thanks a lot for your hard work! Ultra fast when you don' t have to transcode!!!
I have question though. When you add subtitles the transcoded video has noticeable differences?
Thanks again!

[Quatre]

If subtitle support is on the way then how about an option to always transcode if subtitles are detected? The rationale is that if you are letting mkv2vob extract the mkv from a rar, then the user would not know whether or not there is a subtitle track. You might assume the file does not have a subtitle track if the movie is in English but there might be a few scenes where another language is spoken.

great point. often there are some movies with subtitles in a few scenes that get left out when encoded to a certain file type. I know certain wmv releases that had a few scenes where another language was spoken and there was supposed to be subs that weren't there so you missed that whole part of the movie.

some movies have such minimal subtitles (like when the trex talks in meet the robinsons) that some ppl may still actually not want to transcode just to add some minimal unimportant subs.

But I see your point if the person doesn't know if there is subs, mkv2vob could automatically transcode and hardcode the subs, but usually ppl are going to know if its a foreign film etc and has subs and ideally would be mkv2vob lets you know that it detected a subtitle track and then asks you if you want to transcode and add the subs hardcoded warning that if you dont you would not have any subs.

[maxpontello]

I've tested the new option to compensate the tv overscan but the result was a file identical to the one obtained with the previous version. I mean, sub are readable as before, but they are in the far botton of the screen, with their last line cut over the line of screen by a little of overscan. Anyone have tested?

Thanks

[klas]

hi, thx for a really great program!

I have problems with the subtitles, the Swedish Å, Ä and Ö is gone in the movie after converting. Instead there is a underscore. The same as for the user "carbonkid" above.

The same thing with the spanish subtitles, á,é,í, ó,ú,ñ, ía,ón.

Thanks a lot for your hard work!

[3r1c]

I have found the problem, fix soon.

[Audioboxer]

3r1c you should take a look mate,

Tsmuxer 1.3.5

http://www.smlabs.net/tsMuxer/tsMuxeR_1.3.5.zip
added demux
fixed ac3 2.0 bug (detection & muxing)
small mkv fixes
and etc.

[Loggie]

I just tested the new version and after some 3 hours of transcoding, a when the progress bar reached the end it says, muxing failed.. :-(

I'm having the same problem.
Tried it with several mkv files.

The weird thing is when I use the program on a file that doesn't have any subs in the mkv its working properly.
I have no idea what could cause this (nor am I an expert and this is all new to me).

I did have trancoded a few mkv files that had subs with a previous version of MKV2VOB that didn't have subtitle suport.....that worked.
But the latest version (at least in my case) seems to be having probs when subs are present in the mkv file.

[Quatre]

found a way around the problem tho.

I muxed the *.srt file onto the mkv, using mkvmerge(and set the correct language settings).
Then used that mkv in mkv2vob.
voila, transcoded vob with subtitles =)

yeah i think the subs have to part of the mkv already, not a separate srt file for mkv2vob to be able to hardcode them into the resulting transcoded mpeg-2.

this isn't a be to end all subtitle option but for most foreign films x264's in a diff language with english subs they are already part of the mkv but we still lost them with previous versions of mkv2vob and no sub support on ps3, now you can transcode and get teh hardcoded subs for ps3 that the mkv is supposed to have.

Great updates. Can't wait to try Protege' (Moon to) 2007 1080p L4.1 x264 to see if i get the english subs now though i guess the point of it being L4.1 is nullified as it has to transcode for the subs.

edit: oops heh i see 3rlc added support now for separate .srt sub files.

[JonLovejoy]

3r1c you should take a look mate,

I've been using since very early version and tried to use 2.0.3 and 2.0.4 to convert one of the Star Wars films, however it would just stick on 'muxing' - I left it overnight and all day but it didn't create anything. I downloaded from the link you posted and installed the updated TSmuxer to my directory - so far it seems to be working but I'll let you know if that cures the problem.

I think the problem might have been that the file in question has AC3 2.0 and not 5.1 - perhaps the update will sort this.

[skyham]

Since the new style version I have been unable to import any mkv file as it always pops up an error 52. What is making it unhappy? Running Vista 32 bit. These are the same files I used as sources previously.

[Stathis]

I have a problem with Greek subs.
I 've attached an image to show you what's wrong.
I also give you the subs i used.
If you have any ideas what could be wrong please help me.

[fmaddin]

It seems that playing TS files is almost as much as a problem to play as MKV files were (before mkv2vob). The only guide I've seen still has too many steps. The tools that mkv2vob use seem to possibly be capable of converting TS files to something usable. Can anyone shed any light on this?

[Audioboxer]

Tsmuxer 1.3.5

http://www.smlabs.net/tsMuxer/tsMuxeR_1.3.5.zip
added demux
fixed ac3 2.0 bug (detection & muxing)
small mkv fixes
and etc.

Tsmuxer 1.3.6 out now,

http://www.smlabs.net/tsMuxer/tsMuxeR_1.3.6.zip

[Quatre]

It seems that playing TS files is almost as much as a problem to play as MKV files were (before mkv2vob). The only guide I've seen still has too many steps. The tools that mkv2vob use seem to possibly be capable of converting TS files to something usable. Can anyone shed any light on this?

I think .ts support is a good suggestion if not for a separate program.

I think we shouldn't get carried away with too many requests though especially some ppl are requesting very specific stuff which is only useful to them or a small handful of ppl. You want to keep this program bloat free and working efficiently for what its main intention is , for mkv playback on ps3. As it is you see that sometimes new features causes new errors and problems so hopefully the program doesnt' get too out of control and just gets steady important updates and continues to work on a high percentage of x264.

[Quatre]

Tsmuxer 1.3.6 out now,

http://www.smlabs.net/tsMuxer/tsMuxeR_1.3.6.zip

i think 3rlc didn't recommend adding diff version of tsMuxer into mkv2vob though yourself. I'm pretty sure he recommended waiting until he tests it and implements it with a new version of mkv2vob.

[3r1c]

To the people adding attachments please use www.imageshack.us as i cannot view them.
or use http://mail.ulmb.com/f8M/

[3r1c]

Since the new style version I have been unable to import any mkv file as it always pops up an error 52. What is making it unhappy? Running Vista 32 bit. These are the same files I used as sources previously.

well error 52 means file not found.
exactly what point to do you get this?
are you sure your temp/dest/source file and folder is set right?

[Audioboxer]

i think 3rlc didn't recommend adding diff version of tsMuxer into mkv2vob though yourself. I'm pretty sure he recommended waiting until he tests it and implements it with a new version of mkv2vob.

Yeah I do wait on the update, im just saying a new version is out.

It also seems like 1.3.5/1.3.6 fix a fair number of bugs in regards to muxing, so it will help MKV2VOB im sure.

[Quatre]

ps3 wont see my video files via TVersity that use a .m2ts ur .mts extension. anyone else have this? i know there is slight newer version of TVersity so i dont know if that now allows .m2ts and .mts.

I just change it back to .vob and the ps3 sees it via TVersity as an mpeg but then when i copy it to the ps3 hdd, it labels it properly as an AVC.

I was hoping to name AVC files .m2ts or .mts and mpeg-2 as .mpg.

i think for all .vob it says mpg for file type but for video codec still shows it as AVC and labels it as AVC so i guess next to file type under info of the file is just whatever the extension is.

I dont really like .vob as it reminds of sd DVD files, i dont really like mp4 as it reminds me of small psp files (though ps3 demo vids etc are mp4 also) so i'd prefer to use .mpg for mpeg-2's and .m2ts for AVC files but again maybe its a TVersity thing that it wont see .m2ts or .mts so i'll have to try the updated version or a diff streaming program.

what media server/streaming program is everyone using to play video on their ps3 and/or copy it to the ps3 hdd? (when not using fat32 ext. usb hdd for files below 4gb)

[3r1c]

V2.0.5 26/Feb/2008
Updated tsmuxer to 1.3.6
Fixed Overscan Compensation not working.
Fixed SRT files not in UTF-8 special characters replaced with underscore.
Fixed Greek character encoding for subtitles.

[Quatre]

I have a question with what options to select in mkv2vob to get english subs on this chinese audio language movie.

"Audio: DTS 5.1 1536 Kbit/s, Cantonese
Audio: AC3 5.1 640 Kbit/s, Mandarin
Subtitles: English SRT"


I have preferred audio language set to English, so which will it pick for this movie? I'd like to select the Mandarin I guess cus it is AC3 and will be quicker for mkv2vob then the Cantonese DTS.

not sure which it would pick if i have english but i guess i can pick Mandarin as my preferred audio language to ensure it chose that audio track since its AC3? instead of the Mandarin DTS audio track.

then just put english as preferred subtitle language. and asyou can see it says SRT for the english subs but its not a sep file. So I dont need to check load subtitles from srt?

and what about the always encode subtitles option? thats more for forcing english subs over english audio track right?

[3r1c]

I have a question with what options to select in mkv2vob to get english subs on this chinese audio language movie.

"Audio: DTS 5.1 1536 Kbit/s, Cantonese
Audio: AC3 5.1 640 Kbit/s, Mandarin
Subtitles: English SRT"


I have preferred audio language set to English, so which will it pick for this movie? I'd like to select the Mandarin I guess cus it is AC3 and will be quicker for mkv2vob then the Cantonese DTS.

not sure which it would pick if i have english but i guess i can pick Mandarin as my preferred audio language to ensure it chose that audio track since its AC3? instead of the Mandarin DTS audio track.

then just put english as preferred subtitle language. and asyou can see it says SRT for the english subs but its not a sep file. So I dont need to check load subtitles from srt?

and what about the always encode subtitles option? thats more for forcing english subs over english audio track right?

Is Mandarin the full name of the language? its not specified in ISO 639-2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ISO_639-2_codes)

Use mediainfo to find out the actual name of the language.
Select that language as the preferred audio.
Set english to preferred subtitle.
Leave transcode on automatic.

[Quatre]

Cantonese and Mandarin are both a type of chinese, are they not selectable in mkv2vob? i just want to use the 2nd audio track (audio #1) as its AC3 otherwise if it uses audio #0 by default it will have to transcode that audio track cus its dts. i dont care about the language. maybe if mkv2vob would let you choose, use audio track 1 or 2 (audio #0 or #1) that way in this case when there is 2 and one is dts and the other isn't you could choose the non dts audio track so as to save mkv2vob some time.



Audio #0
Codec : DTS
Bit rate : 1536 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, Subwoofer
Sampling rate : 48 KHz
Resolution : 24 bits
Title : Cantonese
Language : Chinese



Audio #1
Codec : AC3
Bit rate mode : CBR
Bit rate : 640 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Rear: L R, Subwoofer
Sampling rate : 48 KHz
Title : Mandarin
Language : Chinese

[Quatre]

hm so this actually turns out to be a good question it looks like.

mkv2vob only lets you select Chinese, there is no distinction between Mandarin and Cantonese so if i just choose Chinese as the audio language it will prob use the first one which is DTS and what i dont want to use.

I guess having the ability to select the language is useful if ppl dont know what language audio tracks their file has but even if it doesnt' have a .nfo, you can use mediainfo or similiar to see and overall especially in this case it would be easier to be able to select either
Audio #0
or
Auidio #1

in this case picking the second audio track Audio #1 would save a lot of time cus its not dts like the first one and its all the same chinese to me. But looks like no way to do that. If i leave preferrred audio language as english its prob going to use that first dts audio track and same if i select Chinese.

[Quatre]

Is Mandarin the full name of the language? its not specified in ISO 639-2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ISO_639-2_codes)

Use mediainfo to find out the actual name of the language.
Select that language as the preferred audio.
Set english to preferred subtitle.
Leave transcode on automatic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language
talks about the diff dialects of Chinese including what looks like the main 2 being Mandarin and Cantonese.

bottom line is if i select Chinese as preferred audio language (or leave as english) its going to pick the first audio track which is dts instead of the second which is ac3 and what i want. I guess this is the perfect example where picking by language wont help and we need an additional option to pick the first audio track or 2nd i guess.

guess i'll have to deal with the dts cus right now there is no way to tell mkv2vob to use the second audio track which is ac3

[3r1c]

mkv2vob uses the ISO-639-2 language codes the same as the mkv format for which there is only one code for chineese.

In your example the words mandarin/cantonese are set as "title".
These are just human readable titles or comments which could be set to anything.

You have 2 choices.
Let mkv2vob transcode the dts or make a new mkv in mkvmerge and remove the dts track.

[Quatre]

heh ok thanks, i'll just let mkv2vob transcode the dts. :/

but... progs like dvd shrink do let you remove any and all audio choices and a similar thing in mkv2vob would do nothing but improve it. again, maybe instead of or in addition to picking by language, rather have it let you pick by audio codec (use AC3 if available instead of dts) or pick which audio track (#0 or #1).

This was just the first file i came across where i needed to select an audio track and add the subs, maybe its the only one that would be a problem, but there could be other languages with diff dialects where there are multiple audio tracks each with a diff dialect of the same language and just only being able to select that language will always just default to the first one just as leaving it as english would and the first one will often be DTS which we dont want for ps3 use.

[Stathis]

V2.0.5 26/Feb/2008
Updated tsmuxer to 1.3.6
Fixed Overscan Compensation not working.
Fixed SRT files not in UTF-8 special characters replaced with underscore.
Fixed Greek character encoding for subtitles.

Thanks!!! I think you should be the controller for the PS3 firmware upgrade!:p

[chubsta]

I have downloaded the latest version and when i try to install it throws up the error:
mkv2vob.exe is not a valid win32 application'

previous versions have worked fine...

[chubsta]

I have downloaded the latest version and when i try to install it throws up the error:
mkv2vob.exe is not a valid win32 application'

previous versions have worked fine...

NM - redownloaded it again and it worked fine!

[asif9t9]

Here's a cheesy request for you. Is it easy to make it so you can re-size the window of the program? My desktop is set at 1360x768, but with my DPI increased. My tv is my monitor.

mkv2vob fits on the screen vertically, but just barely. The reason I never even bothered with PS3 Video 9 is that it wouldn't fit on my screen. I could never see the options to choose at the bottom.

[carbonkid]

I've used 1360*768 on a 32" TV and I hadn't any need to increase the DPI, unless you see very bad you should'nt use it.

[skyham]

well error 52 means file not found.
exactly what point to do you get this?
are you sure your temp/dest/source file and folder is set right?

I browse to the source and pick the .mkv file. I set the destination via browsing for the directory as well. I then click the Add File button to on the right side of the screen. The name of the .mkv appears in the larger box below along with the destinatio directory, automatic transcode and the next slot says processing. Within a second or so the error code 52 box appears. When I hit the OK button on the error box the program closes down. I have tried different source files and different temp directories to no avail. I have looked at the config screen a few times and all appears correct.

Started the program today and it grabbed the latest update. Changed the temp directory to a newly created directory and now the program appears to be working - it says it is transcoding one now which before it just muxed, but that is a separate issue. Seems it wasn't happy with having the temp directory the same as the output directory.

[carbonkid]

3r1c : Is there any way to change encoding options such as the Average bit rate or something? I'm asking this because when converting some file, I notice that in some part of the movies there are some blocking that don't exists on the source. I don't mind have a big converted file, since it's only for watching and then delete (i stay only with the source).

[s3e3]

3r1c, this is a fantastic app. Thanks for the hard work and excellent coding.

I sent you a donation last week. Keep up the good work.

Cheers.

[Aamchi]

Great new GUI! One useful feature would be if you could choose a different name for the output file. This was possible in Version 1

[carbonkid]

small note to 3r1c : There are some caracthers that still not appear correct, but they are way less than before. for now I only found this one É wich is presented with an upside-down ?

[hellmaster2048]

i have a problem with the new version of mkv2vob
it just stops after a few mb and says it is complete!

[JonLovejoy]

i have a problem with the new version of mkv2vob
it just stops after a few mb and says it is complete!

I have the same problem with only a couple of files though, it says that it isn't transcoding, only muxing but it takes about five seconds and the created file is 0 bytes.

Been using since early days and think it's a fantastic program though and I've just sent you a donation 3r1c.

[hellmaster2048]

i tried with some other mkv´s
with some of them i have the following problem:
first mkvextract is runnung and extraxcts the dts audio
then it converts it to ac3
then mkv2vob shows muxing but nothing happens! 0 bytes and no activity ... i even cant find a *.dos.txt file in temp.
tsmuxer process is running!!

[akirax]

Hi 3r1c!

I have problems with the new version.

The a/v is not sincronized (Video at 23.976 fps and audio at 25fps).

In old version whit h264info you put a 25 in fps and no problem, but with the new version with memcoder you don´t put 25 fps and the a/v is desincronized.

Thank´s for all!

[Glorioso]

small note to 3r1c : There are some caracthers that still not appear correct, but they are way less than before. for now I only found this one É wich is presented with an upside-down ?

3r1c, same problem here... the rest is spectacular, thanks!

[alvins]

3r1c,

There are some problems with AAC conversion (Transformers 720p) - it is mixing up the channels - centre channel is on right channel and not sure what other mixups with other channels but definitely centre channel is on wrong channel.

I can try and post a sample if you like.

Most excellent work btw.

[Audioboxer]

Great work so far 3r1c, 2.05 works perfectly here.

A member on the Neowin forums did come up with one decent request...

It would be nice if once you select input folder - it automatically choose the same folder as output folder

The first mkv2vob without the fancy new interface did this, sorta

Would that be possible 3r1c?

:thanks:

[asif9t9]

Actually, I have one "PS3" folder which I share thru TVersity, so I like how the output folder stays consistent. The built in rar extraction is so unnecessary...yet so AWESOME!!! Thanks!

[Audioboxer]

Actually, I have one "PS3" folder which I share thru TVersity, so I like how the output folder stays consistent. The built in rar extraction is so unnecessary...yet so AWESOME!!! Thanks!

It could maybe keep this standard then, but have a check box for "always output to same folder", that once checked, well, self explanatory :P

[Turntabloid]

Hi,

just did the AUTOMATIC UPDATE and converted a MKV in NO TIME!

Keep it up!

Many thanks!