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

[ajamils]

3r1c,

Is it possible for the software to check the size of the file and if its a little of 4GB FAT32 limit, it should split the file in two equal files or can you implement custom split size ?

The reason why I'm asking about is that the last few movies that I converted only had 2-5 mins of movie in the second file and another one only had one scene and then ending credits.

[jbruckner]

What specifics from XP does your program use? Is there any way to troubleshoot this error? Before you had an install I used to get activeX errors. Is there any way for me to see what the install is getting hung up on?

[3r1c]

jbruckner: I dont make the installer, its standard wise windows installer used by many apps, it expects the files that come with your OS to be there, if you have tampered with your windows installation or deleted system files its not the installers fault.
Try reinstall this http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=889482FC-5F56-4A38-B838-DE776FD4138C and run windows update.
Another idea might be to install SP3, it might replace the files your missing.

ajamils: does it really matter? its still going to stop and need you to select the next file.

[ajamils]

ajamils: does it really matter? its still going to stop and need you to select the next file.

nopes it doesn't. I'm just nitpicking :)

[azyd]

3r1c


Maybe you can add support for ogg audio files...... would be really helpfull with the h264 anime that are really popular right now........

[Audioboxer]

More DTS issues :(

Like Ratatouille, Run Fatboy Run has video speed up.

Sound doesn't speed up but video does... Happens every so often.

I managed to fix this in Ratatouille by converting to AC3 myself, I'll see if Run Fatboy Run works with manual conversion as well.

By the way, none of the above films have the video speed up on the PC, it's only when playing back on the PS3.

[ajamils]

Hopefully 3r1c will post the update today which will fix all the problems.

[Audioboxer]

More DTS issues :(

Like Ratatouille, Run Fatboy Run has video speed up.

Sound doesn't speed up but video does... Happens every so often.

I managed to fix this in Ratatouille by converting to AC3 myself, I'll see if Run Fatboy Run works with manual conversion as well.

By the way, none of the above films have the video speed up on the PC, it's only when playing back on the PS3.

Used my usual method, mkvextract, tranzcode to extract 6 mono wavs, and then Wav to AC3 encoder 2.0.

Run Fat Boy Run now works without video skipping, just like Ratatouille did.

I know you said earlier 3r1c it might be since im remuxing the mkv, but I don't know if that is the case....

The app you use to convert DTS to AC3, seems to cause some issues with certain movies.

As I said in my quote, all these problematic movies playback fine on the PC, it's when you go to play them on the PS3 issues appear.

And the only way I've been able to solve these issues is by converting DTS to AC3 myself by the above method, then running the newly muxed MKV through MKV2VOB.

[evilmonkeys]

Just adding my 2 cents...

Love the program! I've used it extensively for a while now and want to send thanks for the great app!

I came across a problem when trying to convert an .mkv of Wrestlemania XXIV. mkv2vob shows an error message of "Unsupported Audio Codec: MPEG/L2" If this is something fixable in the future, I'd love to see it implemented.

I haven't followed this thread regularly, so if this has already been addressed, I apologize.

[3r1c]

V2.2.2 8/Apr/2008
Fixed sometimes xvid output not playable on ps3.
Fixed low quality x264 transcoding if source bitrate > 10mbps.
Other minor fixes.
Updated tsmuxer to 1.7.3(b)

Just bug fixes today, was going to do some other things but didnt have time.

[ajamils]

V2.2.2 8/Apr/2008
Fixed sometimes xvid output not playable on ps3.
Fixed low quality x264 transcoding if source bitrate > 10mbps.
Other minor fixes.
Updated tsmuxer to 1.7.3(b)

Just bug fixes today, was going to do some other things but didnt have time.

Let me be the first to say thanks for your continuous support.

:thanks:

[Rotor]

More DTS issues :(

Like Ratatouille, Run Fatboy Run has video speed up.

Sound doesn't speed up but video does... Happens every so often.

I managed to fix this in Ratatouille by converting to AC3 myself, I'll see if Run Fatboy Run works with manual conversion as well.

By the way, none of the above films have the video speed up on the PC, it's only when playing back on the PS3.
I can confirm exactly what you're saying, Audioboxer.

Run Fat Boy Run (DTS) definitely had the speed up issues you described when I converted.

I tried converting it 3 times, with 3 different releases of mkv2vob and they have all been the same. Haven't tried it with this latest build, though.

A couple of other files that required DTS convesion to AC3 have also shown the same problems.

I confirm that this problem only shows when being played back on the PS3.

Never had any issues at all with any files that had AC3 originally - just DTS.

I haven't tried your method to solve, as my PC bombs out when I use Wav to AC3 encoder. Bummer.


Rotor

P.S. Has anyone else noticed that FF & REW at speeds above 1.5x are a lot smoother now since the last PS3 firmware upgrade?

[FOSI]

yay. 2.2.2. thanks 3r1c. timer to 2.2.3...

and there is a tsmuxer 1.7.4(b) (but not on 1st page)

[7oby]

Nice Tool!

Is there a way to mux MPEG4-AVC + AC3 (5.1) to .vob on the command line? Or maybe at least .mkv -> .vob?

P.S.: The reason why I'm asking: I have a batch script convertig DVB-S2 Transport Streams encoded with MPEG4-AVC to PS3 compatible. It's completly batch without user intervention. Since tsmuxer used by mkv2vob can't deal with MPEG4-AVC embedded in .ts, I'm asking for a command line version. This would give me 5.1 sound using .vob files.

[KPERI]

[QUOTE][/QUOTELet me to say thanks for your continuous support.
:thanks::thanks:

[Audioboxer]

Anyone know if there's anyway you can change an x264 AVI with AC3 5.1 into an MKV file to run through MKV2VOB?

It's an HD-DVD rip done in AVI.

:thanks:

edit: It opens in mkvmerge, but the video is WMV3 :/

Am I right to assume the PS3 doesn't support WMV video and this file will need to be transcoded?

[Southstorm]

Use Yamb/mp4box to extract the streams, then remux with MKVMerge.

[Audioboxer]

I can confirm exactly what you're saying, Audioboxer.

Run Fat Boy Run (DTS) definitely had the speed up issues you described when I converted.

I tried converting it 3 times, with 3 different releases of mkv2vob and they have all been the same. Haven't tried it with this latest build, though.

A couple of other files that required DTS convesion to AC3 have also shown the same problems.

I confirm that this problem only shows when being played back on the PS3.

Never had any issues at all with any files that had AC3 originally - just DTS.

I haven't tried your method to solve, as my PC bombs out when I use Wav to AC3 encoder. Bummer.


Rotor

P.S. Has anyone else noticed that FF & REW at speeds above 1.5x are a lot smoother now since the last PS3 firmware upgrade?

What version?

2.0 recently came out.

And what do you mean by "bombs out"? Freezes?

I think it would be interesting if 3rc1 could use wav to ac3 encoder in MKV2VOB, even himself in a test build, just to see if the problematic movies we talk about work!

[azyd]

i did notice that most of the movies that i have recently encoded are a little hard to ff rw. once i ff the movie seems to hang and sits there, if i let it sit it start playing after 10 15 sec. , if i click circle and the restart the movie it will resume from the point i ff to. i dont know how long this has been going on cuse i dont usually ff in movies but i wanted to show some one a scene in a movie...... and thats when i noticed it......

it seem to be happening for a while, wish i could say what version on mkv2vob this all started in but i dont know.

[StevOt]

At first thank you for this very good tool.

I use mkv2vob to remux HDTV recordings. The resulting files can be played on the ps3, but it uses incorrect luminace levels. The ps3 thinks, that the file uses the hole range from 0 to 255. But usually in videos only the range from 16 to 235 is used. So the black on the screen is not really black, it is dark grey.
I don't know where the used level (PC or TV range) is set. Can this problem be fixed?

[canoehead]

i did notice that most of the movies that i have recently encoded are a little hard to ff rw. once i ff the movie seems to hang and sits there, if i let it sit it start playing after 10 15 sec. , if i click circle and the restart the movie it will resume from the point i ff to. i dont know how long this has been going on cuse i dont usually ff in movies but i wanted to show some one a scene in a movie...... and thats when i noticed it......

it seem to be happening for a while, wish i could say what version on mkv2vob this all started in but i dont know.


I've notices this lately - or perhaps more lately - as well. I think it may be a production of firmware 2.20 - the same one that crippled streaming mp4s (but VOBs and M2TSs are fine). I usually just hit stop and play rapidly.

I really do like my PS3, but Sony really isn't a software company.

[Rotor]

What version?

2.0 recently came out.

And what do you mean by "bombs out"? Freezes?

I think it would be interesting if 3rc1 could use wav to ac3 encoder in MKV2VOB, even himself in a test build, just to see if the problematic movies we talk about work!


You mean what PS3 firmware? The latest one's 2.20 and the searching seems to be a lot less picky or prone to freezing.

By "bombs out", I mean the program crashes and doesn't provide any output file.
I can't remember the exact error, but I'm not too concerned - I've got a brand spanking new Quad Core Extreme QX6850 machine here that arrived yesterday ... just waiting for a spare couple of hours to rip this old machine out and replace with it ...

It'd be nice if Mr. 3rc1 could look into the DTS>AC3 conversion issue - but I think he'll get to it in time, especially as there's so few of us actually realise that there IS a problem!

But totally, props to Mr. 3rc1 - it's an awesome little proggy, and will only get better with time (hopes!!)


Cheers,

Rotor

[3r1c]

on the ps3 goto settings/display settings and set
RGB Full range: Full
Super white: on

[Audioboxer]

on the ps3 goto settings/display settings and set
RGB Full range: Full
Super white: on

Don't put RGB full on unless your TV supports it or you'll crush your blacks.

Majority of HDTVs don't actually support RGB full, and turning it on will turn shades of black into jet black, therefore losing shadow detail and detail overall.

RGB full is primary for monitors, all you need to do is calibrate your TV properly to get deep blacks/good contrast.

For anyone who has it on and doesn't know if their TV supports it - http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=622671

Example of black crushing in post 1, and also this post - http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=622671&view=findpost&p=589239598

[3r1c]

I wasnt aware of that, but my tv only has one brightness setting, and the ps3 is the only device i have that has this limited/full setting, and with it on Full the picture looks normal like my satellite and xbox360 which also use the hdmi.

If i had to have it on limited, and lower my tv brightness, i would have to higher it back to normal when im not using the ps3.

But actually my tv doesnt have hdmi, it has DVI and i use an adapter, plus optical audio to my amp.

I tried the two test images, and i can see the 1 2 3 4 fine on the ps3, so i guess i was using the right setting.

Now on my pc LCD screen, i cant see 1&2 at all, and 3&4 are barely visible if i look closely. (at first i thought it was a black image then i looked again)

[StevOt]

I still use the RGB Full range setting as a work-around. But so I have always to switch between "full" to watch mkv2vob-files and "limited" to watch dvds/blu rays or play games.

[canoehead]

Hi 3r1c - I'm afraid that the latest version is still outputting the crippled 1/10 sized files. I tried two of the files that failed before and unfortunately they failed again. I also noted that after installing 2.2.2 the heading in the top of the window still says 2.2.1 - don't know if this is relevant.

[3r1c]

I also noted that after installing 2.2.2 the heading in the top of the window still says 2.2.1 - don't know if this is relevant.

Then you installed 2.2.1
The window title definitely says 2.2.2 in the latest version.

It should auto update when you run it, if u have a firewall make sure it doesnt block the connection.

[canoehead]

Odd - I shut it down again and restarted and it is now on 2.2.2 - sorry for the troube.

[darkedgex]

I have an MKV with a stereo (2.0 channel) DTS track inside, and MKV2VOB errors out when extracting the DTS track ("Error extracting DTS to WAV!"). However, in my Windows temp directory I see two .wav files which seem to have been generated as a result of MKV2VOB.

Is there a log I can post or anything I can do to help find what's causing the problem?

[3r1c]

I didnt even know there was a such thing as 2.0 channel dts, but its not supported, it errors because mkv2vob expects 6 wavs and only finds 2.

[God Radio]

Is there any way to use MKV2VOB to change the high 5.1 level to a lower level such as high 4.1 level so that these files( MKV with DTS 5.1 audio and high 5.1 level) will be playable?

I have a request that MKV2VOB be able to do this in a future update.

Thank you.

( I tried understanding hex editors and binreplace and seven asprins later my head is killing me as I am very confused on how to change levels).

[darkedgex]

I didnt even know there was a such thing as 2.0 channel dts, but its not supported, it errors because mkv2vob expects 6 wavs and only finds 2.
I would expect there would be all manner of channel configs for dts (just as there is 1.0 AC3, I suspect dts would also support mono applications, for example).

So I have two questions. =) 1) Is it possible to fix this? And 2) is there any particular reason dts should be transcoded to AC3? I mean, does the PS3 simply not support dts audio in a VOB container outside of a DVD?

#2 has probably been asked before, so I apologize. Other than this isolated incident, my experience with MKV2VOB has been pretty awesome, so thank you for this tool. =)

[3r1c]

Is there any way to use MKV2VOB to change the high 5.1 level to a lower level such as high 4.1 level so that these files( MKV with DTS 5.1 audio and high 5.1 level) will be playable?

I have a request that MKV2VOB be able to do this in a future update.

Thank you.

( I tried understanding hex editors and binreplace and seven asprins later my head is killing me as I am very confused on how to change levels).

mkv2vob already does that, but some files you cannot just change the level, it just wont work, there will never be a way to fix this without transcoding unless a future sony update enables it.

[plantunes]

Can anyone explain me why does a 4,3 Gb MKV file (LORD OF THE RINGS TWO TOWERS EXTENDED EDITION DISC 1) turns into a 600Mb vob file after conversion??? Is this normal?
The PS3 didn't read that file...is that because of the dubios size or because of it's huge name?

[Audioboxer]

Don't really know if this matters for MKVs but PS3 firmware 2.30

I have more good news to report today – the system software update will also add DTS-HD Master Audio output for Blu-ray videos, which means the high-definition visuals of Blu-ray will now be matched with the highest quality audio for the ultimate movie-watching experience on PS3.

DTS-HD Master Audio is literally bit-for-bit identical to the studio master recording and makes movie soundtracks and sound effects truly come to life. The technology delivers audio at the incredibly high rate of 24.5 mega-bits per second (Mbps) on Blu-ray disc, which is significantly higher than standard DVDs. DTS-HD Master Audio also offers 7.1 audio channels at 96k sampling frequency/24 bit depths, so you’ll be totally immersed in the sound. The firmware update will add DTS-HD High Resolution Audio as well, which is a similar output technology that requires less disc space. You can read more about both codecs here.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/04/10/firmware-v230-details-and-store-walkthrough/

Does that mean DTS might work? Or is DTS as we know it in MKVs and DTS-HD two different things?

If it means DTS works, then :eek::cool:

No more converting needed by MKV2VOB!

[Ryu77]

Don't really know if this matters for MKVs but PS3 firmware 2.30



http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/04/10/firmware-v230-details-and-store-walkthrough/

Does that mean DTS might work? Or is DTS as we know it in MKVs and DTS-HD two different things?

If it means DTS works, then :eek::cool:

No more converting needed by MKV2VOB!

DTS-HD and DTS are very different things. DTS-HD is a lossless compression format that replicates audio identical to the studio original. Regular DTS is a lossy codec. Here is a link found from the link that you posted that describes the differences: http://www.dts.com/dts-hd/dts-on-bluray-and-hddvd.php

The thing that I find confusing about what you said, is that DTS does already work on the PS3. DTS support is mandatory for any Blu-ray player. Most stand alone DVD players also have DTS decoders (or at the very least can send it via bitstream). I think where you are getting mixed up is that DTS can not play from a raw M2TS media file. I don't think this will change. However, DTS can play if you author that content in the correct Blu-ray structure. This can also be burnt onto regular DVD discs which the PS3 has no problem playing.

[Audioboxer]

DTS-HD and DTS are very different things. DTS-HD is a lossless compression format that replicates audio identical to the studio original. Regular DTS is a lossy codec. Here is a link found from the link that you posted that describes the differences: http://www.dts.com/dts-hd/dts-on-bluray-and-hddvd.php

The thing that I find confusing about what you said, is that DTS does already work on the PS3. DTS support is mandatory for any Blu-ray player. Most stand alone DVD players also have DTS decoders (or at the very least can send it via bitstream). I think where you are getting mixed up is that DTS can not play from a raw M2TS media file. I don't think this will change. However, DTS can play if you author that content in the correct Blu-ray structure. This can also be burnt onto regular DVD discs which the PS3 has no problem playing.

Ah ok, I understand better now, thanks.

[Xanga]

And currently i believe mpg files cannot be integrated with DTS?

[Nailab]

3r1c,

Thanks for this wonderful app. Unfortunately, I can't update it to the latest versions for the last month or so. Its the same problem that jbruckner is experiencing. The installer fails prematurely and I am running Vista Ultimatum.

You have hinted its the installer. If that's the case, is there any alternative way to install your application? Is it too much trouble to use a different installer? The last working version is 2.0.0.5.

Thanks again.

[3r1c]

All the 2.x version have the automatic update function.
Just run mkv2vob and it will update via the internet (make sure your firewall doesnt block the connection).

[Orusaka]

I have a problem with some files refusing to mux. In the older versions, they would simply hang on tsmuxer; in the newer versions the program just reports that muxing failed.

I'd glady give more info, if some-one could point me in the direction of some utility that might extract the relevant information from the file. These files play back normally on my computer, and are standard 720p tv rips, just like everything else I convert with this program.

I'm sorry if this has already been adressed, but 95 pages is a bit of a dounting task to read through.

Thank you very much in advance for any help you might be able to offer.

[kensi]

just a question.. when i convert and then watch it on my ps3.. it sometimes doesnt play smoothly.. it will kinda jag how do i fix that?

[Nailab]

All the 2.x version have the automatic update function.
Just run mkv2vob and it will update via the internet (make sure your firewall doesnt block the connection).

Thanks ...that worked!!. I don't know why uninstalling it and installing the new version does not work. Oh well ...

[jahobo]

just a question.. when i convert and then watch it on my ps3.. it sometimes doesnt play smoothly.. it will kinda jag how do i fix that?

are you streaming it to your ps3, sometimes i jags or studders cause the ps3 cant stream videos parts with too high of a mbps. ive had that problem with tversity, but i heard the new 2.3update for the ps3 will help in that department. its not the movie its the ps3 causing this to happen.

Thanks again 3r1c for everything, and for the quick fix on the small vob files. man shoot em up looks wicked and its all thanks to you.

a donation will come the next time i convert a movie

[MrSTI]

I havnt read the entire thread. I found this little program from another forum relating how to stream x264 to the PS3 and got this.

All i can is a HUGE thank you. Only used on one TV episode so far and i just cant find the right words to say thanks.

So i'll just say "THANKS".

Cheers

[johny1989]

i try to play some vids and they donnot start(black screen) i have the latest version.doom 2005 720p esir has this problem
is there any way to fix this?
thx

[Glorioso]

3r1c, when i use the split, at the end i get a error "object data ..." and no final result!!!

[plantunes]

Can anyone explain me why does a 4,3 Gb MKV file (LORD OF THE RINGS TWO TOWERS EXTENDED EDITION DISC 1) turns into a 600Mb vob file after conversion??? Is this normal?
The PS3 didn't read that file...is that because of the dubios size or because of it's huge name?

Can anyone explain me why this happens?

By the way...is it still necessary to ALWAYS TRANSCODE to have the possibility do Fast Forward and Rewind in this newer versions of mkv2vob?

[Colin_S]

I get this error when i try and convert a movie:

Unsupported Audio Codec - VORBIS

I have corevorbis installed. Can you help?

Thanks

Colin