Thanks for that, i used it and it did seem to work.
Does not work, the source file has a DTS sound track.
I did have success with mkvtools. When i tried to use mp4tools
the file only played for about 20 minutes
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Why is it so freaking hard to convert .mkv to .MP4?
- Thread starter javilionaire
- Start date
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Thanks for that, i used it and it did seem to work.
the file only played for about 20 minutes
Did you use the beta version of mp4tools (v3.2, I think)?
From the mkvtools site: "This is a new and improved version of MKVtools, which will focus on what the original version of MKVtools was not very good at - the creation and editing of MKV files. It will not, however, create MP4 or AVI files. As the name might imply, MK4tools is a graphical interface for a variety of tools useful for processing video files.
If you have found yourself here looking for MKVtools to convert videos to either MP4 or AVI videos, then you should download either M4tools or AVItools, not MKVtools. If you are a user of the original version of MKVtools and are looking for updates, see here."
Not sure what version of these apps you are using but the original mkvtools was split into 3 programs:
MKVTools: used for creating/editing mkv's but not create mp4's.
MP4Tools: used to change container of mkv to mp4 or transcode mkv to mp4
AVITools: used to create/edit AVI files.
From the mkvtools site: "This is a new and improved version of MKVtools, which will focus on what the original version of MKVtools was not very good at - the creation and editing of MKV files. It will not, however, create MP4 or AVI files. As the name might imply, MK4tools is a graphical interface for a variety of tools useful for processing video files.
If you have found yourself here looking for MKVtools to convert videos to either MP4 or AVI videos, then you should download either M4tools or AVItools, not MKVtools. If you are a user of the original version of MKVtools and are looking for updates, see here."
Not sure what version of these apps you are using but the original mkvtools was split into 3 programs:
MKVTools: used for creating/editing mkv's but not create mp4's.
MP4Tools: used to change container of mkv to mp4 or transcode mkv to mp4
AVITools: used to create/edit AVI files.
If you have access to linux, you can use this script I wrote. It's personalized for my setup, so you might have to spend a little quality time reading through it and changing paths to suit your needs. When the script is done it leaves a 0 byte filename in "Sent to iTunes" folder to avoid conversion loops. It requires HandbrakeCLI and mediainfo (to verify a successful conversion).
This Handbrake configuration passes MP4 friendly 2 Channel/DD5.1 soundtracks so it will pass DD5.1 to your receiver via HDMI and 2 Channel for iOS devices.
I've used this script to convert over 150 MKVs with no issues (lots of testing
).
You can use a crontab entry to run it or you can run it by hand. When I have a big batch going, I change the crontab to * */3 to run every 3 minutes for example.
This would run at 1:45 am daily.
45 1 * * * /usr/local/bin/bgconv.sh > /dev/null 2>&1
I wrote an auto-rip script that automatically extracts my DVD movies (I have over 300 discs, so when the mood strikes me I cycle a few at a time through the NAS). The auto ripper puts MKV's in my Plex library, this script converts them to MP4 for iTunes Library. The Add to iTunes folder is on the NAS and the Mac Mini serving media mounts the NAS iTunes folder. Works like a champ.
I put a disc in. 20 minutes later it's in Plex, 20 minutes after that it's in iTunes.
I have smart playlists setup so after I add genre information to the iTunes copy the chick flick smart playlist pushes movies wirelessly my wife's and daughter's iPads and iPhones, and the action/adventure/war smart playlist pushes to my iPad. I'm all about automation
This Handbrake configuration passes MP4 friendly 2 Channel/DD5.1 soundtracks so it will pass DD5.1 to your receiver via HDMI and 2 Channel for iOS devices.
I've used this script to convert over 150 MKVs with no issues (lots of testing
).You can use a crontab entry to run it or you can run it by hand. When I have a big batch going, I change the crontab to * */3 to run every 3 minutes for example.
This would run at 1:45 am daily.
45 1 * * * /usr/local/bin/bgconv.sh > /dev/null 2>&1
I wrote an auto-rip script that automatically extracts my DVD movies (I have over 300 discs, so when the mood strikes me I cycle a few at a time through the NAS). The auto ripper puts MKV's in my Plex library, this script converts them to MP4 for iTunes Library. The Add to iTunes folder is on the NAS and the Mac Mini serving media mounts the NAS iTunes folder. Works like a champ.
I put a disc in. 20 minutes later it's in Plex, 20 minutes after that it's in iTunes.
I have smart playlists setup so after I add genre information to the iTunes copy the chick flick smart playlist pushes movies wirelessly my wife's and daughter's iPads and iPhones, and the action/adventure/war smart playlist pushes to my iPad. I'm all about automation
Code:
#!/bin/bash
# Binaries
hbcli=/usr/bin/HandBrakeCLI
preset='"AppleTV 3"'
extension=m4v
mi=/usr/bin/mediainfo
securecopy=/usr/bin/scp
# Paths
tmp=/tmp
outfolder=/storage/junk
# Files
statfile="$outfolder/bgconv.log"
infile=/tmp/bgconv-in.txt
errorlog=$outfolder/error.log
processed=/storage/movies/Sent_to_iTunes
logfile=/var/log/syslog
xferlog="$outfolder/xfer.log"
countintmp=$tmp/bgconv.countin.${RANDOM}
countouttmp=$tmp/bgconv.countout.${RANDOM}
countskippedtmp=$tmp/bgconv.countskipped.${RANDOM}
filetmp=$tmp/bgconv.filetmp.${RANDOM}
pidfile="$(ls $tmp/bgconv.*.????????? 2> /dev/null)"
ituneslib="/storage/mm_itunes_library/Automatically Add to iTunes.localized"
force=1
owner=xp
countin=0
countout=0
countskipped=0
#e-mail setup
mailer=/usr/sbin/sendmail
from=your_from@your.domain
email=your_to@your.domain
message="/tmp/bgconv.message"
uselogo=y # Inserts an image into the e-mail notification
logourl="http://yourwebserver.net/yourlogo.png"
TDBGCOLOR1="#99CCFF" # Left side column (TD) background color
TDFONT1="#4B0082" # Left side column (TD) font color
TDBGCOLOR2="#F8F8FF" # Right side column (TD) background color
TDFONT2="#000000" # Right side column (TD) font color
TDALERT="red" # Threshold alert cell (TD) background color
TDALERTFONT="white" # Threshold alert cell (TD) font color
TDSTYLE1='style="background-color:'$TDBGCOLOR1'"> <font color="'$TDFONT1'"'
TDSTYLE2='style="background-color:'$TDBGCOLOR2'"> <font color="'$TDFONT2'"'
TDALERTSTYLE='style="background-color:'$TDALERT'"> <font color="'$TDALERTFONT'"'
declare out_file
trap on_exit SIGINT SIGQUIT SIGHUP SIGTERM
function timestamp () {
now="$(date +%b) $(date +%d| sed 's/0/ /') $(date +%T) $(hostname -s) BGCONV[$$]:"
}
function on_exit() {
echo "aborted"
rm -f "$out_file"
exit 1
}
function cleanup() {
timestamp && echo "$now Removing lock: $pidfile" >> $logfile
if [ -f $pidfile ]; then
echo "==> Removing $pidfile"
rm "$pidfile"
fi
if [ -f $countintmp ]; then
echo "==> Removing $countintmp"
rm $countintmp
fi
if [ -f $countouttmp ]; then
echo "==> Removing $countouttmp"
rm $countouttmp
fi
if [ -f $countskippedtmp ]; then
echo "==> Removing $countskippedtmp"
rm $countskippedtmp
fi
if [ -f $filetmp ]; then
echo "==> Removing $filetmp"
rm $filetmp
fi
if [ -f $message ]; then
echo "==> Removing $message"
rm $message
fi
}
timestamp && echo "$now $0 starting." >> $logfile
if [[ $@ = -f ]]; then
timestamp && echo "$now Forced run set. Removing $pidfile and continuing" >> $logfile
echo "==> Force used, removing lockfile: rm $tmp/bgconv.*.?????????"
`rm $tmp/bgconv.*.????????? 2> /dev/null`
fi
pidcheck="$(ls $tmp/bgconv.*.????????? 2> /dev/null | wc -l)"
if [ ! "$pidcheck" = "0" ];
then
echo -e "> Error, lockfile(s) exist: $pidfile\n> Exiting! (use -f to override)."
timestamp && echo "$now $pidcheck lockfile(s) exists, exiting! Use -f to force run or remove $pidfile" >> $logfile
exit 1
fi
# Create lockfile and go to work
pidfile="$(mktemp -t bgconv.$$.XXXXXXXXX)"
echo $$ > $pidfile
timestamp && echo "$now Created new lockfile: $pidfile" >> $logfile
echo "==> Starting $0" > $statfile
if [ ! -f $infile ]; then
echo "==> Input file doesn't exist"
echo "==> Making one with find /storage/movies/adults/ -name *.mkv | grep -v .AppleDo| sort > $infile"
timestamp && echo "$now Input file doesn't exist" >> $logfile
timestamp && echo "$now Making one with find /storage/movies/adults/ -name *.mkv | grep -v .AppleDo| sort > $infile" >> $logfile
`find /storage/movies/adults/ -name *.mkv | grep -v .AppleDo| sort > $infile`
fi
if [ -f $infile ]; then
echo "==> Found $infile. Continuing"
echo "==> Found $infile. Continuing" >> $statfile
timestamp && echo "Found $infile. Continuing" >> $logfile
in_file="$infile"
else
echo "==> There's a problem finding $infile. I tried making it, but can't find it."
echo "==> You can make your own with find /storage/movies/adults/ -name *.mkv | grep -v .AppleDo| sort > $infile"
echo "==> Exiting!"
timestamp && echo "$now There's a problem finding $infile. I tried making it, but can't find it." >> $logfile
timestamp && echo "Exiting." >> $logfile
echo "==> There's a problem finding $infile. I tried making it, but can't find it." >> $statfile
echo "Exiting." >> $statfile
cleanup
exit 1
fi
if [ ! -d $outfolder ]; then
echo "==> $outfolder doesn't exist. Making it."
echo "==> $outfolder doesn't exist. Making it." >> $statfile
mkdir $outfolder
fi
while read in_file
do
## Send e-mail after completing a transcode
subject="BGConvert Service Notice"
# First few lines of e-mail notification with timestamp
echo "Subject: $subject (Started:" $(date +%T)")" > $message
echo "From: $from" >> $message
echo "MIME-Version: 1.0" >> $message
echo "Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" >> $message
echo "" >> $message
echo "<html>" >> $message
if [ "$uselogo" = "y" ]; then
echo "<img src="$logourl" alt=Logo>" >> $message
echo "<br><br>" >> $message
fi
echo "<b>Notice:</b> The background transcode service on $(hostname) found a movie and attempted to transcode it. Details of this action follow:<br><br>" >> $message
echo "<table border=0>" >> $message
echo "<tr><td $TDSTYLE1><b>Process start </b></td><td $TDSTYLE2>"$(date +%T)"</td></tr>" >> $message
countin=$(($countin + 1))
echo "$countin" > $countintmp
if [ -f "$in_file" ]
then
# remove file extension
base_file=$(echo "$in_file" | sed 's/\(.*\)\..*/\1/')
finalout=`basename "$base_file"`
out_file="$outfolder/$finalout.$extension.tmp"
echo "==> Input :$in_file"
timestamp && echo "$now Input :$in_file" >> $logfile
timestamp && echo "$now Output :$outfolder/$finalout.$extension" >> $logfile
echo "==> Input :$in_file" >> $statfile
echo "==> Output :$outfolder/$finalout.$extension" >> $statfile
echo "==> Output :$outfolder/$finalout.$extension"
if [ -f "$processed/$finalout.$extension" ];
then
countskipped=$(($countskipped + 1))
echo $countskipped > $countskippedtmp
timestamp && echo "$now Skipping :$processed/$finalout.$extension exists." >> $logfile
echo -e "> Skip :$processed/$finalout.$extension exists.\n"
echo -e "> Skip :$processed/$finalout.$extension exists.\n" >> $statfile
else
echo "==> Transcoding :$in_file"
timestamp && echo "$now Transcoding :$in_file" >> $logfile
echo "==> Transcoding :$in_file" >> $statfile
echo "" | $hbcli -i "$in_file" -o "$out_file" -s "scan" --subtitle-forced --preset="AppleTV 3" 2>/dev/null >>$statfile
echo "==> Transcode complete."
echo "==> Transcode complete." >> $statfile
timestamp && echo "$now Transcode of $out_file complete. Checking viability" >> $logfile
#check output is valid
echo "==> Using $mi to verify $out_file is valid"
echo "==> Using $mi to verify $out_file is valid" >> $statfile
if $mi "$out_file" | grep -q "Format[ ]*: AVC"
then
echo "==> Mediainfo check passed. Incrementing success counter and renaming tmp to final" >> $statfile
timestamp && echo "$now $out_file looks good. Renaming and sending to iTunes Library" >> $logfile
countout=$(($countout + 1))
echo $countout > $countouttmp
timestamp && echo "$now moving $out_file to $outfolder/$finalout.$extension" >> $logfile
echo "==> Moving temporary output to final output"
echo "==> Moving temporary output: $out_file to final output: $outfolder/$finalout.$extension" >> $statfile
mv "$out_file" "$outfolder/$finalout.$extension"
echo "==> Adding $outfolder/$finalout.$extension to $xferlog" >> $statfile
echo "$outfolder/$finalout.$extension" >> "$xferlog"
timestamp && echo "$now Creating dummy $processed/$finalout.$extension to prevent re-transcode" >> $logfile
touch "$processed/$finalout.$extension"
timestamp && echo "$now Moving $outfolder/$finalout.$extension to iTunes Library" >> $logfile
echo "==> Copying $outfolder/$finalout.$extension to iTunes Library" >> $statfile
echo "==> cp $outfolder/$finalout.$extension to $ituneslib/$finalout.$extension"
echo "==> You should change the previous command from cp to mv after you know everything is working" >> $statfile
cp "$outfolder/$finalout.$extension" "$ituneslib/$finalout.$extension"
echo "==> Done moving $outfolder/$finalout.$extension to iTunes Library" >> $statfile
echo "==> chown'ing $ituneslib/$finalout.$extension to owner: $owner" >> $statfile
chown "$owner" "$ituneslib/$finalout.$extension"
echo "==> chmod'ing $ituneslib/$finalout.$extension to: a+rwx" >> $statfile
chmod "a+rwx" "$ituneslib/$finalout.$extension"
echo "==> COMPLETE: All steps to copy $outfolder/$finalout.$extension to $ituneslin/$finalout.$extension finished successfully" >> $statfile
################## Wrap-up e-mail
echo "<tr><td $TDSTYLE1><b>Title Processed </b></td><td $TDSTYLE2>$finalout.$extension</td></tr>" >> $message
echo "<tr><td $TDSTYLE1><b>Process End</b></td> <td $TDSTYLE2>"$(date +%T)"</td></tr></table></html>" >> $message
cat < $message | $mailer $email
################### End e-mail
else
# Mediainfo didn't return a positive result. So delete the temporary file to avoid filling up HD
# Leave the dummy file so we don't get caught in a transcode loop, and move on.
echo "==> MI check failed. Removing $out_file, touching and $processed/finalout.$extension to avoid transcode loop" >> $statfile
rm -f "$out_file"
# touch is needed here to avoid re-transcode looping
touch "$processed/$finalout.$extension"
echo "==> MI didn't find a valid output." >> $statfile
timestamp && echo "$now [ERROR] $in_file had problems" >> $logfile
timestamp && echo "$now [ALERT] Leaving $processed/$finalout.$extension to prevent transcoding loop for a bad file" >> $logfile
timestamp && echo "$now [ALERT] Remove $processed/$finalout.$extension when you want to try again" >> $logfile
timestamp && echo "$now [ERROR] $in_file had problems" >> $errorlog
timestamp && echo "$now [ALERT] Leaving $processed/$finalout.$extension to prevent transcoding loop for a bad file" >> $errorlog
timestamp && echo "$now [ALERT] Remove $processed/$finalout.$extension when you want to try again" >> $errorlog
fi
echo -e "> Finished $in_file\n"
echo -e "==> Finished $in_file\n" >> $statfile
fi
fi
done < $in_file
echo "Cleaning up"
cleanup
if [ -f $infile ]; then
timestamp && echo "$now Removing $infile" >> $logfile
rm $infile
fi
if [ -f $countintmp ]; then
timestamp && echo "$now Found `(cat $countintmp)` file(s)" >> $logfile
fi
if [ -f $countouttmp ]; then
timestamp && echo "$now Transcoded `(cat $countouttmp)` file(s)" >> $logfile
fi
if [ -f $countskippedtmp ]; then
timestamp && echo "$now Skipped `(cat $countskippedtmp)` file(s) because they already exist" >> $logfile
fi
echo "Done!"I use mkvtools all the time with mp4 or m4v
Edit:
Im saying that i use mkvtools with mp4 videos adding or removing audio tracks
It doesn't convert mkv to mp4
Yes, use a better tool to do it. Not sure whether you're on the Mac or PC side of life, but there are many tools that can do a better job of changing containers than Quicktime. If you're on Mac, Subler or mp4tools comes to mind.
Thanks for your reply, I downloaded "Smart Converter" from ShedWorx in the Mac App Store (as someone here recommended), and that program is amazing, a 1GB 720p movie MKV file takes only 5 minutes to convert to MP4, the result is almost identical, although some files had problems and couldn't be played on my PS3.
But it's free, you can't go wrong with it.
HandBrake doesn't work? I've been using HandBrake for video conversion including MKV files. No problems.
He doesn't want to transcode, just change containers. HB only transcodes.
Smart Converter Pro is what i use the best money ever spent for a converter - Available in App Store. I can drop a dozen or so in the hopper and let it convert and it does it nicely
I've benchmarked its free version (see THIS for more info). Found it good (for the price).
Note that the US AppStore has a lot of negative reviews. Another example of people NOT knowing anything about video conversion trashing an otherwise good app. That is, do NOT pay attention to those "reviews" - they are (almost?) all untrue.
Great thread with some useful apps that I didn't know about. Tried Subler, iFlicks, SmartVideo Converter and Handbrake.
So far I find that SmartVideo Converter fastest to convert 720p mkv to ATV3 compatible file.
Question: does SmartVideo do the tagging (IMDB based) or do I need another app for that purpose.
There is, actually. Sony's new line of Blu-Ray players (like the BDP-S390/590) that are around 100 bucks, play AVI, MKV, M4V, MP4 - literally anything I've thrown at it (And I source my files from all over the internet) with no problems - from USB, DVD/BluRays, and from my DLNA server on my mac (using Vuze, I can download a torrent of ANYTHING and play it right on my blu ray, wirelessly, without converting!)
Interesting that you reply to a year old post recommending a player that Sony no longer makes. And...I don't do torrents.
Sony makes both of those players, where are you getting that?
They both just came out like 5 months ago...
And it doesn't matter, a DLNA server has nothing to do with torrents - it's a home networking protocol for sending video from one device to another. The point is, these discussions about converting are becoming irrelevant.
Here's a protip. And don't tell anyone, but if there's ever an acronym you don't know, or need to find product information, there's this global index of sorts... Most people don't know about it, but I love it. Here's a direct link. http://www.google.com
I did use your great pro tip. It took me to the Sony website where a window came up that said that those 2 models were no longer available. If it says that on the Sony website, I assume that to mean they no longer make it. Not saying that stock already produced is not available from other sources. Just saying Sony no longer makes it.
And I never said DNLA had anything to do with torrents. I simply stated I do not do torrents. Therefore that aspect of the player is of no use to me.
I know your hot on this player as you are posting all over that the world has changed since Sony made it...but chill out a bit. No need to be rude.
MP4Tools for Windows?
MP4Tools is the best OSX app for converting MKV to MP4 (or M4V rather) because most MKV's use H264 for video. In fact, if you have a fiber optic Dolby decoder connected to your AppleTV, then you can do pass thru conversions for both audio and video with MKV's and it takes seconds to convert an MKV to M4V.
I don't have a surround sound decoder box, so I need 2 Channel AAC audio. MP4Tools transcodes the audio to AAC in about 3 minutes on my i5 iMac.
I then dump the M4V into Identify 2 which tags it and moves it into iTunes for me.
Many noobies use Handbrake for converting MKV's. The problem is that Handbrake is really meant for DVD to MP4 conversion, so it always always transcodes the video stream which in these days, is not needed as all MKV's and most AVI's have the video encoded as mpeg4 or h264 -- both formats supported by AppleTV
What is the best equivalent of MP4Tools for Windows? Handbrake doesn't support pass thru.
MP4Tools is the best OSX app for converting MKV to MP4 (or M4V rather) because most MKV's use H264 for video. In fact, if you have a fiber optic Dolby decoder connected to your AppleTV, then you can do pass thru conversions for both audio and video with MKV's and it takes seconds to convert an MKV to M4V.
I don't have a surround sound decoder box, so I need 2 Channel AAC audio. MP4Tools transcodes the audio to AAC in about 3 minutes on my i5 iMac.
I then dump the M4V into Identify 2 which tags it and moves it into iTunes for me.
Many noobies use Handbrake for converting MKV's. The problem is that Handbrake is really meant for DVD to MP4 conversion, so it always always transcodes the video stream which in these days, is not needed as all MKV's and most AVI's have the video encoded as mpeg4 or h264 -- both formats supported by AppleTV
What is the best equivalent of MP4Tools for Windows? Handbrake doesn't support pass thru.
Last edited:
Even if a stream is using a high bitrate, it is probably still compressed, unless you meant RAW streams, which are hardly available for consumers anyway.
Since "noobs" may not understand that the mpeg2/h.264 content of dvd and BR's is compressed data from RAW, I will clarify my reference to "uncompressed" as being data that is the same as the dvd or BR source.
Sorry I haven't read all the replies so this may be a duplicate.
How about using subler to remux (.m4v is the output) then simply rename to .mp4?
How about using subler to remux (.m4v is the output) then simply rename to .mp4?