Home > Resources > Remux MKV with mkvtoolnix

How to Use mkvtoolnix to Create MKV P1 - Burn and Remux MKV with mkvtoolnix

This mkvtoolnix Guide Page will show you how to create MKV file and why remux MKV not AVI, MP4 or others...

MKV video, also called Matroska, is one video container format which is built future in mind. The fundamental of MKV aims at creating an ideal standard container to replace Microsoft-based AVI. Then MKV is designed with better cross-platform support and capacity of streaming from diverse sources equally decent. Though by far MKV does not like AVI which is supported by Divx / Xvid DVD Player, for HTPC (Home Theatre Personal Computer), and even some portable devices, MKV is fashioning a new HD Entertaining trend.

On this page, we mux MKV, not transcoding it!

Before set off the journey of creating your own HD MKV video file, make sure all you videos have been transcoded to MKV preferred video and audio codec, say AVC (MPEG-4/H.264) for video and Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio.

What is the point to merge an MKV file?

In other word, why not AVI, MP4 or 3GP and other container format but MKV? Unlike the gray-headed AVI, MKV is made to handle features in modern encoders like B frames, as well as being portable across most operating systems. Unlike the MPEG-PS, MPEG-TS, and MP4 containers standardized for MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, MKV treats all types of audio equally instead of classifying some as standard streams and others as private.

Support for audio streams in MPEG containers may be limited to those mandated by the associated MPEG container. That is why AC-3 audio can't generally be used in the MP4 container. In an MKV container, all streams supported by your MKV Player or other video related software are copied with equally.

Compared to MPEG-2 TS (Transport Streams), the Matroska container is more widely supported in media players, or as a source for editing and encoding programs. Then it is so popular to Convert M2TS to MKV format to make AVCHD camcorder shootings or Blu-ray BDAV movie playable on regular HD media player.

What is MKV originally used for?

MKV files are most commonly used for DTV captures, which is generally captured as MPEG-TS stream, containing original MPEG-2 video and AC-3 audio from the source broadcast. HD MPEG-2 content at 1920 x 1080 traditionally runs at 12-20 Mbps, while H.264 can deliver 1920 x 1080 content at 7-8 Mbps at the same or better quality. Say AVC H.264 saves around half bandwidth than MPEG-2.

Compare AVC H.264 in MKV and MPEG-2 in M2TS

H.264 provides DVD quality at about half the data rate of MPEG-2. Because of this efficiency, H.264, an ISO standard, stands to be the likely successor to MPEG-2 in the professional media industry, which is where the real importance of MKV comes in.

Since AVC's native container, MP4, regards the AC-3 audio used for standard DTV boradcasts as a private stream, AC-3 saved in MP4 is not well supported in either software or hardware. Most of the time AAC audio is expected in this container. Because AAC hasn't really caught on as an audio standard for video applications many people prefer to keep the AC-3 format, which means using a different container like MKV.

Conclusion of what does MKV MADE for in daily life

With a combination of the Haali Media Splitter (formerly Matroska Media Splitter) and ffdshow, most video and audio streams contained in MKV file are supported by any software that uses Microsoft's DirectShow architecture. In some cases it's even useful to mux video and audio streams to MKV simply so they can be loaded in other programs.

In the Next Page, you will learn How to Mux MKV video with mkvmerge GUI.

Related Software

WinX DVD Ripper Platinum: Advanced version of WinX DVD Ripper, apart from convert DVD to AVI at fastest speed and excellent quality, also capable of converting DVD to MPEG, MOV, iPhone, iPod, iPad, etc. Makes perfect 1:1 copy with 5 minutes. Constantly update to defeat upcoming DVD copy protections.

WinX DVD Ripper for Mac: Mac version WinX DVD Ripper Platinum, runs perfectly on Mac OS X Tiger/Leopard/Snow Leopard, convert DVD to MP4, MOV that are playable on Mac computer, as well as iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple TV, etc.

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe: Built in hundreds of A/V codecs and equipped with DVD Burner, Website Video Downloader function. As all-in-one HD Video Converter software, it helps you transcode among HD video formats like convert AVCHD M2TS to MKV, convert Blu-ray to MKV, MKV to MP4, etc. Moreover, it is embed with numerous profile settings for Apple, Sony, Microsoft portable devices as well as iOS, Android, Symbian mobile Phones. Convert MKV to iPhone, convert MKV to iPad are good examples.

WinX HD Video Converter for Mac: Professional HD Video converter for converting HD Videos on Mac OS, provides the perfect solution to convert Blu-ray videos and videos from HDTV and HD camcorders, like JVC, Panasonic, Sony and Cannon to other formats. Running perfectly on Mac OS X Tiger/Leopard/Snow Leopard.

Related Source

Definition and Description of MKV: MKV Video Format Reference Page

Rip Blu-ray to MKV: Rip Blu-ray to MKV, Decrypt Blu-ray - Convert all Tracks to MKV on the Fly

Convert M2TS to MKV: Convert M2TS to MKV, Compress HD M2TS to MKV - Keep Image Quality

Convert MKV to MP4: Convert MKV to MP4, Play MKV on New iPod touch iOS 4 with MP4 M4V

Convert MKV to iPhone: Convert MKV to iPhone MP4/M4V to play MKV on iPhone 960 x 960 Retina Display

Convert MKV to iPad: Convert MKV to iPad MP4/M4V to play MKV on iPad 1024 x 768 LED Display

Related External Source

MKV, Matroska - A MKV file is a Matroska file, which is an open source container format. MKV is an alternative to the popular AVI and MP4 formats and it...

Special Offer: WinX DVD Ripper Platinum

The ultimate DVD ripper software capable of ripping the content of DVDs to a wide range of mainstream video formats, such as AVI, MP4, MPEG, WMV, MOV, FLV, 3GP, etc. Users can also painlessly rip DVD (including encrypted DVD) to iPhone, iPod, iPad, iTouch, Apple TV, Zune, Mobile phone, Sony PSP, etc.

Time-limited Special Offer: $45.95 ===> $35.95