One of the most frequent questions we see in the world of media streaming is what is the best format/container to put your videos in. As such, I thought it would be a good time to take a closer look at my container of choice, mkv. I started writing a series for MediaSmartServer which talks about exactly what the mkv is and some of the different options available.

Getting Started With MKVs
Another EAC3To Gui
Creating a secondary AC3 track with Another EAC3To Gui
Clown_BD + MKVMerge
MakeMKV
Is Your Container Bigger Than Mine (odds are it isn't )

I still have more to write about, but this should be a good start. I welcome any comments or feedback, or of course any discussions with regards to mkv.

_________________
Cheers,
Damian

DIY WHS - 12.5TB and growing, too many gadgets to list

Did you read the MediaSmartServer blog today?
Blog - http://www.adigitalhomeblog.com
"Like a midget at a urinal, stay on your toes!" - Lieutenant Frank Drebin

Why do you prefer MKV instead of m2ts?

Since I have a mixed environment at home (HTPCs, PCHs, etc...) I needed to figure out which format was the most flexible for all platforms. The issues I had with my m2ts files:

- On my HTPCs, in order to play back VC-1 m2ts files in W7 WMP/WMC you need to disable media foundation (otherwise you get audio but no video). With VC-1 mkv as long as you have Haali or Matroska Splittler installed you can play back without issue
- On my HTPCs I can play back m2ts files fine in MPC but currently MPC does not support the PGS Blu Ray subtitles (important for me for titles that contain forced subtitles such as District 9 or Angels & Demons). With mkvs I have the subs converted to idx/sub which is more universally supported
- On my PCHs when I play back a ts file created with Clown_BD for whatever reason I get no support for Chapters ( I don't know if you have this problem). With mkvs I get full chapter support. I get full chapter support with the PCH if I create a Blu Ray structure and works great, but then for my HTPCs I am forced to buy 3rd party software to play back.

At this stage by using an mkv I lose any bitstreaming with the PCH, but I use my HTPCs for bitstreaming right now anyhow from mkv so no big deal. Hopefully Syabas finally fixes the bitstreaming bug for both m2ts and mkv soon (right now the Dune and HDX-BD1 can bitstream from m2ts/mkv)

_________________
Cheers,
Damian

DIY WHS - 12.5TB and growing, too many gadgets to list

Did you read the MediaSmartServer blog today?
Blog - http://www.adigitalhomeblog.com
"Like a midget at a urinal, stay on your toes!" - Lieutenant Frank Drebin

thanks!!

_________________
3TB MSS EX490(upgraded CPU-E6300(2.8Ghz dual core Pentium)),
4GB memory
57TB unRAID1a--49TB unRAID2--76TB unRAID3

Just added a link to the first post for my guide on how to create a secondary ac3 track with Another EAC3To (http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2010/04 ... ac3to-gui/)

_________________
Cheers,
Damian

DIY WHS - 12.5TB and growing, too many gadgets to list

Did you read the MediaSmartServer blog today?
Blog - http://www.adigitalhomeblog.com
"Like a midget at a urinal, stay on your toes!" - Lieutenant Frank Drebin

How well does streaming to your PCH-A100 work? I have an HDX-1000 which is basically the same thing in a different enclosure, and it seems to me the Network load those things can handle isn't sufficient for a large video file.

With my A110/A200/C200 I have never had issues playing back, streaming from my WHS. I recall hearing about issues with files over 40GB a while back (which I don't think I have any that big), but to date no issues for me.

_________________
Cheers,
Damian

DIY WHS - 12.5TB and growing, too many gadgets to list

Did you read the MediaSmartServer blog today?
Blog - http://www.adigitalhomeblog.com
"Like a midget at a urinal, stay on your toes!" - Lieutenant Frank Drebin

here is a question, does the HP unit stream MKV files to the PS3? Because I know, natively, the PS3 does not support MKV

_________________
EX495: 3x1.5TB * MacBook Pro * 27" iMac i7 * Custom PC
64GB iPad 3G * 64GB iPhone 4S * AppleTV * 500GB PlayStation 3 * PlayStation Vita 3G * 1TB Tivo 3
Denon 2807 * 60" Sony SXRD * Onkyo 5.1
Blu-ray: 297

The HP MSS has no bearing on whether a particular device will support MKV files. For steaming purposes, the HP MSS is merely a file server and can store whatever file type you want. The HP MSS itself won't affect whether or not your PS3 will or will not support MKV files.

If you want support of mkv on the PS3 you need to install a media server such as PS3MediaServer on the computer that is streaming (whether it be an EX49x, PC, etc...)

_________________
Cheers,
Damian

DIY WHS - 12.5TB and growing, too many gadgets to list

Did you read the MediaSmartServer blog today?
Blog - http://www.adigitalhomeblog.com
"Like a midget at a urinal, stay on your toes!" - Lieutenant Frank Drebin

i would have to agree mkv's are my favorite format.

_________________
STOCK EX487 6.5TB

Another option without the need for another media streamer is mkv2vob.

The program remuxes your MKV's into an mpeg container. You can then stream them from your MSS to your PS3 (While I do have a PS3, I use it to remux for streaming to my HP X280N). A 1.5GB .mkv takes roughly 15-20 seconds to remux on my MSS. You can batch convert a folder full of .mkv's vs. doing single files as well.

I highly recommend this program.

_________________
HPjunkie:

Damian,

Can you stream your MKVs to the PCH via myiHome or is MKV streaming to PCH via SMB only? I made an MKV of Avatar yesterday using your guide, but it wouldn't play via myiHome. Via SMB the video and audio suttered. I couldn't fast forward to see if the subtitles worked; the movie just froze and I couldn't figure out how to see the chapters.

Did you pull a full 1080p rip off of the disc? Friend of mine did that yesterday, and it was close to 48GB, he re-ripped it to a 40GB mt2s and it played wonderfully.

_________________
HPjunkie:

Of course! The m2ts file with srt subtitle file plays fine via myiHome. I just wanted to try out the mkv option to see how it would work with the subtitles and chapter options. But, it wouldn't play via myiHome and didn't play good via smb.