An MKV (Matroska Video) file is not a regular video and audio compression format. An MKV file is an open source container format. It is a general-purpose audio and video container and a competing format to the more popular AVI and MP4 formats. With its futuristic design approach, it can provide support for a vast number of audio, video, and subtitle compression formats. Its features exceed even those of AVI and MP4 files.
An MKV file contains compressed video and audio streams along with an encoder. A codec or Coder/Decoder is required to play this type of file. MKV aims to be the leading standard for multimedia container formats. It is based on EBML (Extensible Binary Meta Language), a subclass of XML.
Specifically, MKV is a Matroska file – an open source container that houses an unlimited amount of video, audio, and even subtitle data in a single file. Its primary purpose is to create a unifying or universal format for multimedia storage with the benefit of being a completely open source.
MKV File Features
Like any other modern day multimedia container, MKV files possess the following features:
- DVD-like menu systems
- HTTP and RTP audio & video streaming capability over the Internet
- Tools and libraries for developers adding MKV support to their applications
- Cross platform audio/video multimedia container format
- Comprehensive support from new Samsung and LG TV and Blu-ray players
- Direct television USB playback support – MKVs can be directly played from a USB when plugged into the television USB port
- Reliable error restoration mechanism
Licensing of MKV Files
Matroska is an open standards project. It is totally free of charge and the specifications are available to everyone, even to businesses that want to implement it in their products. The source code of the libraries that the Matroska Development Team created is licensed under GNU L-GPL.
Troubleshooting MKV File Problems
Anyone who downloads a file that has an .mkv extension and just cannot play it should do the following:
Download the latest codec pack (if not already on the computer). A codec pack is a collection of the most common and latest decoding drivers that enables users to play a variety of multimedia extensions including .mkv files. Also, a VLC Player, which does not need additional codecs, could be the easiest and most reliable player to play .mkv files.
I just saw “She is out of my league” in .mkv format . Resolution-1280X544, Film Length 1:44:25, AND file size was ONLY 611 Mb.
I have never seen such nice quality till date in so small file.
I am impressed , very impressed.
..the videos are crisp clear.
…but im trying to play it on my LCD TV (USB Video) how and to what format can i convert this to maintain its quality. My TV supports MP4, AVI format?
Donzie, according to the article above MKV format has “direct television USB playback support – MKVs can be directly played from USB when plugged into the television USB port“.
If your TV doesn’t support MKV you can convert it to AVI with these instructions.
Hi,
We can have any format (.avi, mp4, mkv, .divx & .mpeg etc.)with a small file size and high picture quality. It only depends whether the media player decoders are capable of un compressing the highly compressed video files.
It all depends how you encode them from the parent format, irrespective whether it is .avi or .mp4, .mkv etc….
I encoded a 1.4GB .avi to a 400mb file in .avi wit practically no loss in picture quality.
Most of the movie .vob files I rip in any compressed video formats as mentioned above are high quality and small file sizes like 300mb onwards with English sub titles. However takes a very long time (>2 hours) and almost 100% CPU capability. 720x abc resolution is very crisp for watching on any flat panel and do not need to go for a HD resolution. It only consumes lot of disc/drive space.
hi….this is awesome yaar
i download a in mkv format and the quality was very nice.
And one thing is size..first when i seen this file size i can’t believe….
juz now saw BAck up plan .. HGreat resolution at just 565 MB…
Awesum…!!
yeah but my vlc is not playing the mkv files.
it crashes. (i have a mac – osx 10.6)
call me a luddite, but i would be happier if formats didn’t change every three seconds, but i could watch movies successfully instead of spending my time troubleshooting. btw i just updated vlc and it still doesn’t work.
the ‘advance’ of technology has serious downsides to it.
I fully agree with you sir. How on earth have we got to the point where there are more formats than you can shake a stick at. I own devices made by the same company that can not talk to each other because they use differing formats. Ridiculous.
Originally posted by sunlight: “yeah but my vlc is not playing the mkv files.
it crashes. (i have a mac – osx 10.6)
call me a luddite, but i would be happier if formats didn’t change every three seconds, but i could watch movies successfully instead of spending my time troubleshooting. btw i just updated vlc and it still doesn’t work.
the ‘advance’ of technology has serious downsides to it.”
I tested an mkv file I have and it plays just fine in VLC on my Mac (OS X 10.6.5). It’s possible that the file itself is the issue, but you could try it in MPlayer which also supports MKV.
Btw, does it give you any errors when it crashes? Have you tried re-installing it?
Also, I wouldn’t blame advances in technology. Often times the advance makes things simpler and easier while giving you more power, so change isn’t always bad. When things don’t just work it’s usually someone’s bad implementation.
help!..i’m playing an mvk. movie and has there’s no audio audio. (using media player classic 9)
Try it in VLC or GOMPLayer.
Hi ,
i will be happy if you guys can help me out with this problem if someone did it or read about it
>> i have some .mkv files and i was wondering if i can stream this video files with HD quality on my website , or do i have to convert it to .H264 ?
I don’t see a Firefox addon which supports the .mkv file format. It also appears that Internet Explorer does not support the .mkv format. This would appear to make streaming impossible.