Thanks for that. Downloaded MediaInfo but it us way beyond me - rapidly got completely out of my depth.

My mkv files were generated from old camcorder PAL tapes using PotPlayer if that helps - have heard good and bad things about PotPlayer.

Magix error message says "The file format of '...filename.mkv' cannot be read". I don't see why Magix can't read it when Windows Media Player has not the slightest difficulty.

Simplest and in the end quickest option may be to abandon Magix and try something else. All I want to do is cut bits from a number of old home video recordings and stick them together in a new file and then export to memory stick or DVD to play on TV monitor. Nothing clever or polished, Should be dead simple??

Thanks.

Hi @Gra_Ham,

.....Magix error message says: "The file format of '... filename.mkv' cannot be read".....

First of all, I'm sorry that you cannot provide the requested MediaInfo file that @CubeAce (Ray) is asking for. The fact that VDL2026 cannot handle *.MKV files is because codecs are used that are not supported by VDL2026. That is why you are receiving an error message.

...The easiest and ultimately fastest option might be to quit Magix and try something else....

Of course, you can quit Magix; the choice is yours. But before you do that, you might want to download and install K-lite Standard first. You can download K-lite Standard from this website: Download K-Lite Codec Pack

Let the forum know whether or not your MKV files can be played on the VDL2026 timeline.

Good luck
Rob

@Gra_Ham

Hi.

An MKV file is what we call a container file. A container file may have one of many different types of codecs within it (The bit that is the actual video file) and that may not be a standard codec or the codec may not have been recorded at a standard frame rate or the audio may not be in a standard audio codec or one of many things could be 'not standard' whatever that means for an MKV file. At least we know the video is probably not that high a resolution if the files were originally from an old camcorder.

Once you have installed Media Info, if you right click any video container file you will see mediaInfo as an option in the drop-down list that appears. Click on that link and media info will read the file's data. Then on the top bar of tabs you will see various viewing options. Select Text view. Then inside the info box just right click your mouse again and select copy. Then here right click the mouse again when you want to paste that data.

If the file is non standard we can recommend ways of fixing the file. The forum member @AAProds is excellent at sorting out that type of thing.

@Bol may have the solution with the K-Lite codec package but if that does not work there are other possibilities.

While it is of course completely up to you if you decide not to continue with vdl2026, In my limited experience vdl2026 should be one of the easier video editors to learn if you have not done any prior video editing.

Ray.

@Gra_Ham

I advise against installing K-Lite at this point. Historically it has caused problems with already-installed codecs.

I'll second @CubeAce suggestion re MediaInfo. It will tell us exactly what is "in" your MKV and we can go from there. If your have further trouble with it, please let us know. AS fars as opening your MKV in it, you can also use the standard File>Open command.

FYI, Magix, despite claiming to do so in the Specs, cannot import some types of MKV. In your case, PotPlayer has created a "relatively" oddball MKV.

Would it be possible to give us access to one of these MKVs? I'd love to send a snippet to Magix so it can fix this rather basic shortcoming. Provided it is not sensitive/personal, you can put in onto a file hosting service such Google Drive, DropBox (there are others) and send us the link (or just me, if that is more appropriate).

Thanks for your various replies - really helpful and feeling we are getting somewhere.

I tried downloading MediaInfo again and it worked perfectly - and your instructions helped a lot - but for whatever reason it seems the thing I downloaded yesterday was definitely not the same as today. I have since uninstalled that, whatever it was.

Below is the info I believe you are asking for:

General
Unique ID                                : 195637420632564548497967984546169976792 (0x932E658BC3D314055451BE6FEA2B77D8)
Complete name                            : D:\ProgramData\Documents\Videos - Home\MAGIX 1\92.mkv
Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 4
File size                                : 464 MiB
Duration                                 : 20 min 49 s
Overall bit rate                         : 3 116 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 30.068 FPS
Movie name                               : device
Writing application                      : Lavf62.1.100
Writing library                          : Lavf62.1.100
ErrorDetectionType                       : Per level 1

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile                           : Simple@L1
Format settings, BVOP                    : No
Format settings, QPel                    : No
Format settings, GMC                     : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix                  : Default (H.263)
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/ASP
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Simple Profile
Duration                                 : 20 min 48 s
Bit rate                                 : 2 926 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 30.068 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.047
Stream size                              : 436 MiB (94%)
Writing library                          : Lavc62.4.100
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : MPEG Audio
Format version                           : Version 1
Format profile                           : Layer 3
Format settings                          : Joint stereo / MS Stereo
Codec ID                                 : A_MPEG/L3
Codec ID/Hint                            : MP3
Duration                                 : 20 min 49 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 128 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 19.1 MiB (4%)
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

@AAProds

I am happy to send you a sample file - towards end it shows a person, no big deal but if I send file to you please pass on a bit from the front.

I can send via mailbigfile I expect - but I will need your email/contact won't I?

Thanks

BTW, the thing I downloaded yesterday was "dbvis_windows...." No idea how that happened - and little wonder I got lost.

Appreciate your help. I used Magix decades ago when it was a very different thing - maybe only for audio but can't remember - and was impressed then - which is why when I found the name again I opted for it - so now, with your help, I am feeling optimistic again.

Thanks

@Gra_Ham

Hi

The problem with the MKV file is the video/audio codecs combination, ie MPEG-4 and MP3 respectively, these are not a supported combination.

Try running the MKV file through a video converter such as Handbrake converting to MP4 h.264, AAC encoding, Handbrake has a preset, Fast 1080p 30 for doing this.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

@Gra_Ham

Well done on the MediaInfo. The video codec is "MPEG 4 Visual", which is unusual. The framerate is also unusual at 30.068. Lastly, the audio might be causing issues, being Joint Stereo. A recode may be needed to get it to open in Magix.

VLC Player can play the file because it has it's own internal decoders, whereas Magix only has a limited number of internal codecs (I assume because of licencing, given it is a paid program).

I'd like to have a look at it and should be able to work out a way forward. My email in info1@aaproductions.net or you can send the file link to me via Froum Message.

Assuming @Bol has K-Lite installed, he could try opening it also if you send him the link.

Another consideration: is this a one-off or are you doing more conversions from your captures? PotPlayer may be the culprit and using Handbrake to convert then would be better. Of course, Magix would proably be able to open your capture files directly. I do a lot of VHS transfers and I don't convert the captures, I just bring them straight into Magix for editing.

You should be up and running shortly. 👍

@johnebaker

John, the default frame rate in HB is "peak".

@AAProds

Hi. Thanks. Am sending you link via email / mailbigfile.

This is not a one-off - I have > 30 hours in multiple files. Usual teething problems when you start anything new; been meaning to digitise these v old tapes for year and years - finally got round to it - learning curve with all mistakes - didn't come across Magix until after I had converted - had I known I would not have bothered with PotPlayer. Ah well.

Thanks again, and to all.

@Gra_Ham

You may like to try this little hack I've successfully used for a similar problem using DIVX and MP3 in an MKV container.

Split the file using gMKVExtractGUI (a Google search showed this https://www.videohelp.com/software/gMKVExtractGUI). Just drag the file onto the opened gMKVExtractGUI window, tick both streams and click on extract. The files should be in the same folder as the original file.

Open Movie Studio ( or whatever version you have), open file - settings - program - import/export and deselect AVI Import Module (don't worry, it will automatically be activated again when you restart MS) then drag the separated split video file created into program followed by the audio. If they've both loaded then lock the two tracks together.

If this works for your file, then great you don't need to re-encode. If it doesn't then there's nothing lost apart from 5 minutes of your time.

Also, if it does work then you will have to deactivate the AVI Import Module before you reload the project after closing everything down.

AndyW

Hi @Gra_Ham,

Of course, you can convert the MKV file to an MP4 file using a converter like Handbrake. However, I could test whether K-Lite can play your MKV on the VDL2026 timeline by default. If you'd like to use my services, please send me the file link via private message.

Best Wishes,
Rob

@Gra_Ham @CubeAce @johnebaker @Bol @me_again

I've snipped a portion of Graham's file and with his approval, put it up on Google Drive here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SaWwmALnC3vG1EwjVD3Vpz-OuWoWI8gF/view?usp=sharing

Even after a Handbrake recode to H264/AAC, it doesn't look too bad to me on my laptop screen, so it might not need a re-capture, although the original bitrate is very low for a 1920/1440x1080 file. An additional issue is that the resolution is 16:9 when it should be 4:3, which can be fixed either in Handbrake or Magix.

Here's my Handbrake converison:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i2Jgks-ZXhZfuKw21mJY85cGMAXVa2Ix/view?usp=sharing

@Graham, what was the camera that took the video? If it was Digital8 or MiniDV, do you have Firewire on your current PC?

I did try to do a lossless conversion but it didn't work. The Handbrake settings I used were:

Dimensions tab:

Video tab:

Audio tab:

Handbrake general setup instructions on my website here.

@Andy, I might try that! 😀

@Gra_Ham @AAProds

The hack I suggested doesn't work with the file @AAProds shared.

Splitting the MKV into it's constituent parts didn't load into MS either.

Used copy for audio and video with Avidemux to convert to MP4 and it loads perfectly into MS2025

AndyW

@Graham

One more step for Handbrake: on the filters tab, turn off Deinterlacing (the file is Progressive):

Also, Handbrake will batch convert all your files in the one session.

@Gra_Ham @CubeAce @me_again @johnebaker @AAProds

I downloaded the MKV file, but couldn't play it through the VDL2026 timeline. I received this error message:

I use Shutter Encoder (64-bit portable version) as my conversion program. I've converted the MKV file with it as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MP4 (H.264). The quality is remarkably similar to the MKV file. I'd suggest trying it out yourself and making your choice.

Good luck,
Rob

P.S. Here's an image as an MP4.

@Gra_Ham

Ok, it seems you have various ways to remedy your MKV issue. Whichever you choose, it looks likeyou need a 3rd party program to convert or modify.

Re-encoding seems to be most people's recommendation but I'm afraid I'm not one of them. Why re-encode when you can change to container?

Avidemux works in copy mode by resaving the original video and audio into a different container - imagine pouring milk from a glass bottle into a plastic container. The milk's the same on the inside but it looks different on the outside.

If you need to batch convert to MP4 I recommend a small, free program I've used since it's creation in 2018 which does the same job as Avidemux

It's called Pazera Free MP4 Video Converter https://www.pazera-software.com/products/mp4-converter/

Just set everything to copy and press convert.

As I said earlier, the choice is yours either 1] re-encode (reprocess the milk) or 2] direct copy (pour) into another "milk bottle".

AndyW

Thanks all for your help and suggestions. Need some time to get my head around, and try options. Got other things going on too at moment so can't spend too long on this right now. Will definitely pick up again. Is great to have real people to answer specific detailed questions - all the instruction videos and words in the world can't come close!

@me_again

Andy, it has to be recoded. Copy Copy doesn't work.

Hello @Gra_Ham

You have many options to choose from. I can imagine that you can't see the forest for the trees. I'd say take your time to absorb everything. One more thing... you can also batch process with the Shutter Encoder converter.

Good luck,
Rob

@AAProds

Hi Al

. . . . "MPEG 4 Visual", which is unusual . . . .

It is the old h.263 encoding, used many years ago in the early days of video conferencing, security cameras and is found in some Chinese branded video cameras.

. . . . the default frame rate in HB is "peak" . . . .

That is OK, the re-encoding follows the frame rate of the source file up to the peak figure set, ie 30 fps, in this case the source video is Constant frame rate at 30.068 fps.

The converted sample imports fine into MMS (VDL) 2025.

John EB