Editing an mkv file

Question

Editing an mkv file

Mac OS: 10.6.6
iMac 24" circa late 2006.
2MB of RAM

I have an mkv file that I would like to edit (extract snippets) on the Mac. When I open it in Quicktime 7 Pro all I get is audio and no video. It opens fine in VLC player.

Am I able to use Quicktime 7 Pro to extract snippets from this file? If not, what is the best alternative (hopefully free).

Intel iMac 24", Mac OS X (10.6.6), 2 GB RAM

Posted on Jan 10, 2011 5:41 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 10, 2011 5:45 PM in response to Randy McElligott1

I forgot to mention that I am using Perian 1.1.1.

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Answer 2

Jan 10, 2011 9:23 PM in response to Randy McElligott1

Update Perian to 1.2.1
QuickTime Pro should be able to extract parts. You may need to wait for it to read the entire filoe before you try editing it.

You could also use MPEG Streamclip
<http://www.squared5.com/>
Use I and O to set In and Out points, Trim (Edit menu), then Save As (File menu).

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Answer 3

Jan 11, 2011 3:34 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

MPEG streamclip does not seem to work with mkv files. I cannot open these files with MPEG Streamclip 1.9.2

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Answer 4

Jan 11, 2011 3:52 AM in response to Randy McElligott1

MPEG streamclip does not seem to work with mkv files. I cannot open these files with MPEG Streamclip 1.9.2

Try MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b4
<http://www.alfanet.it/squared5/MPEG Streamclip1.9.3b4.dmg>
I just tried it with a .mkv file and it worked.

Did you update your Perian?

Does your .mkv file play with QuickTime Player (both X version in Applications, and 7 in Utilities)?

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Answer 5

Jan 11, 2011 4:20 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

As far as I know, 1.1.1 is the latest version of Perian. This is what I have. I will try the beta version you mentioned of MPEG streamclip and post back with the results.

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Answer 6

Jan 11, 2011 5:17 AM in response to Randy McElligott1

Thank you so much!!!! I updated Perian to 1.2.1 now I am able to edit mkv files using Quicktime 7!! The only problem now is that the saved snippets are huge in size. I have a feeling that has to do with the data rate (3600kbits). I am trying now to export to mov format using a data rate of around 1200kbits. Does this make sense or should I try something else?

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Answer 7

Jan 12, 2011 1:37 AM in response to Randy McElligott1

Try exporting to h264 or MPEG4

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