MKV format to ipod

Arhsmacdude wrote:

I'm going on a trip next week, and I'm wondering what the best way is to convert MKV files to a format that my iPad 2 can handle. I have a tool called Perian that allows me to view MKV files within QuickTime Player 7, but when I tried converting an MKV file into an MP4 file, it looked awful. whats the best format to convert to? thanks!

I would suggest using the free Handbrake software to convert the files, and select the iPad2 preset so it optimises it for display on the iPad.

whats the best format to convert to?

1) As always, the first step is to determine if data conversion is required. Since MKV is a file format and not a data compression format, it may contain many different combinations of audio and video compression formats. In some cases, no data conversion may be necessary and the data need only be placed in an iPad 2 (or iPod) compatible file container—most commonly MOV, M4V, or MP4. In others, it may not be necessary to convert both audio and video content or lose data such as a chapter track depending on the software used for the conversion.

2) When necessary to convert, H.264 compressed video with AAC compressed audio is usually the best combination in terms of quality vs. storage space. Depending on the specific codec and level of compression used in the source video, it may be necessary to employ manual settings rather than a conversion preset to prevent further loss in quality. Poor output video quality in a conversion usually indicates a low video data rate for the codec in use. This can be a significant problem when the source file itself is already highly compressed.

Arhsmacdude wrote:

I will try using handbrake, but my only question about setting it to iPad 2 is can I use that on an iPod Touch as well?

The iPad can play higher quality videos than the iPod Touch being that it is a far more powerful device. Handbrake has presets for all the other Apple products including the iPod Touch. If you use the iPod Touch preset then that will also work on the iPad but will not be as good on the iPad as the iPad specific setting.

I suggest you pick a small test video and run it through Handbrake using several of the options and then try playing them on both and see which best works on both. It would be possible to do two versions of each one for the iPad and one for the iPod but of course that would be more work and disk space.

Jon,

thanks for the information. But I'm a noob to this.

Q1: How do I know if conversion is needed?

Q2: If conversion is not needed, how do I put it in "compatible container".

Q3: if conversion is needed, what programs do you recommend, and to what format?

Q1: How do I know if conversion is needed?

A1: If the MKV file contains H.264 video up to and including 720p resolution, has a frame rate of 30 fps or less, uses the Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio with a data rate up to 160 Kbps per channel and sampling rate up to 48 KHz in stereo, then the audio and video data would be compatible with the current iPod Touch, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad2, and/or TV device and not require re-compression of the data. Basically, you have to check to see what compression formats the MKV file contains using your system or media player Info/Inspector window. Checking profile and level would usually require a third-party app like VideoSpec.

Q2: If conversion is not needed, how do I put it in "compatible container".

A2: I would normally use the "Save As..." option in QT 7 Pro to place the data in an MOV file container or the same option in MPEG Streamclip to place the data in an MOV or MP4 file container. I also understabd that Subler can be used to place the data in an M4V file container. Each of these file containers is compatible with the devices previously mentioned.

Q3: if conversion is needed, what programs do you recommend, and to what format?

A3: About the only MKV files I use are 1080p content (H.264/AC3/Chapter or H.264/DTS/Chapter data) extracted from my BD video library. In this case I use HandBrake to convert the 1080p content to PAR encoded 720p H.264/AC3/AAC/Chapter files for my iTunes library.

So detailed, this will be helpful to others.