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MakeMKV question

12518 Views 37 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Mfusick, May 12, 2013

anleva

Discussion Starter · Jun 15, 2012

When ripping Blu-Rays using MakeMKV I will usually just select the main title, HD-Audio and all english subititles and forced subtitles. I'm wondering if in addition to HD-Audio I should also be selecting the DTS 3/2+1 core audio track that is right below the HD-Audio track.

For playing the movie on my home theater I bitstream the HD-Audio directly to my AVR and everything is perfect. But I'm wondering if I end up playing the movie on just my laptop or PC and not on my home theater If I shouldn't have also selected the core audio track as well? If I want to play the movie on both my home theater and my laptop should I be selecting both HD-Audio and core DTS 3/2+1 audio?

1 - 20 of 38 Posts

BudgetHT

· #2 · Jun 15, 2012

Rather I'm doing it right or wrong I don't know, but I do it the same as you only I select all the different audio tracks.

So I rip the main title-->all audio tracks-->forced sub titles.

Sammy2

· #3 · Jun 15, 2012

It is my understanding that you need both if you aren't decoding the MA track. I always grab both the HD and SD audio so if I want to playback on a device that doesn't support the HD, I can.

BTW, anleva, are you using MadVR now? I still haven't verified those other settings you were asking about.

captain_video

· #4 · Jun 15, 2012

I generally rip with just the HD audio and forced subtitles. When I stream the mkv file to the PC in the family room that only outputs stereo, the audio is automatically converted to match the output to the audio device, which, in this case, is the stereo speakers in the display. I've seen no reason to bloat the mkv file with extraneous audio tracks that really aren't needed.

bfhancock

· #5 · Jun 15, 2012

The Captain has spoken.

xfett

· #6 · Jun 15, 2012

Captain is right .. I just select the HD audio tracks and it gets converted to stereo

Shanndogg

· #7 · Jun 15, 2012

Can I get some clarification on whether or not you need the core track in addition to True HD using MakeMKV? This would be in regard to any playabck device that has no TrueHD capability- only AC3 (Dolby Digital).

A year or so back I read on the MakeMKV forums, for DTS-MA you only need the HD track as it already contains the core which can be played back by non-DTS-MA devices. For TrueHD you need both the HD and Core track selected as dolby does not use the same method DTS does in being able to playback the core from the HD track.

Here's an example linked from the MakeMKV forums .

I have been doing the above method- for DTS only selecting the DTS HD track, and for Dolby selecting both HD and Core track. I never tested whether or not you need the core for Dolby in addition to the HD, but I was simply adding it in case I ever was in a situation that needed it.

However, according to the posts above, it seems that the core + TrueHD is not needed for playback on a device that has no TrueHD capability. Is this true?

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anleva

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 15, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by captain_video /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22136028

I generally rip with just the HD audio and forced subtitles. When I stream the mkv file to the PC in the family room that only outputs stereo, the audio is automatically converted to match the output to the audio device, which, in this case, is the stereo speakers in the display. I've seen no reason to bloat the mkv file with extraneous audio tracks that really aren't needed.

That's what I've been doing as well. Just ripping the HD audio and trying to avoid ripping extraneous stuff. . So just ripping HD audio will still allow you to even copy the file to a device that doesn't support HD audio (a laptop) and it will still play in stereo without ripping the core track as well (both DTS and Dolby)?

anleva

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 15, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammy2 /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22135271

It is my understanding that you need both if you aren't decoding the MA track. I always grab both the HD and SD audio so if I want to playback on a device that doesn't support the HD, I can.

BTW, anleva, are you using MadVR now? I still haven't verified those other settings you were asking about.

I set it up to let me use either MadVR or XBMC native playback. Default XBMC but can open in MPC-HC utilizing MadVR as well.

captain_video

· #10 · Jun 15, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by anleva /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22136737

That's what I've been doing as well. Just ripping the HD audio and trying to avoid ripping extraneous stuff. . So just ripping HD audio will still allow you to even copy the file to a device that doesn't support HD audio (a laptop) and it will still play in stereo without ripping the core track as well (both DTS and Dolby)?

I rip all of my Blu-Ray discs to mkv files on my primary PC with just the HD audio tracks and forced subtitles selected and nothing else. After they're ripped I transfer them over to my server. Before I delete the mkv files from my PC I play them back using VLC Media Player on my PC to make sure there aren't any glitches in the ripped file. They all play back fine in stereo, even though I only selected the HD audio track for ripping. My PC isn't set up for either HD audio format or even AC-3 so all it can output is plain old stereo. I have yet to encounter a single ripped Blu-Ray that I wasn't able to play back in stereo, and I've ripped around 400-500 discs so far.

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anleva

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 15, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by captain_video /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22136799

I rip all of my Blu-Ray discs to mkv files on my primary PC with just the HD audio tracks and forced subtitles selected and nothing else. After they're ripped I transfer them over to my server. Before I delete the mkv files from my PC I play them back using VLC Media Player on my PC to make sure there aren't any glitches in the ripped file. They all play back fine in stereo, even though I only selected the HD audio track for ripping. My PC isn't set up for either HD audio format or even AC-3 so all it can output is plain old stereo. I have yet to encounter a single ripped Blu-Ray that I wasn't able to play back in stereo, and I've ripped around 400-500 discs so far.

Perfect, thank you for the clarification!

Sammy2

· #12 · Jun 15, 2012

Do the DD 5.1 or dts 5.1 lossy tracks playback?

renethx

· #13 · Jun 16, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammy2 /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22135271

It is my understanding that you need both if you aren't decoding the MA track.

If you mean DTS-HD Master Audio, then, this is incorrect. DTS-HD Master Audio/High Resolution Audio includes DTS as the core. If the decoder does not support DTS-HD, then it just grabs the core DTS and decodes/bitstreams it. On the other hand, you will need both TrueHD and DD for the best compatibility (well, decoding TrueHD and re-encoding to DD on the fly is possible, though). That's an advantage of DTS-HD MA over TrueHD.

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assassin

· #14 · Jun 16, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22137315

If you mean DTS-HD Master Audio, then, this is incorrect. DTS-HD Master Audio/High Resolution Audio includes DTS as the core. If the decoder does not support DTS-HD, the it just grabs the core DTS and decodes/bitstreams it. On the other hand, you will need both TrueHD and DD for the best compatibility (well, decoding TrueHD and re-encoding to DD on the fly is possible, though). That's an advantage of DTS-HD MA over TrueHD.

+1. That has been my experience as well.

Shanndogg

· #15 · Jun 16, 2012

Cool, so then what I was doing is correct. Thank you!

khalid7412002

· #16 · Jun 16, 2012

7

So while we are on the subject of ripping Blu-Ray to MKVs, I have a few questions and concerns that I can use some help with.

HTPC with ATI 6750 video capable of Bitstreaming, all connected with HDMI to my Receiver.

My current HTPC has 16 TB of space, but with about 400+ blu-ray movies ripped with anydvd-hd into ISO format, I have quickly run out of space. I had thought about going the route of building a server, but recently lost my job so money is tight right not. This made me think about going the MKV route.

So I tested two movies to try to figure it out, sex and the city 1 and 2 because part 1 contains Dolby True HD and part contains DTS-HD.

So when I normally play the ISOs, Media Browser, to Totalmedia 5 in Windows Media Center, I get the correct audio, my denon 3311 displays either Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, and total media 5 displays Dolby TrueHD Pass Through or DTS-HD MSTR pass Through. Please refer to PICs 1,2,3,4.

Again this is when I mount ISO and play them in the totalmedia plug in for WMC.

My issues occurs when I try to rip to MKV.

So i choose only the movie, the HD audio file and english subtitles in MKV, Please refer to PIC 7

When I play them in TotalMedia 5 plugin for WMC, my avr shows the correct HD status, again refer to PICS 1 and 2,

However, totalmedia no longers displays either Dolby TrueHD Pass Through or DTS-HD MSTR pass Through, but instead displays Dolby TrueHD or just DTS. Please refer to PICs 5 and 6.

So am I still getting HD audio even though totalmedia no longer says pass through and doesn't state DTS-HD MSTR like it does with ISO files?

Hopefully I was able to convey my issue clearly enough that it can be understood, let me know if i can clear any confusion. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

PIC 1 AVR DTS HD ISO and MKV.JPG 1685k .JPG file
PIC 2 AVR Dolby HD ISO and MKV.JPG 1519k .JPG file
PIC 3 ISO Totalmedia Dolby HD.JPG 3172k .JPG file
PIC 4 ISO Totalmedia DTS HD.JPG 3033k .JPG file
PIC 5 MKV Dolby HD.JPG 3311k .JPG file
PIC 6 MKV DTS.JPG 3121k .JPG file
PIC 7 Sex and the City 1 TrueHD.png 130k .png file

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renethx

· #17 · Jun 17, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by khalid7412002 /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22139378

So i choose only the movie, the HD audio file and english subtitles in MKV, Please refer to PIC 7

When I play them in TotalMedia 5 plugin for WMC, my avr shows the correct HD status, again refer to PICS 1 and 2,

However, totalmedia no longers displays either Dolby TrueHD Pass Through or DTS-HD MSTR pass Through, but instead displays Dolby TrueHD or just DTS. Please refer to PICs 5 and 6.

So am I still getting HD audio even though totalmedia no longer says pass through and doesn't state DTS-HD MSTR like it does with ISO files?

Yes, TMT displays:

- "DTS-HD MSTR / Dolby TrueHD Pass Through" for a disc

- "DTS-HD MSTR / Dolby TrueHD" for a MKV

But, as long as your AVR displays "DTS-HD MSTR / DOLBY TrueHD" logo, you are getting the same HD audio.

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khalid7412002

· #18 · Jun 17, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22140719

Yes, TMT displays:

- "DTS-HD MSTR / Dolby TrueHD Pass Through" for a disc

- "DTS-HD MSTR / Dolby TrueHD" for a MKV

But, as long as your AVR displays "DTS-HD MSTR / DOLBY TrueHD" logo, you are getting the same HD audio.

Thank you so much for your quick response.

One last concern is when TMT displays just "DTS" (PIC 6), yet receiver displays DTS-HD MSTR (PIC 1), is there any reason for concern there or am I still getting the same HD as with an ISO?

Again, thank you for your quick response and clarifying advice.

renethx

· #19 · Jun 17, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by khalid7412002 /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22140850

Thank you so much for your quick response.

One last concern is when TMT displays just "DTS" (PIC 6), yet receiver displays DTS-HD MSTR (PIC 1), is there any reason for concern there or am I still getting the same HD as with an ISO?

Again, thank you for your quick response and clarifying advice.

Well, if AVR says DTS-HD MSTR, then it's DTS-HD MSTR, not the core DTS. So you shouldn't worry.

khalid7412002

· #20 · Jun 18, 2012

Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx /t/1415816/makemkv-question#post_22140880

Well, if AVR says DTS-HD MSTR, then it's DTS-HD MSTR, not the core DTS. So you shouldn't worry.

Thanks again for your input.

However, I have decided to abandon the MKV route simple because of forced subtitles and hassle in trying to set them up.

I tried a few movies that had parts where a foreign language were spoken, Angels and Demons about 4 minutes into the movie and noticed that subtitles were not coming on unless I manually selected the second set of subtitles,which I presume was the part that Is supposed to come on in movie where a foreign language is spoken. I also found that in order for the subtitles to come on, I had to default the subtitles to always be on. This lost the WAF for me since picking the correct set of subtitles would be a hassle and ruin the movie experience.

I tried the final MKV in xbmc, totalmedia 5 and neither of them would automatically force subtitles in the foreign part unless I had already enabled the correct subtitle track.

So then I began my search for a method to keep the ISO format but strip the unwanted junk like trailers, other languages, etc and I found this guide that I have tried on a few movies with subtitles and it works perfectly fine. Plays the subtitles for foreign parts even if subtitles are off by default.

I have test the size difference against MKV and they come in almost exactly the same in size after stripping unnecessary stuff. Another plus for me personally is that is that it retains the ISO format, which I have perfected for the WAF and so nothing changes, I just get more space.

The guide is linked below.
http://forum.slysoft.com/showthread.php?t=11770

In step 1, when u download eac3to, unzip it to your program files, and make sure that the file name is "eac3to" and nothing else. makes finding it in CMD easier.

Again, I have tested this method with about 6 movies now and they play just like before with the 1:1 ISO of my blu-ray disks, but it goes directly into the movie and I save a ton of space.

Let me know if I can help with any questions should anyone want to try this method.

Take care

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