.MKV High Definition to Xbox 360

[borovy3488]

yep, i thought that was weird too.....

and quicktime definately plays xvid files

 

[mrplow]

Assuming you've got the latest version of Perian I'm at a bit of a loss as to why you can't see xVid as an option.

You could take a different tack and use MP4. If you use the passthrough** option it will help maintain the quality. There's a good guide here with screenshots and helpful comments.

**Edit: you can only use passthrough if the source video is H.264 or mpeg-4 to start with otherwise I'd just convert to H.264 rather than using passthrough

HTH
mrplow

 

[borovy3488]

ok, I followed the guide on gerard's weblog, and I only have one problem. The video file that I get is messed up. Both sides of the video are blurry, and it looks like the middle is the correct size. Know whats up with that??

 

[mrplow]

Did you match the resolution with the source?

Apart from that I'm afraid I'm about out of ideas. I'm able to convert all the MKV files I have and all the samples I've downloaded to assist in this thread.

All the problems you're having seem to be to do with your source material. Not sure what it is you're trying to convert or where it came from but if you have a link to it or a way to set me a part of it I can take a look at it more directly and see about getting you a solution.

 

[borovy3488]

When I clicked to passthrough the video, it doesn't let me change the resolution at all. I have no idea how this isn't working. Yes, I can get you a clip of the movie if you'd like, I'll send you a PM.

 

[mrplow]

I got the sample video you sent.

I can export from Quicktime Pro to xVid and DivX (defaults settings) with passthrough audio and it works fine, no discernible loss of quality - it's quite slow going though.

As per your previous posts - you don't seem to have the xvid export option so it's looks like your setup is compromised one way or another.
I'd suggest that it's worth uninstalling Perian. Making sure you have the latest Updates for Quicktime Pro. Then re-install Perian 1.1 and try again.

Another alternative is to extract the contents of the MKV container. There are a set of MKV tools and a good website about MKV in general here.

Another alternative is to use VisualHub which professes to be able to convert MKV.

Yet another alternative is MoKgVm2DVD which is specifically designed to convert MKV to DivX or xVid.

HTH

mrplow

 

[borovy3488]

Once again, thanks for all of your help mr. plow. I will try all of those and report back here how it goes.

I don't really care how long it takes as long as i can get it to work!!
EDIT::
Wow, I really don't know whats going on with my mac. I completely uninstalled Perian. Then I got all of the latest updates for QTPro. Then I went to the Perian website and downloaded the newest version. Still, the only option i have is DivX, no XviD.

 

[borovy3488]

I have read that visual hub does not support multi-channel audio conversion. How can I convert just the audio from the mkv file? I just want to make sure it will work before I pay for visual hub.

 

[MacFanBoy]

isn't there a plugin for ffpegx that will allow you to do this?

 

[mrplow]

I have read that visual hub does not support multi-channel audio conversion. How can I convert just the audio from the mkv file? I just want to make sure it will work before I pay for visual hub.

Visual Hub has a trial you can download. That way you'd know for sure.

The tools off the site I gave previously are able to split the audio from the video.


mrplow

 

[borovy3488]

Thanks for the help Mr. Plow. Visual Hub didn't work, so I just broke down and installed GOTsent for windows. I am trying to use that as little as possible, and right now that is the only program I use on it. Oh well, it works great!

 

[v4111]

A solution for streaming Large HD movies to Xbox360 from an Intel Mac

I know it has been a while since this Thread was created, but I spent a decent amount of time searching for a way to stream a 10.5GB [1920 X 800, AC3 5.1] .MKV file from my Intel Mac to my Xbox 360. After a few frustrating hours and a slight headache, I discovered a way. For anyone who has come across this post and is also trying to do the same thing, here is how I did it:

REQUIRED SOFTWARE
Mkvtollnix
QuickTime PRO
Connect360


Step I
SPLIT THE MKV FILE INTO NUMEROUS SMALLER FILES
As far as I know, Xbox360 will not let you stream a MP4 file larger than 2GB. You can use an OSX program called Mkvtoolnix to split your MKV file into 2GB segments.

1.] Download a copy of Mkvtoolnix from here
2] Open Mkvtoolnix
3] In the "Input files" field, click add
4] Select the MKV file you want to split
5] Select the "Global" tab
6] In the Splitting field, select "Enable splitting..."
7] In the "Splitting" field, select "...after this size
8] Enter 2GB
9] Change the "Output filename" and/or location at the bottom of the "Global" tab.
10] Select "Start muxing"


Step II
CONVERT ALL OF YOUR MKV FILES INTO XBOX360 COMPATIBLE FILES
Since Xbox360 doesn't support the MKV file format or streaming of AC3 audio, you must use a Pro edition of QuickTime to convert to the MP4 format using the AAC audio format

1] Open the folder containing the numerous MKV files, select them all, and then open this all with QuickTime
2] Wait for all of the files to load completely
3] Now follow the directions in this video to convert

Step III
USE CONNECT360 TO STREAM THE MP4 FILES TO YOUR XBOX

1] Download Connect360 here
2] Make sure to set Connect360 to enable sharing of the folder your HD MP4's are contained in

I hope this helps anyone else who is trying to stream an HD movie

 

[roderick]

Still no mac app that does this quickly without a re-encode? Quicktime's passthrough method doesn't work every time. XenonMKV for Windows works every time. Why no Mac app yet?

 

[veritas1]

Mostly right. You can stream files up to 4gb to xbox 360 though.

You do not need to re-encode an mkv file to get it to work on the xbox 360.

a .mkv file is just a container, it's whats inside that matters. Essentially you have a video stream and an audio stream, quite possibly an additional audio stream or subtitle stream in your .mkv file.

When you have extracted the files, you will have a .h264 video stream and an audio stream, more than likely ac3.

You DO NOT need to re-encode the video stream for xbox 360 to read it. The .h264 video has a "level" which if it is 5.1, as it sometimes is, the xbox will not read it. THIS STILL DOESN'T MEAN YOU NEED TO RE-ENCODE IT. Re-encoding the video stream takes a long time (if you have a comp like mine )
However the xbox will read the exact same video stream if the level is 4.1.
To change it you will need to download the Hexedit software. Open the .h264 file in Hexedit. Then change the '33' in the second block of code on the top line to '29'. Save the file. THATS IT. That takes a few seconds compared to hours of re-encoding. PS - If it is not '33' eg it's '1F' or '1E', thats fine. LEAVE IT. Xbox will play it.

Then all you have to do is re-encode the .ac3 audio file to a 2ch stereo .mp4 file in QT.

Now you have a 4.1 level .h264 video stream and a 2ch audio stream that are xbox friendly. They need a nice new container. So re-mux them into a .mp4 file using mp4box.

Points to note: Mp4box has a 2gb file size limit. Xbox has a 4gb file size limit.

I have an iMac G5 2ghz with 1.5gb ram, pretty slow these days. It takes me about 1hr to get a xbox friendly file from the original 4gb .mkv file. Hope this helps.