Open MKV video files. How to open mkv
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MKV is a multifunctional video file format included in a project called "Matroska" (Russian for "Matryoshka"). The project appeared on December 6, 2002 in France.
In fact, the MKV extension is not a format, but a multimedia container. It separately stores video and audio tracks, subtitles and other specifications file. Due to this, files with the MKV extension have quite useful functions. For example, the file has an on-screen menu in which you can switch tracks, set subtitles, stream over the Internet, etc. If the video file has the MKV extension, it can be divided into chapters and is resistant to drops.
Multimedia project "Matroska" is an open software, which means that files with the MKV extension can be freely distributed, created and used by any program to open and edit them. No one can prevent you from choosing a convenient program for viewing the file; you can convert it to or make subtitles for the video yourself.
So, have you come across a video file on your way that has a multifunctional file extension? Standard video players recommended by the creators of the Matroska project themselves:
- VLC is a good fast and powerful multimedia player that runs on any operating system. Plays back a large number of video and audio files, rarely requires the installation of additional codecs.
- Mplayer is a player that was originally written for the Linux OS, but can be played on almost any system. Supports a very large number of audio and video file extensions, codecs are built into the player itself.
- The KMPlayer - the player was written for Windows, it has a very flexible interface in which you can configure almost everything - from skin to panning. The player has big amount a variety of functions:
- support for subtitles (choice from several presented, the ability to turn them on and off at any time);
- playback of streaming audio and video;
- playback of “broken” or incompletely downloaded files;
- support for compressed albums;
- playing a specific section of a file (the initial and final time period is specified);
- audio signal smoothing and normalization;
- screenshot support.
This is far from full list functions of the player The KMPlayer, however, you can see that such a player is a very useful thing in computers.
Video files with the MKV extension can even be run with native Media, you just need to install a special codec package. There is also a special utility "Matroska splitter", it contains all the tools for playing audio and subtitles for MKV files and will open them in any player. Of course, it’s easier to install some external multimedia player with a full set of all codecs and not bother yourself anymore with searching for the necessary add-ons for each standard player.
I would like to add that video files with the MKV extension can be viewed and have been released by LG and BBK with support for this function.
MKV - what format is it? It is a video container similar to MOV and AVI that supports unlimited amount audio, image and subtitle tracks (such as SRT or USF).
This format is often considered as a medium for online video high resolution, as it supports descriptions, ratings, cover art, and even chapters. It is for these reasons that it was chosen as the default video content format for the popular DivX Plus software.
Description
MKV - what format is it? Matroska Multimedia Container is an open standard, free file format that can contain an unlimited number of video, audio, image or subtitle tracks in a single container. Intended to be used as a universal format for storing general multimedia content such as movies or television shows. Compared to the AVI format, MKV is conceptually similar to the technological solution of formats such as MP4 or Advanced Systems Format (ASF). The contents of the file are fully disclosed in the specification: the implementation consists of open source software. Matroska file extensions:
MKV - for video (with subtitles and audio);
MK3D - for stereoscopic video;
MKA - for audio files;
MKS - for subtitles.
Story
MKV files, also known as Matroska videos (from the name of the Russian souvenir toy "Matryoshka"), appeared in Russia in 2002. Lead developer Lasse Kärkkäinen worked with project founder Steve Lomme and a team of programmers to create a comprehensive media container file format.
Goals
The Matroska team has expressed some of their long-term goals on the Doom9.org and Hydrogen Audio forums:
creation of a modern, flexible, extensible, cross-platform format of multimedia containers;
development of reliable streaming support;
development of a menu system similar to the EBML-based DVD system;
invention of a set of tools for creating and editing MKV files;
expanding the gallery of libraries that can be used to provide developers with Matroska support for their applications;
work with equipment manufacturers includes support for Matroska in embedded multimedia devices;
MKV support on various operating systems and hardware platforms.
Development
MKV - what is the format and what are its features? The project is supported non-profit organization in France and is a free to use standard. Its technical specifications are available for private and commercial use. The Matroska development team licenses its projects under the LGPL, with parsing and replay libraries available under BSD licenses.
Version support
Contrary to popular belief, MKV files are multimedia container formats and not an audio or video compression format. A container can wrap audio, video, and subtitles into a single file, even if those elements use different types coding. For example, you might have an MKV file that contains H.264 video and something like MP3 or AAC for audio.
Matroska developers have included several key functions, preventing data obsolescence:
quick search;
support for chapters, menus and metadata;
selection of different audio and video streams;
compatible with streaming data;
subtitle support;
error recovery, which allows you to play damaged files.
The MKV container itself also supports almost any audio and video format, making it highly responsive and easy to use.
MKV format: how to open it?
Since this extension is not industry standard, not all media players support it, but their list is expanding due to the growing popularity of the format. There are two main options for playing these files:
using MKV media player;
If you are on Windows, you can use the following software to work with this format - MPV, MPC-HC, KMPlayer, DivX Player, MKV File Player or The Core Media Player (TCMP).
Some of these applications can be used to open MKV file on macOS. Elmedia Player and Roxio were also written specifically for this operating system.
On Linux, MKV files can be played using xine and some of the above programs that work with Windows and Mac, such as VLC.
Play on iPhone, iPad and iPod using the free PlayerXtreme Media Player or VLC for mobile applications which also works with Android devices
You can use CorePlayer mobile software to open MKV files on Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices.
The best option is VLC Media Player
MKV - what is the format and how to open it? Best choice to play MKV files is VLC media player, mainly because it has built-in support and does not require installation of additional components. It's easy to download and install the program. You need to go to official page download and run the exe file to install VLC. The whole process takes no more than two to three minutes.
Beware of downloading the installation file from other sources, as there are fake VLC download sites that spread the virus.
Once the installation is complete, you will be able to watch any movies in MKV format. Please note that while VLC bundles with all supported video and audio formats during installation, including MKV, it is not registered as the default application for these file types.
To watch MKV file using VLC, right click required file, select Open With, and then select VLC Media Player.
To make VLC the default player for MKV files, right-click any file, select "Open With" and click "Select Another Application". In the application selection window, select "VLC Media Player", enable the "Always use this application to open .mkv files" option, and then click "OK".
After this, you can simply double-click the MKV file to have it open in VLC.
Loading codecs
The Matroska website offers several offerings for Windows with built-in support. Alternative option: Download codecs to make the .MKV file compatible with a third-party media player.
If you prefer to use Windows Media Player or another Windows player, you need to install some support files known as codecs. These components help the video player understand how to decompress files that it does not support.
How to change MKV format to MP4?
The MP4 format is a much more popular media standard, compatible with most modern devices. Quite often, users have a question about how to change the MKV format. There are several options. Let's look at each of them step by step.
Convert with VLC (Windows/MacOS)
VLC media player can recognize and play almost any video format, including MKV. It can also convert them into something more versatile, such as MP4. Before changing the MKV format, you must complete the following list of actions:
Go to the VideoLAN home page and download VLC. Be sure to read the fine print when installing to avoid getting a virus.
Open the software, click the "Media" tab in the top left corner and select "Convert/Save" from the drop-down menu that appears.
Click the "Add" button and find the file you want to convert on your computer. After selecting it, click the “Convert/Save” button at the bottom of the window.
Specify the desired video format (in in this case"H.264 + Mp3 (MP4)") using the drop-down menu next to the "Profile" button. Clicking the tool icon will also allow you to fine-tune the file's options.
Then specify in the “Destination” section the location to store the converted file. Click Start. The timeline will turn into a progress bar, and once it completes, the video will be ready.
Convert with Cloud Convert (Web based)
If you don't want to install any file conversion software, you can use a web service. There are a few various options, but Cloud Convert is the most popular because it is simple and supports a huge array of formats.
It is important to note that you need to upload the video files to your server before converting. Cloud Convert's privacy policy states that the contents of the files remain inaccessible. Step-by-step algorithm:
Go to the Cloud Convert home page and upload your file using the Select Files button or simply drag and drop it into your browser window.
Scroll through the list of video formats and select MP4. The default settings should be optimal, but you can further adjust the quality and other aspects. Then click the “Start Conversion” button at the bottom of the page.
When the conversion process is complete, a green "Download" icon will appear. Click to upload a new video.
Now that your video files are in your preferred format, make sure they are protected.
File mkv – this is a video with the presence sound And subtitles, the format of which is often called " Matroska ». « Matryoshka" is open project, that is, this " open standard». mkv format is a direct open alternative to containers such as ASF, AVI, RealMedia, MOV, MPG And MP4. But what open mkv, and what's his name convert to other formats if necessary? The instructions below will tell you all about this.
Necessary:
- availability of a computer;
— access to the Internet;
- basic computer skills.
Instructions:
- In general, there are many programs for viewing files in this extension. Most people prefer to download a special mkv player so that he can easily produce videos in this format. And, it is worth noting that such a decision will be completely justified, because there are free players, which are also capable of playing other formats. Programs for viewing the format mkv that do not require installation of additional software:
- The first of them is . How can I find it and where can I download it? You can go to a website (for example) and download from there the version of this player you like. After downloading click " Launch" and install the program. Browse mkv— video using this player can be done with one click on the triangle “ Play", or right-click on the file we need and select open via .
Second - VLC
. Download this player mkv can be found on the website (link: . This program is available in many languages, and it is very easy to use. Another advantage is its support for skins and versatility. In addition, VLC consumes few system resources, which is very important when working on so-called “ weak» computers. Also, this player does not depend on the version of " DirectX" installed on your computer, since it is not based on " DirectShow».
Third - Zoom Player
. This player also does not require installation of additional software, but it uses some " DirectShow"-filters. You can download the program from the link: . This player is very multifunctional, as it has multimedia libraries, an equalizer and various navigators. The design is tasteful and vaguely resembles the familiar Windows Media.- Fourth - TСPMP, which can be downloaded from here: . This is perhaps the simplest of all the above players for this format, since it consumes the least system resources and does not use " DirectShow» - filters. The dimensions of such a player are very small (only 1.5 MB after unpacking). True, on such a player mkv slows down (but not very much), and for some users, when starting this program, the ability to use the keyboard normally may disappear (the spacebar may disappear, for example).
- What to watch mkv more? A good option for viewing this format is codec package . So, for example, with their help you can watch video files with the extension mkv through your favorite and familiar player. How to choose the right one mkv codec? First of all, you will need to decide which features of this file you want to use. So, for example, if you only need to produce similar files, then downloading " Matroska Splitter"It will be quite enough for you. Download this codec for mkv You can follow the link
MKV files are video files. Most often they record videos and art films. To figure out what this format is, how to play MKV, what programs are suitable for this, an article was written.
MKV- history of origin and characteristics of the format
Files in the MKV format are multimedia containers of the open source big project, which is called Matroska video. was developed by domestic programmers to compete with the most common AVI video format. The format received the name “Matryoshka” because, like the Russian traditional toy, it has a similar structure with attachments. Essentially, MKV is a container, that is, a package in which analog information is placed, converted into a digital format using codecs. That is, the MKV container, as an archiver, contains video, audio tracks (of which there may be several), service information and subtitles.
MKV has gained popularity in the anime community. Typically, files with the MKV extension are high-quality videos. The format is very convenient and has a mass useful functions. Such as, for example, audio tracks that can be switched. It is possible to broadcast via the Internet, fast rewind the video, and split the file into chapters. MKV supports subtitles and several types of video and audio codecs. MKV is easy to edit. It is convenient to work with subtitles that switch literally on the fly. If you don’t know how to play MKV, it’s better to turn to multimedia players that support various video files.
Video player programs
Suitable for playing MKV files big number video players. Among the most popular, we can mention such programs as Media Player Classic, Light Alloy, VLC, CyberLink PowerDVD, KMPlayer and others. So the question of how to play MKV can find a fairly simple solution.
Media Player Classic is a media player that supports all the most known formats audio and video, as well as graphic files. CyberLink PowerDVD is a multimedia player designed to play DVDs. Among universal media players CyberLink PowerDVD is one of the best. It reproduces with the same good quality formats from home video to HD movies. The player is fully adapted to Newest technologies and any formats. So he plays Blu-ray, DVDs and CD. When choosing how to play MKV, you can opt for the video and audio player Media Player Classic, which is distributed freely for Windows. The program supports formats such as MKV (for storing vector graphics and video), avi (the most common video format). VLC is a simple and very convenient player. It plays audio and video files of any format, including MKV. There is a version of this program for operating system Linux. In addition to all of the above, there is another program that can open files in the MKV format. This is a Nero program. She happens to be universal tool, specially designed for copying, creating and burning DVDs and CDs.
The only problem that anyone who wants to watch the video will face is the lack of the necessary codecs. The need for them may arise if old players are installed on your computer that are unsuitable for playing the MKV format. The way out of this situation may be as follows: download codecs to your computer or install free multimedia players that can play MKV and other common video file formats. When choosing the right codecs for the MKV format, you need to think about what features of the format will be in demand. Limiting yourself to only playing files, you can install Matroska Splitter. In order to take advantage of all the advantages provided by the format, you must have the entire set of codecs, which is called Matroska USSR. If your goal is not only to purchase codecs to solve the problem, than to play MKV, but also other formats, then the K-Lite Codec Pack will be optimal.
The format allows you to store several video and audio tracks as well as subtitles in one file. MKV stores various voluminous multimedia content, such as movies or TV programs. The format is open source, unlike similar AVI and MP4.
Matroska, like most formats, uses XML to store binary data. In most cases, MKV can be opened by any media player; below is a selection of the best free programs for viewing MKV videos.
What free programs can open the MKV format?
1. – provides the user with a huge number of functions, from setting up external displays to fine-tuning audio and video. VLC media player for its long story learned to open and play a large number of formats. All these advantages are emphasized by a beautiful, elegant, simple and clear interface, in which there is nothing superfluous.2. is a universal player of audio and video files for Microsoft Windows, has the same appearance Like Windows Media Player 6.4, it is small and lightweight, but at the same time can play a huge number of formats. Media Player Classic has many options and features not found anywhere else. The application supports formats such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DirectShow, QuickTime, RealPlayer, Matroska and Ogg containers, TV tuners.
3. is a compact media player that allows you to view various video and audio file formats, such as VCD, DVD, avi, mkv, ogg, ogm, 3gp and MPEG-1/2/4, WMV, RealMedia, QuickTime and many others. It displays subtitles and allows you to take screenshots, capture audio and video streams.
4. – A very popular player in Russia with a huge number of settings, ranging from localization to the choice of codecs, both external and internal. The interface is not overloaded and intuitive; when you right-click on the playback area, an extensive menu with playback settings appears.
5. – A small media player with a large number of playable formats. The seemingly simple and pleasant interface is actually not very convenient. New users are saved by tooltips, so getting used to the interface will not be difficult. A great feature of this player is its support for Winamp plugins. When playing a video, you can take screenshots and save them in bmp or jpeg format.
6. – Convenient free player. For the humble and laconic design Almost an entire media center is hidden. Here you have an equalizer, custom playlists, zooming in/out of videos and much more. The utility supports subtitles, a huge number of supported formats, and flash support. QuickTime, HTML.
7. – Multifunctional media player with a nice minimalistic interface that can be changed thanks to the support of skins. In addition to all popular formats, including mkv, there is support for the AVCHD format, which is used in modern professional digital video cameras. There are functions for capturing frames and slow motion playback, displaying and editing subtitles.