About 'Audio Preset'

Video

With MKV2M4V app, the source’s video is always copied to the target regardless of the audio options. But if the target container (m4v, mp4 or mov) doesn’t support this video codec, it will be failed.


Audio Preset: Mac, iOS Device, Apple TV

(Audio Preset) - (Target's Audio Codec)
’Mac’              - ALAC
‘iOS Device’    - AAC/160Kbps
‘Apple TV’      - AC3/640Kbps and AAC/320Kbps

In these three options, basically, the source’s audio will be converted to the each codec as the above. And it can select only one track from the source’s audio.

But if the source and target audio codec are the same, the source’s audio will be just copied in order to shorten the conversion time, it isn’t converted. That is, it will be worked as 'Pass-through'.


Audio Preset: Custom

On the other hand, in ’Custom’ option, it will always work as the chosen audio codec option. That is, this option can do things that it is converted to the same audio codec. 

And it can select two tracks from the source’s audio.


All ‘Audio Preset’ options

If it is worked as ‘Pass-through’ and the target container (m4v, mp4 or mov) doesn’t support the source’s audio codec, it will be failed too.

How to use 'Automator' actions

MKV2M4V (1.2.2 or later) includes some 'Automator' actions. If it installed this app and run 'Automator', it can see MKV2M4V-related actions.

(1.3.0 or later)

• ‘Add and Convert’

(1.2.2 or 1.2.3)

• 'Add Files to List'

• 'Add List to Queue'

• 'Change Options'

• 'Start to Convert'

It can see more informations about each actions at the action's description of 'Automator'.


And because ‘Automator’ doesn’t support ‘Sandbox’, there are some restrictions about actions by it. 

(1.3.0 or later)

As for ‘Add and Convert’ action, video and subtitle files (folders) should be in (be) the following folders or its subfolders; Folders that once opened while the app is running, MKV2M4V’s the place to save.

(1.2.2 or 1.2.3)

These 'Automator' actions work with the video files that are in the following folders or its subfolders; 'Downloads', 'Movies', MKV2M4V's the place to save.


The following screenshot shows the example for using actions in 'workflow' type.

(1.3.0 or later)

• ‘Ask for Finder Items’ > ’Add and Convert’ > ’Reveal Finder Items’

(1.2.2 or 1.2.3)

• 'Ask for Finder Items' > 'Add Files to List' > 'Change Options' > 'Add List to Queue' > 'Start to Convert' > 'Reveal Finder Items'

※ In this example, 'Change Options' and 'Add List to Queue' actions can be omitted.

Closed Captions, Hard-Subtitles/Soft-Subtitles

There are two types in embedded subtitles: Hard-subs and Soft-subs.

• Hard-subs

  - It is merged to video frames.

  - It can NOT be removed and modified, hided.

  - It requires video track re-encoding. (So it takes very LONG times to add subtitles.)

  - Decoding video frame > Creating subtitle image > Merge both into one frame > Encoding video frame.

• Soft-subs

  - It is inserted to a separated track.

  - It can be removed by removing the subtitle track and be hided.

  - It doesn't require video track re-encoding. (So it takes very SHORT times to add subtitles. It's very efficient.)

  - Just add subtitle track into the container (M4V, MP4 or MOV).

'Closed Captions (CC)' is 'Soft-subs'. And there are some restrictions by OS X / iOS.

  - Font type and size used in 'Closed Captions' are determined by OS X / iOS.

  - Supported tags and subtitles position are limited. 

  - So it can't be displayed as the MKV's embedded subtitles (SSA, ASS with embedded 'ttf' fonts).

※ It can now change the style of 'Closed Captions' on OS X 10.9 or later, iOS 7.0 or later, Apple TV 6.0 or later. But if changed style is applied, color tags in CC are ignored at Apple TV.
• OS X: 'System Preferences' - Accessibility - Captions - Click '+' button

• iOS (Apple TV): 'Settings' - General - Accessibility - Subtitles & Captioning - Style - Create New Style (Edit Styles)

So, MKV2M4V doesn't support 'Hard-subs' way because of these reasons.

MKV2M4V adds 'CC' into the target file (M4V, MP4 or MOV) using SRT subtitle files without video track re-encoding (So it's very fast). 

If it chose the 'ssa', 'ass' or 'subrip' subtitle track, first, it is converted to SRT subtitle file without embedded 'ttf' fonts because of the reasons described above. And then if another srt files don't exist, this SRT subtitle file will be used in adding 'Closed Caption'.

The following is the explanation on how to add 'Closed Caption' and turn on it.

First, there are some restrictions by 'Sandbox'. Sandboxed-app can't open files without the user's explicit access. So, if it opens not folders but video files, srt files should be in the following folders or its subfolders to use them automatically. If not, it should open it manually; Folders that once opened while the app is running, MKV2M4V’s the place to save. 

Next files are in '/Users/bohoonkim/Movies/test' folder. And in this case, 'video_file_name.srt' and 'video_file_name*.srt' files can be used for adding 'CC' when it converts 'Sample.mkv' file.

But if it explicitly opens only 'Sample.mkv' file, it can't access these srt files.

Thus it should explicitly open three files or '/Users/bohoonkim/Movies/test' folder to access them.

'Sample.mkv' and two srt files were opened. (These SRT files' text encoding is UTF-16. Of course it also supports UTF-8.)

If 'CC' was successfully added, 'Caption.' will be displayed as the following after conversion.

And then, this converted file, 'Sample.m4v' was played on QuickTime Player and turn on 'CC' by using 'balloon' button in the control bar. (on OS X 10.10.x)

And screenshot with another converted file on iTunes. (on OS X 10.10.x)

When Codec is 'vc1 (Advanced)'

Some video file has a video track encoded with 'vc1 (Advanced)' codec.

And MKV2M4V app converts only audio tracks. (A video track is just copied from the source to the target.)

And video codec 'vc1 (Advanced)' is only supported in MP4 and MOV container.

And audio codec 'ALAC' is only supported in M4V and MOV container.

So, in this case, it can be converted with these options.
  - Custom, AAC, None, MP4

  - Custom, AC3, None, MP4

  - Custom, Pass-through, None, MOV (depending on the source audio codec)

  - Custom, ALAC, None, MOV

  - Custom, AAC, None, MOV

  - Custom, AC3, None, MOV

A wider range of codes can be copied from the source file with '.mov' format.

But the converted file in this case may not be played on some video playback app because of unsupported video codecs. For example, it can't be played on the OS's default media feature.

TIP: Use MKV2M4V to convert the MP4 file with Audio Error

Occasionally, the audio track of the mp4 file is not played on the OS's default media feature.

In this case, it can use MKV2M4V to convert the audio track of these mp4 files with audio error.

1. Open this mp4 file.

(1.3.1 or later)
First, set the format filter to ‘ALL’ and then open (or add, drag) it.

(1.3.0 or earlier)
Drag it into the main window. (red box in the below image)

2. Choose 'Custom' mode.

3. Choose 'ALAC' or 'AAC' audio codec.

4. Click start button.

Version History - MKV2M4V

Ver 1.3.2 (10/06/2015)

• Fixed the issue that os type options are not applied to the closed caption.
• Fixed other minor bugs.
• Improved parsing for ASS/SSA format.

Ver 1.3.1 (06/29/2015)

• Fixed Issues
  - The phase of checking codec/pixel/fps takes too long time for some files.
  - The timing of captions is delayed if chapters were added.

• Added Buttons
  - .MKV/ALL button: It can open only mkv, flv types or all supported types.
  - Open button: It shows the place to save in Finder.

• The languages of audio/caption in target file can be set differently.
  - If the track is set to the same language for each types, it isn't possible to change the track at some media playback apps. (For example, 'QuickTime Player')

• When chapters are added, it takes a shorter conversion time and requires less temporary hard disk space.
• Shortcut keys are added.
• FFmpeg is updated.

Ver 1.3.0 (09/26/2014)

• Requires OS X 10.9 or later.

• Improves the compatibility with the video track that encoded with H.264 codec and YUV420P pixel format.

• Replaces old four ‘Automator’ actions to ‘Add and Convert’ action.

  - It can use this action like this; ‘Ask for Finder Items’ - ’Add and Convert’ - ’Reveal Finder Items’

• Supports closed caption up to two.

  - Source srt files should follow the below rule related to ’Sandbox’.

  - Source srt files should be in the same folder as the video file or in MKV2M4V’s the place to save.

  - Source srt files should have a name like this; ‘videoFileName.srt’, ‘videoFileName*.srt’.

• Changes related to ‘Sandbox’

  - As for ‘MKV2M4V’, if it opens not folders but video files, srt files should be in the following folders or its subfolders to use them automatically. If not, it should open it manually;

  - As for ‘Add and Convert’ action, because ‘Automator’ doesn’t support ‘Sandbox’, video and subtitle files (folders) should be in (be) the following folders or its subfolders;

  - Folders that once opened while the app is running, MKV2M4V’s the place to save.

• Enhances the feature that extracts internal subtitle into srt file. And it can select ‘subrip’ internal subtitle.

• Enhances the feature that adds closed caption.

• Adds the information section for target file.

  - It can change the language for audio track or closed caption track at here.

  - It can modify/delete title metadata at here if the source file has it.

• Normalizes audio volume if it is not ‘Pass-through’.

• Adds ‘.mov’ for target file format.

  - If it selects ‘.mov’ format,

  - A wider range of codes can be copied from the source file under unchecked ‘Add Chapter’ option,

  - And some languages can't be set to the track's language by ffmpeg.

• Prevents sleep during converting.

• Shows badge during converting. It means the number of files that currently is converting or will try later.

• Updated FFmpeg.

• Updated MP4Box.

Ver 1.2.3 (06/28/2013)

• 'Closed Caption' Line option was added.
  - 'Two Lines': Recommended for OS-based media playback App in OS X 10.7.x, iOS 5.x (except Apple TV).
  - 'More Lines + Margin': Recommended for OS-based media playback App in OS X 10.8.x, iOS 5.1.x - 5.3 (only Apple TV), iOS 6.x.
  - 'More Lines': Recommended for OS-based media playback App in OS X 10.8.x and 10.9, iOS 5.1.x - 5.3 and 6.0 (only Apple TV), iOS 6.x and 7.0.
• Minor things were enhanced.

Ver 1.2.2 (03/20/2013)

• Some 'Automator' actions were added. 

  - 'Add Files to List', 'Add List to Queue', 'Change Options', 'Start to Convert' action. 

  - You can use these actions as the example described next: 'Ask for Finder Items' > 'Add Files to List' > 'Change Options' > 'Add List to Queue' > 'Start to Convert' > 'Reveal Finder Items' action. 

  - There are some restrictions by 'Sandbox'. So, these 'Automator' actions work with video files that are in the following folders and its subfolders: ~/Downloads, ~/Movies, MKV2M4V target directory. 

• Improved compatibility about subtitles for the 'Closed Caption' feature.

Ver 1.2.1 (12/10/2012)

• Fixed the problem that it can't add the closed caption when there are some symbol characters in the source file name. 

Ver 1.2.0 (10/24/2012)

• Requires OS X 10.7.3 or later. 

• Sandbox was adopted. 
  - If you updated from previous version, it requires to set the target directory again.

  - If you open 'files' (not 'folder') when 'Source Directory' was checked, it can't write a file to the folder that includes these files. 

  - If you open video 'files' (not 'folder'), you must manually open 'srt' files that will be used to insert closed captions. 

• Improved features about drag-and-open. 

  - '.trp' type support. 

  - If you drag the folder that includes 'BDMV', it will automatically search 'm2ts' files in 'BDMV'. 

• Improved features about closed caption. 

  - Recommends all 'Audio Preset' modes (except 'Custom' mode) for QuickTime-based App on OS X 10.7.x, iOS 5.x. 

  - Recommends 'Custom' mode for QuickTime-based App on OS X 10.8.x, iOS 5.1.x (Apple TV), iOS 6.x. 

• Improved features about chapters. 

• The source file's audio sample rate is preserved. 

• Updated FFmpeg, MP4Box. 

• X11 requirement of MP4Box was removed. 

• Enhanced other minor things.

Ver 1.1.2 (07/05/2012)

• This is the last update for the OS X 10.6.x user.

• Remove the chapter data of a source video file when it is converted. (except on the custom mode)

  - Some other apps can't open the converted m4v file with including the chapter.

• Fixed the issue that the last line that does not have the new line character is missing when SRT subtitle file is loaded.

• Removed the title's ambiguity of 'Options' items.

Ver 1.1.1 (05/07/2012)

• It is possible to skip the track configuration on the custom mode. 

• You can use MKV2M4V as a simple media info app. And if the source video track's codec is supported in the m4v(mp4) container, you can convert it. 

  - Following types can be dragged into the left table view to open: mp4, m4v, mov, avi, ts, tp, wmv, rmvb, mts, m2ts.

Ver 1.1.0 (04/11/2012)

• added new features.

  - Queue, Audio Preview, Audio Preset, Closed Caption, Move to Trash, Log

• enhanced the user interface.

• enhanced other minor things.

Ver 1.0.3 (10/14/2011)

• possible to choose two audio tracks of the source file.

• possible to extract the internal subtitles of an mkv file into a SRT file.

• fixed the error about opening the mkv file that contains the metadata of a non-UTF8.

• added shortcut keys : '⌘+'(add items to the list), '⌘-'(remove selected items from the list).

• updated FFmpeg.

• enhanced other minor things.

Ver 1.0.2 (05/24/2011)

• possible to select the audio bitrate that will be used on the conversion.

• possible to select the container type of targets.

• possible to add a same audio track with AAC codec when choose Pass-through option too.

• possible to use the AAC options on 32-bit running mode too.

• enhance the error message.

Ver 1.0.1 (04/18/2011)

• Improve the compatibility with MKV files.

• It is possible to select the audio track/codec that will be used on the conversion.

• It is possible to add a same audio track that is encoded with AAC-2ch.

• It is possible to see the error message when it's not converted.

• Always gain the volume of the converted file when ALAC-2ch or AAC-2ch is selected.

• Update FFmpeg.

Ver 1.0.0 (03/24/2011)