Dolby Atmos TrueHD not detected in MKV

[MMRD50]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum. If this should be posted elsewhere please let me know.

I’m having an issue when ripping an audio Blu‑ray disc using MakeMKV. When I rip the disc then create the .mkv file, it appears that MakeMKV is not processing the Dolby Atmos TrueHD audio stream correctly.
Here’s what I’m seeing:
• MediaInfo reports that the resulting MKV does contain a Dolby TrueHD / Atmos track. Also detected in VLC and MPC-BE.
• However, during playback via USB on my Sony AVR, the receiver does not activate the Atmos decoder. Instead, the file is detected and played back as 7.1 LPCM.
• All other audio tracks in this file play correctly.
• Downloaded test files (including MKVs from Demolandia) play perfectly and do trigger Atmos on the same setup.
What’s interesting is this:
• If I use the Backup function in MakeMKV and create a full BDMV folder (with “decrypt video files” enabled), the .m2ts files inside the STREAM folder do correctly activate Atmos on the Sony AVR.
This makes me wonder whether MakeMKV isn’t transferring the Dolby TrueHD / Atmos metadata into the MKV container correctly — or if I’m missing something.
Has anyone else seen this behaviour?
Is there a known solution or setting I should be using to preserve Atmos metadata in MKV files?
Thanks in advance for any help!

[Billycar11]

more likely your playback device for some reason on mkv files does not bitstrem but does for m2ts
whats your playback device or player

[MMRD50]

Thanks very much for replying.
I downloaded test files (including MKVs from Demolandia) They play perfectly and do trigger Atmos on the same setup. The m2ts files created from the back up (that work fine) are pre the process of creating mkv files. It seems this process is not working correctly or I am missing something.
My AVR is the Sony STRDH790.CEK 7.2 Channel Dolby Atmos/DTS: X 4K HDR AV Receiver. It plays pretty much everything I throw at it.
I'm scratching my head over this one!

[Billycar11]

You playing back directly with the avr?
That's just as bad as a smart TV try with a PC setup to bitstream or something else

[MMRD50]

Sorry? Whats just as bad? It is what the USB port is for!!!
Switching to a PC is beside the point and a different subject entirely
Umm can we stay on topic...I'm just trying to find out what is wrong with these mkv files created in the application.

Thanks

[Coopervid]

Sorry? Whats just as bad? It is what the USB port is for!!!
Switching to a PC is beside the point and a different subject entirely
Umm can we stay on topic...I'm just trying to find out what is wrong with these mkv files created in the application.

Thanks

Please describe your playback chain.

[dcoke22]

According to the product page for a Sony STR-DH790 receiver the USB port is described as being a power supply only.

I too am confused about your playback setup.

[MMRD50]

Sorry. Huge apology...You are quite right about the USB on the AVR...it supplies power to my Firestick.
The USB is on my BD player...a Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player – UBP-X800M2. How did I get that so wrong!
Brain not in gear!

So the BD player supports...via the USB port...

Video file formats...

HEVC (.mkv, .mp4, .m4v, .m2ts, .mts), VP9 (.webm, .mkv), VP8 (.webm, .mkv), VP6 (.flv), MPEG-1 Video/PS (.mpg .MPEG, .mkv) [.VOB, .VRO], MPEG-2 Video/PS, TS ( .mpg.MPEG, .m2ts, .mts, .mkv) [.VOB, .VRO], MPEG-4 AVC (.mkv, .mp4, .m4v, .m2ts, .mts) ,MPEG-4/AVC (.mov, 3gp, .3g2, .3gpp, .3gpp2, .flv), Xvid (.avi, .mkv), WMV9 (.wmv, .asf, .mkv), AVCHD Disc Format,VC1 (.m2ts, .mts, .mkv), Motion JPEG (.mov, .avi)

So having cleared that up...I have had no issues at all playing Atmos encoded MKV files (or any Atmos encoded files) from outside of MakeMKV.

Again, sorry confusing the issue.

Many thanks

[Coopervid]

Check your MKV files with Mediainfo. Maybe only 8.x or 5.x files are supported. Makemkv files uses 7.06 FEL MKVs. This is mainly only an issue with Dolby Vision but there could also be an issue with Dolby Atmos. Just compare the files that work and those which don't.

[MMRD50]

Hi and thanks for the reply.
I do use mediainfo regularly though I do no not know where to find 8.x or 5.x info.
The 7.06 FEL info I think can be found using makemkvcon, found in the MakeMKV application directory.
I will check them over the next few days.

Having done a bit more research into the Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player – UBP-X800M2, there is growing evidence that it is not too reliable and often struggles to play Dolby TrueHD audio due to limited support for advanced audio codecs within the MKV container.
The test ones I downloaded from demolandia may have been lossy variants.
The only way I can get Dolby TrueHD to play from MKV as Atmos through my AVR, is to remux to m2ts...even then it is not perfect.
I think it may well be a hardware issue as suggested at the start...
I am thinking of getting some sort of media server...HDMI direct to my AVR.

Thanks for your help...

[Coopervid]

Hi and thanks for the reply.
I do use mediainfo regularly though I do no not know where to find 8.x or 5.x info.
The 7.06 FEL info I think can be found using makemkvcon, found in the MakeMKV application directory.
I will check them over the next few days.

Having done a bit more research into the Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player – UBP-X800M2, there is growing evidence that it is not too reliable and often struggles to play Dolby TrueHD audio due to limited support for advanced audio codecs within the MKV container.
The test ones I downloaded from demolandia may have been lossy variants.
The only way I can get Dolby TrueHD to play from MKV as Atmos through my AVR, is to remux to m2ts...even then it is not perfect.
I think it may well be a hardware issue as suggested at the start...
I am thinking of getting some sort of media server...HDMI direct to my AVR.

Thanks for your help...

I found this from 2021.

https://community.sony.de/t5/home-cinem ... -p/3840082

[MMRD50]

Yes, this is the sort of thing I have seen apon doing a bit more research.
MKV Officially "supported" but does not state specific variants.
Still waiting for a firmware update... been the same one since 2022.

[Coopervid]

Yes, this is the sort of thing I have seen apon doing a bit more research.
MKV Officially "supported" but does not state specific variants.
Still waiting for a firmware update... been the same one since 2022.

Not gonna happen to solve your issue. Sony's opinion is that they won't support piracy and they consider MKVs piracy files. You should get a player to feed the files via HDMI to your AVR.

Personally I avoid all Sony products since then:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_ ... it_scandal

[MMRD50]

Not quite sure its that black or white! It does officially support mkv file format. Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3 JOC) "lossy" encoded mkv files work, Dolby TrueHD do not.
For now, I'm using my laptop (with the Atmos app installed) straight into my AVR (like you are suggesting).
I will set up a dedicated Media player/server at some point.
My issue is now resolved.
Thanks very much for your input.