DVD->mkv, file playback on Mac
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:42 pm
Hi,
Just though I would post my findings here, in case anyone else is searching for the solution, or has more info to add.
I use MakeMKV to rip my DVDs for the WDTV media player. But I also like to check the files after the rip (and verify episode numbers for TV DVDs), and occasionally watch a few movies on my MBP while traveling. I have had a hard time finding a video player on OS X (10.5.x and up) that can handle these mkv files made from DVD source properly. So below I will list the media players I tested, and results.
QuickTime/Front Row + Perian: Works OK, but you have to wait a long time for the whole file to be scanned. While watching the progress bar fill up, the playback is jerky.
VLC: Works, to an extent. Seeking in the file with the seek bar crashes VLC about 1 out of 3 times.
Movist: Jerky playback, audio sync problems.
MPlayer OS X 1.0rc2: Works perfectly. Interface is dated, and codebase is deprecated.
MPlayer OS X Extended (revision 11): Bad playback, video is tearing. This can be fixed by activating FFMPEG deinterlacing in Preferences -> Video. Apparently this problem was introduced after version 8, from checking their ticket tracker.
Finally, I have settled with MPlayer OS X Extended with the listed workaround. If anyone has any bright ideas, or more info to add, post away.
Just though I would post my findings here, in case anyone else is searching for the solution, or has more info to add.
I use MakeMKV to rip my DVDs for the WDTV media player. But I also like to check the files after the rip (and verify episode numbers for TV DVDs), and occasionally watch a few movies on my MBP while traveling. I have had a hard time finding a video player on OS X (10.5.x and up) that can handle these mkv files made from DVD source properly. So below I will list the media players I tested, and results.
QuickTime/Front Row + Perian: Works OK, but you have to wait a long time for the whole file to be scanned. While watching the progress bar fill up, the playback is jerky.
VLC: Works, to an extent. Seeking in the file with the seek bar crashes VLC about 1 out of 3 times.
Movist: Jerky playback, audio sync problems.
MPlayer OS X 1.0rc2: Works perfectly. Interface is dated, and codebase is deprecated.
MPlayer OS X Extended (revision 11): Bad playback, video is tearing. This can be fixed by activating FFMPEG deinterlacing in Preferences -> Video. Apparently this problem was introduced after version 8, from checking their ticket tracker.
Finally, I have settled with MPlayer OS X Extended with the listed workaround. If anyone has any bright ideas, or more info to add, post away.