Strange MKV header problem (DVD only)!

[samtoy]

Hi all,

when I use MMG's Header Editor or mkvpropedit on a MKV created from a DVD the MKV header gets totally changed. The file isn't playable anymore with my tool of choice MPC-HC ("Cannot render file").

I just want to change one subtitle default flag. I do this very often with MKVs made from BDs, since MakeMKV doesn't have this functionality implemented yet. This always works flawlessly.

But when I do the same with a MKV made from a DVD and only change the 'Default' flag from the first subtitle to 'No', the MKV header gets totally tructuated! Look for yourself:

Original header after MKV creation by MakeMKV 1.7.3 (only video and first audio):

...
Video
ID : 1
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Custom
Codec ID : V_MPEG2
Codec ID/Info : MPEG 1 or 2 Video
Duration : 1h 37mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 7 366 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 9 300 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Original display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Scan order : Top Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.711
Stream size : 5.01 GiB (94%)
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 1h 37mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 96.0 Kbps
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Channel positions : Front: C
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 66.9 MiB (1%)
Title : 1/0
Language : Chinese
Default : Yes
Forced : No
...

New header written by MMG or mkvpropedit (tried both!):

...
Video
ID : 1
Format : MPEG Video
Codec ID : V_MPEG2
Codec ID/Info : MPEG 1 or 2 Video
Duration : 1h 37mn
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Compression mode : Lossy
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 1h 37mn
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Title : 1/0
Language : Chinese
Default : Yes
Forced : No
...

Especially in the video section there's lots of stuff missing! But I just changed one single flag!! This does not happen to MKV headers of BD content. With those just the one desired flag is correctly changed. I tried MKVToolnix 5.4.0 and the new 5.5.0.

Can someone please help me with that?

[paulster]

I think I've seen the same problem. Run it through mkclean and see whether it works after that. I've done that on a few that wouldn't play ball after editing the headers and they were fine again.

I've never spent the time to try to see exactly what's going on though.

[samtoy]

Thank god, I'm not alone with that strange problem.

OK, I will try that. Thanks for the tip!

[mike admin]

Can you please cut abou 128 KB from the start of each file, and send to support@makemkv.com ? If you don't know how to do this, please tell me what OS are you using, and I'll provide instructions.

On the other note, starting from 1.7.4 you can tell MakeMKV not to set default flag for subtitles.

[samtoy]

Hi mike,

of course I will send you the files.

Please let me know what tool you want me to use for cutting the files. I'm using Win7 64bit.

Cheers, S.