Reading

To read a MKV file, like reading a file AVI, it is enough to have the codecs corresponding to the flows encapsulated in this MKV.
Four software enables you to read MKV files:

In this section the use of the various software and the possibilities that this software allows with the format mkv are explained. For the installation of the software and codecs required, see the Softwares section.

VLC media player

Restrictions

VLC does not read all MKV. Certain MKVs which has a video track encoded with a codec owner (Real Player also known under abbreviation RV9 or RV10) is illegible with VLC. As a result of that the use of Mplayer is mandatory. Moreover, VLC does not put a track of subtitle by defect, thus it is necessary to check that there are no forced subtitles.

Opening of a .mkv file

To read a mkv file, open the MKV file with VLC by for example dropping it on the icon of VLC.

Change of audio tracks

Go to the audio menu -> audio tacks and select the track which you wish to use.
Keyboard short cut : L

Change of subtitle tracks

Go to the video menu -> subtitle tracks and select the subtitle track which you wish to use.
Keyboard short cut : S

To advance/move back a chapter

Go to the Reading menu - > Chapter and select there the chapter where you wish to go.
Keyboard short cut : Apple+Alt+Shift+Left/Right

Mplayer

Restrictions

Mplayer allows the reading of all mkv and in particular those which has a video encoded in Real, look here for the installation.

Opening of a .mkv file

Slip simply the .mkv file on the icon of the application or righ-click on your .mkv and choose "open with" and select MplayerOSX in the list.

To change the audio tracks

Go to preferences, Miscellaneous, and then mitre and notch the box Additional parameters in the insert Advanced settings.

Be aware of that to re-enter here is to refer to the Mplayer with Terminal part by the terminal.
Keyboard short cut : # (en appuyant sur shift)

To change the subtitle tracks

Go to preferences, Miscellaneous, and then mitre and notch the box Additional parameters in the insert Advanced settings.

Be aware of that to re-enter here is to refer to the Mplayer with Terminal part by the terminal.
Keyboard short cut : b (j on MacIntel)

To advance/Move back a chapter

You can use the keyboard short cut @ to advance a chapter and ! to move back one.

Mplayer with Terminal

Restrictions

Mplayer allows reading of all mkv files and in particularly those having a video encoded in Real, look here for the installation.

To open a .mkv file

First of all ensure that you have compiled Mplayer thanks to for example MacPorts.
Type “mplayer” (without capital letters!) then slip your .mkv on the window of the terminal and its path will appear. Yourself can also re-enter but be beware of possible errors! Validate your line of command.
Several lines are displayed in the terminal giving you the informations on the file in the course of reading but also on the various decoders used by mplayer. This information will be useful to choose the audio and subtitle tracks. Mplayer 1.0rc1-4.0.1 (C) 2000-2006 MPlayer Team Altivec found CPU: PowerPC Playing nomdufilm.mkv. [mkv] Track ID 1: video (V_REAL/RV40), -vid 0 [mkv] Track ID 2: audio (A_AAC/MPEG4/LC/SBR) "Vf", -aid 0, -alang fre [mkv] Track ID 3: audio (A_AAC/MPEG4/LC/SBR) "Vo", -aid 1, -alang eng [mkv] Track ID 4: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 0, -slang mis [mkv] Track ID 5: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 1, -slang fre [mkv] Track ID 6: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 2, -slang eng [mkv] Track ID 7: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 3, -slang spa [mkv] Will play video track 1 [mkv] Will display subtitle track 6 Matroska file format detected VIDEO: [RV40] 592x352 24bpp 30.000 fps 0.0 kbps ( 0.0 kbytes/s) ... ================================================= Opening video decoder: [realvid] RealVideo decoder

To change the audio tracks

It is necessary to add options in the line of terminal after the name of the file .mkv. Generally you have at least two tracks like this one in the terminal after the first launching without option : [mkv] Track ID 2: audio (A_AAC/MPEG4/LC/SBR) "Vf", -aid 0, -alang fre [mkv] Track ID 3: audio (A_AAC/MPEG4/LC/SBR) "Vo", -aid 1, -alang eng To select an audio track, add to the command line -aid ? (a number that you see at the end of the line) or -alang ? (code of the langages in three letters)
Add the option -alang eng (adapt to the language), to do that directly it is necessary to be sure that the tracks are correctly tagged (see Encoding part) and to know the code of the desired language.
Once the film is launched you can also use the keyboard short cut # (while pressing shift).

To change the subtitle tracks.

It is necessary to add options in the line of terminal after the name of the file. To know the codes of the various tracks, launch first your file .mkv without option and locate : [mkv] Track ID 4: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 0, -slang mis [mkv] Track ID 5: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 1, -slang fre [mkv] Track ID 6: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 2, -slang eng [mkv] Track ID 7: subtitles (S_TEXT/UTF8), -sid 3, -slang spa To select a track of subtitles, to add to the line of command - sid ? (number that you do see at the end of the line) - slang ? (codes of the languages in three letters)
To select a track of subtitles, add - sid ? to the line of command (the figure that you see at the end of the line) - slang ? (codes of the languages in three letters). Add the option - slang fre (adapt to the language), to do that directly it is necessary to be sure that the tracks are correctly tagged (see Encoding part) and to know the code of the desired language.
Once the film is launched you can also use the keyboard short cut b (while pressing shift).

To advance/Move back one chapter

You can use the keyboard short cut @ to advance of chapter and ! to move back one.

To edit the configuration file

To edit the configuration file of mplayer, you must type pico .mplayer/config in the terminal. pico .mplayer/config All the commands which you re-enter here will executate at each reading of the file. Here are some examples, do not hesitate to send me your configurations.

To look at a MKV in VOST automatically

Add in your configuration file : alang=ara,zho,chi,jpn,kor,spa,por,ger,eng,fre slang=fre

To put the subtitles in black tape

Add in your configuration file (adapted according to the format of the film) : vf=expand=:::::16/9 spualign=2

To put into full screen directly

Add in your configuration file : fs=yes

Quicktime Player

Presentation

QuickTime Player is the official reader on Mac. Appointment in the software part to install Component Perian which will allow the assumption of responsibility of files MKV by QT.

Restrictions

The process of opening a file is slow but once opened the use runs very smoothly.
This solution does not function for the mkv with a video encoded in Real, in those cases it will be necessary to use Mplayer.
Component Perian does not yet manage the tracks of subtitles to formats VOBSUB. On the other hand it do manage the subtitles in format SSA and SRT.

To open a .mkv file

To read a mkv, simply open the MKV by for example dropping it on the icon of Quick Time Player.

To change the audio tracks

Go to menu ”View”, then ”choose language”... finally choose the desired language.
Go to the menu ”Window” then ”Show Movie Properties” and notch the desired audio track by stripping the other audio tracks.

To change the subtitle tracks

Go to the menu ”Window” then ”Show Movie Properties” and notch the desired audio track by stripping the other audio tracks..

To advance/Move back chapter

Click on the right of the advance bar to display a drop-down list containing the chapters, the click on the desired chapter.