MKV files.
MKV files (Matroska Video) are an all-in-one player in the video container format field. Packing video, audio and metadata into a single file — as well as the ability to contain different individual file formats within it — MKV is a versatile tool in your arsenal during a video project.
Discover how the container format works, and how to open and edit MKV files on your device.
What is an MKV file?
MKV files are container format files, saved in the Matroska multimedia container format. As a container file, MKV stores multiple multimedia data streams such as video, audio, and subtitles in a single file.
The MKV container aligns the audio, video, and subtitles playback time, letting you select a stream, if there’s more than one. The Matroska multimedia container format, or MKV, is an open source alternative to AVI, MPG, and MP4 containers and boasts are larger amount of storage than those options.
It is also the basis for WebM video files supported by many web browsers. Windows Media Player supports MKV, alongside VLC Player.
History of the MKV file.
December 2002 marked the beginning of the MKV format. Then, Steve Lhomme announced the new project after leaving the Multimedia Container Format (MCF) developers’ team.
The WebM container format, which shares the base with MKV, has been continually developing since 2010. Microsoft started to support MKV files in 2014, with Windows Media Player being the primary video player for the OS’s users.
With features like menus, selectable streams, and chapter entries, the MKV file format has become famous for storing short videos, TV series, and films. The name ‘Matroska’ derives from the Russian word ‘matryoshka’ for the set of wooden nesting dolls placed inside one another.
How to use MKV files.
MKV containers have many uses. They can store sets of files containing one video track, usually with at least one audio and subtitle track. Often, they’re used to store multiple files as the format can hold unlimited data in one container. But storage space is only one reason to use MKV files.
- Adding subtitles to videos. Users can add standard subtitle formats, such as SRT and SSA/ASS, to an MKV container file. The timestamps mark a specific location in the file and are aligned with the video to make the subtitles appear on the screen at the right time.
- Streaming MKV files. Streaming is possible through file access and livestreaming. For file access, you’ll need to use HTTP (web) or CIFS (Windows share) protocols to access the files stored on a server. Use RTSP and HTTP protocols for livestreaming.
Pros and cons of MKV files.
MKV files can be perfect for your next project, but there are also some aspects of them that might mean an alternative will help you get the most out of your next production.
Pros.
- Zero cost to use. MKV is an open-source format, meaning there is no cost to use the components, and users can modify files with free software.
- Large storage capability. MKV containers can store huge amounts of audio, video, and subtitle tracks and an equally impressive amount of metadata — such as comments, menu covers, and chapters.
- Error recovery. There is an error recovery feature, so if you lose connection during the downloading process, you can still have access to parts of the file that have successfully downloaded.
- Ideal for streaming. It is possible to set up online streaming of an MKV file either via file access or livestreaming.
- Lossy and lossless. Matroska format supports both lossy and lossless compression, the latter with FFV1 encoding. This means that you can choose whether you want permanent compression (lossy) or have the chance to revert the compression (lossless).
- Capable of adding menus and chapters. It is possible to include menus and chapter entries in the MKV file for more straightforward navigation through the file.
Cons.
- Large file size. Due to a complicated file structure, the MKV files tend to be larger than other formats, such as AVI.
- Compatibility issues. There are certain compatibility limitations compared to other more popular formats like MP4, which may mean your file can’t be played across some platforms or on selected devices.
Find out which container file types are supported by Adobe Premiere Pro
How to open an MKV file.
The MKV format is not as widespread as other video container formats. Therefore, not all platforms have native support for MKV files.
To open a file with the MKV extension on your Windows computer, simply double-click on the file to open it in Windows Media Player. To open and MKV file on a macOS computer, you’ll need to use a third-party application.
How to create and edit an MKV file.
To edit an MKV format file in Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll need to convert MKV to MP4 or another supported format. There are free and paid third-party video converters available to complete this task.
Once you have converted the file, you can simply create a new project in Premiere Pro and begin editing it from there. If you are still having compatibility issues or aren’t sure which filetype to convert to, you can find a list of supported files in Premiere Pro.
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Learn more about similar file types to MKV.
MP4
MP4 is a container file type that MPEG-4 encoding. Explore why it’s a popular choice for social media content and how it provides smaller-size files with good quality.
MOV
Find out more about MOV — the QuickTime File Format widely used for YouTube streaming.
MPG
MPG is a multimedia container file format that lets you store multiple media streams. It’s supported by Adobe video editing tools — discover how it works.
AVI
Learn more about AVI, or Audio Video Interleave, a multimedia container file supported by most browsers.
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