MKVToolnix 80.0.0

Overview

MKVToolnix is not so much a program as a collection of utilities that help when working with Matroska MKV video files. Access Matroska MKV video files by loading them into the utility. View the meta data associated with a MKV file and make changes to the meta data where desired. Take more than one Matroska file and merge them together in any order. Take a MKV file and extract out its raw components (MKV is essentially a file archive container for video content).

MKVToolNix works from a collection of tools named MKVMerge, MKVInfo, MKVExtract, MKVPropEdit and MMG. These files were created separately to provide different services related to Matroska MKV file usage. The application collectively will work with MKV files, but also often with MPEG, AVI, MP4, H.264/AVC, Dirac, VC1, Real Video, and OGG/OGM. Audio file formats that the software can work with include AAC, MP2, MP3, DTS, DTS-HD, RealAudio, Vorbis, AC3 and AAC. Several subtitle formats are also compatible with the software including SRT, VobSub, SSA, ASS and PGS/SUP.

The Matroska file format is a fairly new one that is used specifically for HD video content. It requires considerably more computing power in order to play content but the content can often be greatly condensed for smaller file sizes while maintaining most of the HD quality. The compression ratio within a Matroska file can be manipulated in a trade-off between HD quality and file size.

Installation

If you need more than Download3k's mirror, then developer's installation page is here. You can find there a 32-bit and 64-bit version of the software for Windows and also a Linux version too. A Mac version is available separately.

About 89.9 MB of available space is needed to complete the setup process. The initial setup window suggested a folder to install to and a Browse button to use if a different folder is desired instead. Then the setup program goes ahead with the install. A desktop shortcut icon can be created and a Start menu entry is also configured to load in unless it is declined.

Interface

The various tools that comprise MKVToolNix use similar interfaces that include menus and tabs used to good effect. Plenty of list boxes, drop down lists and buttons to click in order to configure each application for what is needed from them.

Overall: Business-like presentation.

Pros

• MKVToolNix comprises: MKVMerge, MKVInfo, MKVExtract, MKVPropEdit and MMG
• Work with Matroska MKV files that can display HD content well
• View and edit Matroska files
• Merge files together that were previously split up
• Extract Matroska video files out to their raw parts
• Work with different video, audio, and subtitle files other than MKV
• Windows, Linux and Mac versions available

Cons

• Some people may have preferred a single utility approach.

Conclusion

MKVToolNix is recommended as a collection of software that can help users work better with MKV files.