Importing .mkv

Hi,
I have a 24G .mkv file containing 10 joined-up episodes of a seres that I would like to import into FCP 10.0.8 then slice up into individual episodes, then burn to DVD or DVD-DL for archiving.
Obviously FCP won't import the file as is - I need a 3rd party piece of software that will convert my file into something appetizing for FCP-X.
I have tried MpegStreamClip but it finds my file too large.
I would obviously like to avoid further expense if a piece of free software exists but I have had NO luck so far.
What about a script or plug-in for FCP-X - I've seen nothing in this Forum and .mkv in the search engine turns up nothing?

All your ideas are of course more than welcome.

How long is this file? You could try Perian. Make sure Perian's installed, fire up QuickTime Pro 7 and export to ProRes from there. It might take a while but it should get the job done. It may take a while before QuickTime will even let you export (it first has to load the video stream for MKV files).

Hope this helps.

Thanks - File is (still) 24 Go in length.
I shall give the Perian (yes, inatalled) plus QT 7 combination a try.
Ozfrog

If that doesn't work, maybe try HandBrake

OK - Gave the QT Player 10.1 plus Perian a try.
The Mac didn't like me trying to install Qt Pro 7 over a more recent version so stayed with Qt 10.1
The film took about 30 minutes to load into Qt. When I tried to export - it sat there for an hour with not the
slightest movement of the progression bar - not a good sign.
Am I being too impatient - the .mkv is about 24G?

I will try the HandBrake suggestion and see what gives.

If you get the impression I'm trying to do brain surgery wearing boxing gloves you're not far wrong.
I use about 2% of FCP-X for holiday videos - a bit a basic editing, some titles, then burn a couple of DVDs for home viewing.

cheers

If HandBrake doesn't do the trick (I recommended it first because I think it's free), there are also 2 little programs specifically designed to deal with the MKV envelope; MKV Tools & MKV Converter.

Either of those should be able to flip your film into any form FCP favors.

Hello

I use makeMKV

It is Here I know it says "beta" but it works for me and I find it simple to use.

Hope this helps

Dave

TrixTrax9000
Thanks. I left for work at 7PM and Handbrake had been at it for 5
hours and said it needed another 13!!!
I'll see what it's about when I get home at 10PM.
Keep you posted and my fingers crossed that the result will be
exploitable.

TrixTrax9000
I have the 2 other .mkv tools which I will look at if HandBrake fails.
Thanks

Nerve broke
Thanks. Another alternative to try.

Anxious about long wait times? Just think how sweet it'll feel when done!

Hey hey
Told Hand Brake to do just 1 episode and all fine - about 1 hour for the decode to MP4 - No need now for FCP-X to slice up the original 10 episode file - just select each episode from HB, and the resulting file can be viewed in Qt, AND I can save them to DVD-DL for archiving - thanks for all your wise comments and help/

Yaay Handbrake. And now we have green check mark on this thread!

For those of you that still don't have HandBrake, here's a DL link

handbrake.fr/downloads.php

I find this little marvel has many uses. Especially when archiving footage for reference material. You can shrink file sizes considerably while still maintaining audio & video qualities. Particularly suited for tutorial videos.

Unfortunately, it may be too late by now. As awesome as Handbrake is (I use it instead of OS X's built in h264 encoder all the time for speed, efficiency, AND quality reasons), it's not the best solution for this issue. The correct course of action was nearly stumbled upon earlier - Perian + QT 7 would be the most optimal course. However, exporting to ProRes shouldn't be *entirely* necessary...

What would be best is to open it in QT 7 and then "Save As..." to an .mov file.

Now, the REASON for this is entirely a matter of quality. MKV and MP4 are NOT codecs - it's likely that your video was h264 encoded inside the MKV container. Running it through handbrake will cause a generational loss of quality (akin to recording a recording of a VHS). The method of using Perian to have QT 7 save it as an mov file simply rewraps the already encoded material in an mov file, which FCP X should be able to handle. Additionally, it may even be able to handle the material as it's currently encoded, but if not, you can choose to optimize it (which will automagically convert it to ProRes) or even better, proxy it (which will make ProRes Proxy) for work and then export your finished product from the original source material.

If you are curious for more information about this topic, feel free to ask for any clarification.

Also, I have QT X and QT 7 installed on the same system and they coexist perfectly fine. If quality is an issue, I strongly recommend trying this method again. If not, it'd probably be easier to just go with what's already working. Have fun with it!

Impressive response. Thus I acquiesce to your well explained technologically experienced answer over my git-er-done attempt.

This is probably the first time I've recommended against using Handbrake. It feels weird.

I should also mention that, as I'm unfamiliar with those other tools mentioned, you may be able to do the same "rewrapping" into an mp4 or mov file as you would in QT 7, I'm just unaware of the process at all.