Title pretty much sums it up, I don't have an apple tv but I do have a PS3 and I'd like to keep all my movies in one location since I've already ripped my whole dvd collection to my computer with artwork,actors, etc. to stream to the PS3. The last time I checked I can't just drag and drop an MKV into itunes, so which would be the least time consuming method to add the MKVs into itunes?
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Best Way to Add MKVs to iTunes
- Thread starter impact1290
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You can't add an MKV file to iTunes. It won't play.
You can convert it though, and since its MKV and you mentioned PS3, I'm guessing these are HD files.
I don't know of a program for the Mac which will convert the files and keep 720p/1080p quality.
You can convert it though, and since its MKV and you mentioned PS3, I'm guessing these are HD files.
I don't know of a program for the Mac which will convert the files and keep 720p/1080p quality.
do a search,this has been discussed a bunch. you can convert them to .mov files,m4v files (which are an extention of mp4) and if you just want them in itunes and not on an 
tv or anything, there's a program out there that lets you just add them to itunes without conversion...cant remember the name though because i have TV. just do a search or browse the forums,you'll find something
tv or anything, there's a program out there that lets you just add them to itunes without conversion...cant remember the name though because i have TV. just do a search or browse the forums,you'll find somethingSince we are talking about iTunes and MKV video files, I place the MKV files in my movies folder. I start up Front Row and now the movies show up in Front Row under movies / Movies folder. They will play in Front Row.
Views on MKVs to iTUUNES
Then Mac OS X will identify the files as Quicktime movies. Other than that, nothing has changed, its still MKV files, we still need Perian installed to play the files/be able to use the codecs. Oh and if you like me have 720p MKV rips, importing the files into iTunes will take a really, really long time. Of course these files wont work on your iPod, but thats not the point here, the point is to have a tidy nice iTunes on, say your Mac Mini which acts as a HTPC, and being able to have a nice, clean Front Row experience with Movie artwork, info and so on.
Then Mac OS X will identify the files as Quicktime movies. Other than that, nothing has changed, its still MKV files, we still need Perian installed to play the files/be able to use the codecs. Oh and if you like me have 720p MKV rips, importing the files into iTunes will take a really, really long time. Of course these files wont work on your iPod, but thats not the point here, the point is to have a tidy nice iTunes on, say your Mac Mini which acts as a HTPC, and being able to have a nice, clean Front Row experience with Movie artwork, info and so on.
Yep, That's a great tool to put lots of videos in iTunes. My MKV videos work fine using the import method to great reference files to videos. I use it all the time because it launches automatically when downloading a video ;-)
But then you are converting them again. With videodrive that's not necessary.
While this question has likely been solved by the OP already I thought it might be of help for anyone to see my method of storing my movies. Since I prefer to not convert each one of my mkvs to a format suitable for iTunes in order to get Front Row playing my movies here is what I do:
All of my movies are stored in one central location, a LaCie NAS, in mkv format (720p and 1080p). I mount this drive to my Mac on each startup. Each time I add a movie to this folder I open it in QuickTime 7 (QuickTime X does not seem to support it) and save the file as a reference movie on my local hard drive. Then I add the metadata and add that file to iTunes. I believe you'll still need Perian in order for the files to play but once I do that they files play perfectly in iTunes and in Front Row. I don't know if anyone else out there does something like this? I forgot where I learned to do this.
All of my movies are stored in one central location, a LaCie NAS, in mkv format (720p and 1080p). I mount this drive to my Mac on each startup. Each time I add a movie to this folder I open it in QuickTime 7 (QuickTime X does not seem to support it) and save the file as a reference movie on my local hard drive. Then I add the metadata and add that file to iTunes. I believe you'll still need Perian in order for the files to play but once I do that they files play perfectly in iTunes and in Front Row. I don't know if anyone else out there does something like this? I forgot where I learned to do this.
There are free scripts floating around the internet that do exactly that. Also VideoDrive, and most likely similar tools too, do exactly that, but in an automated way. If you only have a couple of videos your way is just fine. If you have hundreds, I prefer an automated way. 