Question about burning/writing blu-rays to disc

[Joshitaka]

I have a .mkv file that I want to burn/write onto BD so I can watch it on my tv like any other blu-ray disc I own. However, someone told me that .mkv isn't the standard file type for this sort of thing. So the question is: if I purchase a blu-ray burner and write the file to a disc, if I put it in my blu-ray player, will it play normally? Or do I need to get some sort of converter software?

This is probably a dumb question, but I don't know a whole lot about this stuff. I don't want to spend money on this project unless I know what the outcome will be. Thanks!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Joshitaka

I have a .mkv file that I want to burn/write onto BD so I can watch it on my tv like any other blu-ray disc I own. However, someone told me that .mkv isn't the standard file type for this sort of thing. So the question is: if I purchase a blu-ray burner and write the file to a disc, if I put it in my blu-ray player, will it play normally? Or do I need to get some sort of converter software?

This is probably a dumb question, but I don't know a whole lot about this stuff. I don't want to spend money on this project unless I know what the outcome will be. Thanks!

Depending on the size it's easier to pop-it on a USB stick and plug it into your TV or BD player. You could in theory burn a BD data disc and leave it as an MKV, but you'd have to convert it to the BD format to use as a regular BD plays.

It's also worth noting that some larger files struggle with certain devices and USB sticks, but the cost of a 32GB or 64GB USB stick is quite small compared to a burner drive and software (although there's a few free or trial options out there). Depending on device you may have issues with the subtitles if you need them. For example my TV plays subtitles from MKV containers, but none of my players do. But you can add subtitles independently.

I'd say pop it on a USB stick first and try it, then if you want to back it up think about getting a burner, but if it's over 25GB dual layered blank discs will be a bit more expensive.

[Joshitaka]

Originally Posted by chip75

You could in theory burn a BD data disc and leave it as an MKV, but you'd have to convert it to the BD format to use as a regular BD plays.

How do you convert an MKV to the BD format? Is there a specific file type? Does the software to convert it usually come with the burner or does that need to be purchased separately? Thanks!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Joshitaka

How do you convert an MKV to the BD format? Is there a specific file type? Does the software to convert it usually come with the burner or does that need to be purchased separately? Thanks!

Usually you'd just drag and drop or load the file into the authoring software. You can get bundles, but you'll probably end up paying more for something that isn't quite what you need. Something like DVDFab has lots of options (but I've never used it to burn BDs) and a trial period.

As to file type, you'd select your desired output option and it should be pretty automatic.

[Roy_Batty]

Okay, glad you asked. last year I went through a whole Blu-ray authoring learning curve myself, so here goes. first of all, there is no blu-ray authoring software that will work with mkv files. just won't happen. so you would need to use transcoding software to turn your file into something that the software could work with. and that is alot of work. The easier solution is to use a free software called imgburn. Then use imgburn to create a disc image or a .bdmv file
once you have that you can burn your mkv file onto a blank bd disc. you need to figure ou how large your mkv file is if it is 23 gb's or less use BD-25 media. If the file is 35 to 40 gb's then you would have to use dual layer or BD-50 media. if burned properly the disc will play on any BD player or playstation 3 or 4.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

Okay, glad you asked. last year I went through a whole Blu-ray authoring learning curve myself, so here goes. first of all, there is no blu-ray authoring software that will work with mkv files. just won't happen.

I checked DVDFab yesterday and it should be able to convert MKVs into the BD format, you can even add a menu.

[Roy_Batty]

Originally Posted by chip75

I checked DVDFab yesterday and it should be able to convert MKVs into the BD format, you can even add a menu.

Do you know that for sure. or are you guessing? Blu-ray files are either one of two things .bdmv files or .m2ts, you have to transcode the .mkv file into either of these. But you cannot work with .mkv files natively unless you just make a data blu-ray. but that won't work like a store bought blu-ray Disc. And DVD files are .vob, so there all different!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

Do you know that for sure. or are you guessing? Blu-ray files are either one of two things .bdmv files or .m2ts, you have to transcode the .mkv file into either of these. But you cannot work with .mkv files natively unless you just make a data blu-ray. but that won't work like a store bought blu-ray Disc. And DVD files are .vob, so there all different!

I'll convert another one and let you know what comes out ...

[Roy_Batty]

DVDFab is $60 dollars on their website. Imgburn is free, so a better deal. Nowhere on their website can I find anything that says DVDfab supports
.mkv files.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

DVDFab is $60 dollars on their website. Imgburn is free, so a better deal. Nowhere on their website can I find anything that says DVDfab supports
.mkv files.

I dragged an MKV trailer into DVDFab, I was left with:

AUXDATA
BACKUP
BDJO
CLIPINFO
JAR
META
PLAYLIST
STREAM which includes 00000.M2TS
index
MovieObject

I have no experience creating BD discs as I don't have a drive, so I hope that helps, but it's probably worth you downloading the trial and giving it a go. All I did was click Creator and Blu-ray Creator and dropped the MKV file in. The trial version leaves a little DVDFab logo on the screen.

[Roy_Batty]

Basically what you created was a .BDMV file structure. You could use this create
an .ISO file or Disc image that you could burn a BD with. I do not bother with
trial versions of software because there are always important features that are turned off. but Imgburn is FREE! and can do exactly the same thing. But off course without a Blu-ray burner and Blank discs it it is a moot point.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

Basically what you created was a .BDMV file structure. You could use this to create an .ISO file or Disc image that you could burn a BD with.

You wouldn't have to create an .ISO or disc image, you'd just have to burn a data disc as the structure is created with DVDFab.

[Roy_Batty]

But Why would you do that? It makes absolutely no sense. Why have a data
disc, when with a little bit more effort you can have one that will work like a
regular store bought copy, also you cannot add menus and extra audio options to a Data disc!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

But Why would you do that? It makes absolutely no sense. Why have a data
disc, when with a little bit more effort you can have one that will work like a
regular store bought copy, also you cannot add menus and extra audio options to a Data disc!

You don't need .IFOs or images to create playable Blu-rays or DVDs, once the software creates the folders and files (with menus et cetera), you burn the BD or DVD as data disc and it will play normally in a BD or DVD player. There's no need to make images if the file structure is correct, you just burn the data.

[Prim]

Originally Posted by Roy_Batty

Okay, glad you asked. last year I went through a whole Blu-ray authoring learning curve myself, so here goes. first of all, there is no blu-ray authoring software that will work with mkv files. just won't happen. so you would need to use transcoding software to turn your file into something that the software could work with. and that is alot of work. The easier solution is to use a free software called imgburn. Then use imgburn to create a disc image or a .bdmv file
once you have that you can burn your mkv file onto a blank bd disc. you need to figure ou how large your mkv file is if it is 23 gb's or less use BD-25 media. If the file is 35 to 40 gb's then you would have to use dual layer or BD-50 media. if burned properly the disc will play on any BD player or playstation 3 or 4.

Using ImgBurn and burning the file to a disc would require his BD player to be able to play mkv's though. The PS3, among some older players for example, is unable to, at least last time I checked. Imgburn can't create a disc authored to BD specs, either. It can create ISO's of course, but an ISO file can store any and everything in terms of filetypes (including mkv's). Transcoding would introduce unneeded quality loss, so unless quality is not that important, I wouldn't go down that route if it can be avoided.

What I would do in OP's case is open the mkv in TSMuxer, set TSMuxer to Blu-Ray Folder or ISO, and burn the resulting BDMV/CERTIFICATE Folders or ISO with Imgburn. You'll get a disc authored to BD specs without menus, and the BD player will happily play it as any other BD. Both these apps are free and can be found via google.

[Joshitaka]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I had no idea this stuff could be so complicated!

[AmishParadise]

I would suggest you give BD Rebuilder a try. It's a free application and very easy to use. Just import your MKV file (File->Import->Video Files) once setting your "working" directory and the application generates the BD folder structure on the fly. From there burn the resulting BD folder structure (BDMV and CERTIFICATE) to a blank Blu-ray disc and you're done.

To burn to disc I'd recommend ImgBurn, another free application. Drop the blank Blu-ray in your drive, launch ImgBurn selecting the "Write files/folders to disc" option, browse individually to the folders you want to burn (BDMV and CERTIFICATE), go to the "Options" tab setting the Data Type to "MODE1/2048", File System to "UDF" and UDF Revision to "2.50" in addition to checking the "Recurse Subdirectories" option, then start your burn. There's really nothing to it.

[zoxo5050xx]

Originally Posted by chip75

Usually you'd just drag and drop or load the file into the authoring software. You can get bundles, but you'll probably end up paying more for something that isn't quite what you need. Something like DVDFab has lots of options (but I've never used it to burn BDs) and a trial period.

As to file type, you'd select your desired output option and it should be pretty automatic.

I am tired of using hdd as they fail on me a lot
So i am deciding on getting bd50 disc and a bd drive
I have old Pirates of the Caribbean blurays and other blurays my friend ripped in the past
But then i compressed it and mux it into a mkv with audio subtitle everything
There are some 4k hdr movied i compressed to 25gb
I want to know if i can just copy the movie to the disc (drag and drop)
Or burn it as mkv ?
I will be playing the movies on my the pc bd drive rewriter not bluray player
I use both vlc and mpchc player
I just want to save them for a long time and play them on my pc whenever i need to
Can i do this ?
Or do i need bdxl disc and a bluray driver rewriter that supports bdxl ?
I am kind of confused
Please help me

[chip75]

Unless they're movies about pirates it's inappropriate to comment about such things on the forum.

[zoxo5050xx]

Originally Posted by chip75

Unless they're movies about pirates it's inappropriate to comment about such things on the forum.

I am sorry
Should have made it clear
My english not so good
So can you help me please
Can i just copy paste tot the disc or i need to burn it through bdxl disc using bdxl driver?