HELP! How to convert without quality loss for Apple TV

[aaceti]

I am extremely frustrated and in need of some help. I used to rip movies from MakeMKV and play then with my WDTV. I recently switched to Apple TV and have been researching for so long without any answers. I want to convert my movies from MKV to Apple TV 3 in PERFECT quality as they were before converted with DTS sound to play on my Apple TV. Could somebody please tell me what settings to use and how to do this. Handbrake is very confusing and everytime I convert a movie it imports into iTunes but will not pay. It looks like it is freezing or something. I am tired of researching can someone please help me convert movies to Apple TV 3 without losing any quality and preserving the DTS audio from the original track.

[TedJ]

Try using the Apple TV 3 preset from the latest stable release. Be aware that the ATV3 does not support DTS audio and most likely will never do so, as DTS in MP4 is not widely supported. As to why your encodes are freezing, please post an activity log as mentioned in the following thread, which I'm sure you've already read... right?

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2741

[aaceti]

Yes Sorry here is the log. So how would I get surround sound in the file without it freezing? These files have DTS and right when I import them the DTS tracks are viewable in the audio track section.

Code: Select all

CLI Query:  -i "H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv" -t 1 -c 1-36 -o "H:\iTunes\Fight Club-1.m4v"  -f mp4 -4  --decomb="7:2:6:9:1:80" --strict-anamorphic  -e x264 -q 20 -r 30 --pfr  -a 1,1 -E copy,ffac3 -B 0,0 -6 auto,auto -R Auto,Auto -D 0,0 --gain=0,0 --audio-copy-mask none --audio-fallback ffac3 --markers="C:\Users\Eugene\AppData\Local\Temp\Fight Club-1-1-chapters.csv" -x b-adapt=2 --verbose=1
User Query: False

[13:59:13] hb_init: starting libhb thread
HandBrake 0.9.8 (2012071700) - MinGW x86_64 - http://handbrake.fr
4 CPUs detected
Opening H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv...
[13:59:13] hb_scan: path=H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv, title_index=1
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:157: indx_parse(): error opening H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv/BDMV/index.bdmv
libbluray/bluray.c:1471: nav_get_title_list(H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv) failed (0000000001C9E140)
[13:59:13] bd: not a bd - trying as a stream/file instead
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
[13:59:13] dvd: not a dvd - trying as a stream/file instead
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv':
  Metadata:
    original_writing_app: MakeMKV v1.4.11 beta win(x86-release)
  Duration: 02:19:08.38, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 3296 kb/s
    Chapter #0.0: start 0.000000, end 128.378244
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 00
    Chapter #0.1: start 128.378244, end 234.817911
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 01
    Chapter #0.2: start 234.817911, end 286.327689
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 02
    Chapter #0.3: start 286.327689, end 381.923200
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 03
    Chapter #0.4: start 381.923200, end 622.204911
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 04
    Chapter #0.5: start 622.204911, end 694.902533
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 05
    Chapter #0.6: start 694.902533, end 1153.569067
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 06
    Chapter #0.7: start 1153.569067, end 1301.174867
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 07
    Chapter #0.8: start 1301.174867, end 1548.004778
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 08
    Chapter #0.9: start 1548.004778, end 1749.330911
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 09
    Chapter #0.10: start 1749.330911, end 1947.195244
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 10
    Chapter #0.11: start 1947.195244, end 2050.465067
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 11
    Chapter #0.12: start 2050.465067, end 2157.947444
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 12
    Chapter #0.13: start 2157.947444, end 2496.994489
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 13
    Chapter #0.14: start 2496.994489, end 2838.961111
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 14
    Chapter #0.15: start 2838.961111, end 2917.873289
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 15
    Chapter #0.16: start 2917.873289, end 3618.281333
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 16
    Chapter #0.17: start 3618.281333, end 3716.254200
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 17
    Chapter #0.18: start 3716.254200, end 4188.434244
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 18
    Chapter #0.19: start 4188.434244, end 4497.951778
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 19
    Chapter #0.20: start 4497.951778, end 4547.626400
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 20
    Chapter #0.21: start 4547.626400, end 4775.854400
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 21
    Chapter #0.22: start 4775.854400, end 4889.467911
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 22
    Chapter #0.23: start 4889.467911, end 5258.544956
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 23
    Chapter #0.24: start 5258.544956, end 5736.981244
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 24
    Chapter #0.25: start 5736.981244, end 5868.070533
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 25
    Chapter #0.26: start 5868.070533, end 6086.789022
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 26
    Chapter #0.27: start 6086.789022, end 6307.467822
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 27
    Chapter #0.28: start 6307.467822, end 6478.180022
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 28
    Chapter #0.29: start 6478.180022, end 6634.878244
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 29
    Chapter #0.30: start 6634.878244, end 7013.172822
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 30
    Chapter #0.31: start 7013.172822, end 7236.812911
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 31
    Chapter #0.32: start 7236.812911, end 7555.714822
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 32
    Chapter #0.33: start 7555.714822, end 7778.353911
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 33
    Chapter #0.34: start 7778.353911, end 8153.979156
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 34
    Chapter #0.35: start 8153.979156, end 8348.384000
    Metadata:
      title           : Chapter 35
    Stream #0.0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1920x1080 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      FPS             : 23.976 (24000/1001)
    Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: dca (DTS-HD MA), 48000 Hz, 5.1, s16, 1536 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      title           : HD Lossless
    Stream #0.2(eng): Audio: dca (DTS), 48000 Hz, 5.1, s16, 1536 kb/s
    Metadata:
      title           : 3/2+1
    Stream #0.3(eng): Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 224 kb/s
    Metadata:
      title           : 2/0
[13:59:13] scan: decoding previews for title 1
[13:59:13] scan: audio 0x3: AC-3, rate=48000Hz, bitrate=224000 English (AC3) (Dolby Surround)
[13:59:13] scan: audio 0x2: DCA, rate=48000Hz, bitrate=1536000 English (DTS) (5.1 ch)
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
[13:59:15] scan: 10 previews, 1920x1080, 23.976 fps, autocrop = 140/140/0/0, aspect 16:9, PAR 1:1
[13:59:15] scan: title (0) job->width:1920, job->height:800
[13:59:15] libhb: scan thread found 1 valid title(s)
+ title 1:
  + stream: H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv
  + duration: 02:19:08
  + size: 1920x1080, pixel aspect: 1/1, display aspect: 1.78, 23.976 fps
  + autocrop: 140/140/0/0
  + chapters:
    + 1: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:02:08
    + 2: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:46
    + 3: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:00:51
    + 4: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:35
    + 5: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:04:00
    + 6: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:12
    + 7: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:07:38
    + 8: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:02:27
    + 9: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:04:06
    + 10: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:21
    + 11: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:17
    + 12: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:43
    + 13: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:47
    + 14: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:05:39
    + 15: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:05:41
    + 16: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:18
    + 17: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:11:40
    + 18: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:37
    + 19: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:07:52
    + 20: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:05:09
    + 21: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:00:49
    + 22: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:48
    + 23: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:01:53
    + 24: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:06:09
    + 25: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:07:58
    + 26: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:02:11
    + 27: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:38
    + 28: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:40
    + 29: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:02:50
    + 30: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:02:36
    + 31: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:06:18
    + 32: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:43
    + 33: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:05:18
    + 34: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:42
    + 35: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:06:15
    + 36: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 00:03:14
  + audio tracks:
    + 1, English (DTS-HD MA) (5.1 ch) (iso639-2: eng)
    + 2, English (DTS) (5.1 ch) (iso639-2: eng), 48000Hz, 1536000bps
    + 3, English (AC3) (Dolby Surround) (iso639-2: eng), 48000Hz, 224000bps
  + subtitle tracks:
Reading chapter markers from file C:\Users\Eugene\AppData\Local\Temp\Fight Club-1-1-chapters.csv
[13:59:15] 1 job(s) to process
[13:59:15] starting job
[13:59:15] Auto Passthru: no codecs allowed
[13:59:15] Auto Passthru: fallback is AC3 (ffmpeg)
[13:59:15] Auto Passthru: passthru not possible for track 1, using fallback
[13:59:15] work: mixdown not specified, track 2 setting mixdown 6-channel discrete
[13:59:15] work: bitrate not specified, track 2 setting bitrate 640
[13:59:15] sync: expecting 200161 video frames
[13:59:15] job configuration:
[13:59:15]  * source
[13:59:15]    + H:\Blu-Ray Movies\Fight Club.mkv
[13:59:15]    + title 1, chapter(s) 1 to 36
[13:59:15]    + container: matroska,webm
[13:59:15]    + data rate: 3296 kbps
[13:59:15]  * destination
[13:59:15]    + H:\iTunes\Fight Club-1.m4v
[13:59:15]    + container: MPEG-4 (.mp4 and .m4v)
[13:59:15]      + 64-bit formatting
[13:59:15]      + chapter markers
[13:59:15]  * video track
[13:59:15]    + decoder: h264
[13:59:15]    + frame rate: 23.976 fps -> peak rate limited to 30.000 fps
[13:59:15]    + strict anamorphic
[13:59:15]      + storage dimensions: 1920 * 1080 -> 1920 * 800, crop 140/140/0/0, mod 0
[13:59:15]      + pixel aspect ratio: 1 / 1
[13:59:15]      + display dimensions: 1920 * 800
[13:59:15]    + filter
[13:59:15]      + Decomb (7:2:6:9:1:80)
[13:59:15]    + encoder: H.264 (x264)
[13:59:15]      + options: b-adapt=2
[13:59:15]      + quality: 20.00 (RF)
[13:59:15]  * audio track 1
[13:59:15]    + decoder: English (DTS-HD MA) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 0x1)
[13:59:15]    + mixdown: 6-channel discrete
[13:59:15]    + encoder: AC3 (ffmpeg)
[13:59:15]      + bitrate: 640 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[13:59:15]  * audio track 2
[13:59:15]    + decoder: English (DTS-HD MA) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 0x1)
[13:59:15]    + mixdown: 6-channel discrete
[13:59:15]    + encoder: AC3 (ffmpeg)
[13:59:15]      + bitrate: 640 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[13:59:15] reader: first SCR 0 id 0x1 DTS 0
[13:59:15] yadif thread started for segment 0
[13:59:15] yadif thread started for segment 2
[13:59:15] yadif thread started for segment 3
[13:59:15] decomb thread started for segment 2
[13:59:15] decomb thread started for segment 0
[13:59:15] encx264: min-keyint: 24, keyint: 240
[13:59:15] decomb thread started for segment 3
[13:59:15] encx264: encoding with stored aspect 1/1
[13:59:15] encx264: Encoding at constant RF 20.000000
x264 [warning]: --psnr used with psy on: results will be invalid!
x264 [warning]: --tune psnr should be used if attempting to benchmark psnr!
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
[13:59:15] yadif thread started for segment 1
[13:59:15] decomb thread started for segment 1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 FastShuffle SSE4.1 Cache64
x264 [info]: profile High, level 4.0
[14:04:47] h264: "Ground Zero" (2) at frame 3088 time 11561490
[14:09:37] h264: "Insomnia" (3) at frame 5639 time 21137310
[14:11:56] h264: "Nesting Instinct" (4) at frame 6874 time 25773210
[14:16:51] h264: "Remaining Men Together" (5) at frame 9167 time 34380540
[14:28:05] h264: "Power Animal" (6) at frame 14928 time 56005920
[14:31:28] h264: "Maria" (7) at frame 16671 time 62548650
[14:52:41] h264: "Single Serving Jack" (8) at frame 27668 time 103828680
[14:59:17] h264: "Tyler" (9) at frame 31207 time 117113220
[15:11:45] h264: "Jack's Nice Neat Flaming [Censored]" (10) at frame 37125 time 139327920
[15:21:36] h264: "Lament for a Sofa" (11) at frame 41952 time 157447260
[15:29:37] h264: "Odd Jobs" (12) at frame 46696 time 175255020
[15:34:04] h264: "Hit Me" (13) at frame 49172 time 184549320
[15:38:17] h264: "Paper Street" (14) at frame 51749 time 194222700
[15:52:20] h264: "Welcome To Fight Club" (15) at frame 59878 time 224736930
[16:06:59] h264: "Infectious Human Waste" (16) at frame 68076 time 255510180
[16:10:38] h264: "Sport [Censored]" (17) at frame 69969 time 262616040
[16:41:43] h264: "Tyler's Secret Formula Soap" (18) at frame 86762 time 325652760
[16:45:46] h264: "Chemical Burn" (19) at frame 89110 time 334466550
[17:06:38] h264: "The Middle Children of History" (20) at frame 100432 time 376966530
[17:18:31] h264: "Homework" (21) at frame 107853 time 404823150
[17:20:29] h264: "Jack's Smirking Revenge" (22) at frame 109043 time 409290120
[17:31:47] h264: "Project Mayhem" (23) at frame 114515 time 429830640
[17:36:45] h264: "Human Sacrifice" (24) at frame 117239 time 440055810
[17:52:06] h264: "Space Monkeys" (25) at frame 126089 time 473276520
[18:13:19] h264: "Psycho Boy" (26) at frame 137559 time 516331980
[18:18:50] h264: "A Near-life Experience" (27) at frame 140703 time 528133770
[18:28:28] h264: "Tyler Says Goodbye" (28) at frame 145947 time 547818480
[18:36:53] h264: "Operation Latte Thunder" (29) at frame 151237 time 567675810
[18:43:51] h264: "Déjà Vu" (30) at frame 155331 time 583043670
[18:51:01] h264: "Changeover" (31) at frame 159088 time 597146490
[19:09:04] h264: "Mea Culpa" (32) at frame 168158 time 631193040
[19:18:34] h264: "Castrating Cops" (33) at frame 173520 time 651320640
[19:34:35] h264: "Kicking and Screaming" (34) at frame 181166 time 680021820
[19:44:38] h264: "Walls of Jericho" (35) at frame 186504 time 700059330
[19:59:34] h264: "End Credits" (36) at frame 195509 time 733861800
[20:02:46] reader: done. 1 scr changes
[20:02:48] work: average encoding speed for job is 9.175943 fps
[20:02:48] sync: got 200161 frames, 200161 expected
[20:02:49] h264-decoder done: 200161 frames, 0 decoder errors, 0 drops
[20:02:49] render: 200160 frames output, 0 dropped and 0 duped for CFR/PFR
[20:02:49] render: lost time: 0 (0 frames)
[20:02:49] render: gained time: 0 (0 frames) (0 not accounted for)
x264 [info]: frame I:2158  Avg QP:17.10  size:165955  PSNR Mean Y:46.91 U:49.10 V:50.46 Avg:47.64 Global:47.15
x264 [info]: frame P:57392 Avg QP:20.21  size: 52471  PSNR Mean Y:44.80 U:47.29 V:49.32 Avg:45.60 Global:44.59
x264 [info]: frame B:140610 Avg QP:21.65  size: 27577  PSNR Mean Y:43.04 U:45.90 V:48.03 Avg:43.93 Global:43.30
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames:  2.6%  4.3% 20.7% 72.4%
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 10.3% 76.5% 13.2%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  3.2% 12.3%  1.0%  P16..4: 42.8% 16.7%  9.9%  0.0%  0.0%    skip:14.0%
x264 [info]: mb B  I16..4:  0.3%  2.9%  0.1%  B16..8: 50.2%  4.9%  1.0%  direct: 6.4%  skip:34.2%  L0:44.7% L1:51.0% BI: 4.3%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform intra:78.3% inter:70.5%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 75.4% 78.9% 57.0% inter: 31.4% 34.1% 6.1%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 55% 14% 11% 20%
x264 [info]: i8 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 14% 11% 34%  6%  7%  7%  7%  7%  7%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 21% 16% 17%  7% 10%  9%  8%  7%  6%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 65% 14% 16%  5%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:2.3% UV:1.4%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 51.7% 10.6% 26.0% 11.6%  0.2%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 82.5% 13.9%  3.6%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 92.7%  7.3%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9672338 (14.846db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:43.583 U:46.331 V:48.424 Avg:44.449 Global:43.665 kb/s:6944.70
[20:02:49] dca-decoder done: 0 frames, 0 decoder errors, 0 drops
[20:02:49] dca-decoder done: 0 frames, 0 decoder errors, 0 drops
[20:02:55] mux: track 0, 200160 frames, 7247011809 bytes, 6944.59 kbps, fifo 2048
[20:02:55] mux: track 1, 260887 frames, 667870720 bytes, 640.00 kbps, fifo 2048
[20:02:55] mux: track 2, 260887 frames, 667870720 bytes, 640.00 kbps, fifo 2048
[20:02:55] decomb: deinterlaced 0 | blended 235 | unfiltered 199925 | total 200160
[20:02:55] libhb: work result = 0
Encode done!
HandBrake has exited.

[beavergc]

I'll let more knowledgeable folks chime on why you're getting freezes. But to answer your main question, keep it simple and just select the Apple TV3 preset on the latest Handbrake build. iTunes won't import .mkv's, nor will ATV 3 play them, so the default format is mp4 (.m4v file). If storage space isn't a limitation, maybe ratchet down the Constant Quality to 18 or 19, though most seem perfectly comfortable with 20. In addition to an AAC audio track, it will create a 5.1 AC3 (Dolby) audio track that's playable on the Apple TV 3 and sounds great. ATV3 won't play DTS audio tracks. Test out the results of a few chapters on various sources and I think you'll be hard pressed to notice a difference between the output and your original source. Since Handbrake is a transcoder (doesn't just copy/repackage streams like MakeMKV), you'll never have a 'perfect' copy to play through ATV3, but again, the quality is outstanding (at a much smaller file size) and I don't think you'll notice a difference.

Footnote, make sure "Large File" option is selected. It should be by default when using the Apple TV 3 preset, but something to watch for just in case. You might also consider checking the Web Optimization box for improved streaming from your PC to ATV3.

[kfreeb]

So how would I get surround sound in the file without it freezing? These files have DTS and right when I import them the DTS tracks are viewable in the audio track section.

From what you have said, it sounds like you are changing the default Codec settings from AC3 (ffmpeg) to DTS Passthru, (If this is the case) this is why your file is freezing on your Apple TV 3, (Apple TVs can't play DTS audio.) Select the Apple TV 3 setting, (DON'T CHANGE ANY OF THE SETTINGS, USE THE APPLE TV 3 DEFAULT SETTINGS)

What you should see then is a file that, (as stated in the reply above) an .m4v file, which now contains two audio tracks, one is AAC for use on iPod/iPhone/iPad devices, as well as a second audio track that is AC3, (surround sound, with 6 discrete audio channels.) The video will be in full 1920x1080 resolution, (very high quality.)

Now don't get confused by the mp4 vs. m4v extensions at the end of the the file you create. Apple use the m4v extension, due to this type of mp4 file, (and it is an mp4 file type) is modified to carry several audio types in the same m4v file, where as mp4 has a more restricted audio format. The m4v file format has just been enhanced by Apple, to deliver good quality audio, on there mobile devices as well as high end quality for home theater systems, (AAC for mobile devices, AC3 for home theater systems.) Apple mobile devices automatically use the AAC audio and Apple TVs automatically use the AC3 audio.

[Tree Dude]

I'll let more knowledgeable folks chime on why you're getting freezes. But to answer your main question, keep it simple and just select the Apple TV3 preset on the latest Handbrake build. iTunes won't import .mkv's, nor will ATV 3 play them, so the default format is mp4 (.m4v file).

I'm not 100% sure, but I do not think this is the case. The ATV3 should play an MKV just fine. I have seen topics with people playing full BR rips strait from MakeMKV without any troubles (unless they remuxed to M4V and failed to mention that). I do not have one myself yet, but I do plan on getting one at some point and I have lots of MKVs I would rather not remux just to get it to play (hoping it is jailbroken by the time I get one so I can throw XBMC on it instead).

[beavergc]

Might want to do a little research before buying an Apple TV 3. It does NOT play MKV's natively, but here's what video formats it does support:
- H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High or Main Profile level 4.0 or lower, Baseline profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

The only way you'll be able to play an .mkv file on an ATV3 is to jailbreak the device and a JB doesn't yet exist for ATV3 (that or transcode the file to a supported format). I'm sure it's a matter of time, but anyone who's currently streaming .mkv files to their ATV is still using the 2nd generation device (with XMBC or something similar) which can be jailbroken.

[aaceti]

should i selected framefrate same as source or leave it at 30? peak or constant framerate? and should i choose constant quality or avg. bitrate? also someone told me to uncheck web optimized

[rollin_eng]

Just try the preset first.

[GregiBoy]

After looking at the discussion above, I think you first need to tell us whether you are going to stick with the ATV3 solution or going to look at something that will play ALL formats.

should i selected framefrate same as source or leave it at 30? peak or constant framerate? and should i choose constant quality or avg. bitrate? also someone told me to uncheck web optimized

[aaceti]

I am sticking with Apple TV for now