.mkv format?

[Snowdazed]

I just recently downloaded a bunch of episodes of a series, and they're in .mkv format. I don't even know what that is, nor does my computer apparently. I got the option to try and find a program through the internet that will play it, but it couldn't find it.
Any help? Anyone know a program that will play it? What the hell is mkv, anyways?
Any help is greatly appreciated

[SupremeOverlord]

.mkv, from what I understand, are high compressed video file types that originated from Russia.

http://www.cccp-project.net/

Download the CCCP and use their players. You might still be able to use what you normally do, but if that fails, which to what this gives you (Zoom media player and Media Player Classic). I've never had a problem using this. Ever.

[Minoru]

Ah, MKV files are amazing. The best. Basically, it's like downloading a dvd for that episode. XD

An mkv file is a container file. It holds multiple subtitle, audio and video streams so you can choose what you want. Also, if you decide you want to encode a video in this format, you get to choose what encoding everything is done in. (Video:Divx,H.263,etc.. Audio: aac, Mp3, etc..)

I also recommend the combined community code pack. It's very good and is about the only pack of codecs you need to play anything. Also, you might try VLC. It can play just about anything.

The good thing about CCCP is that you can choose what player you want to use. You get to choose what subtitles and audio you want to use from the little green up arrow that is by the time on the taskbar.


PS: these files are very similar to Ogg/ogm files if that helps.

[Sonic]

Use VLC Media Player.

[SupremeOverlord]

VLC > CCCP?

Care to elaborate?
I'm not challenging you by any means, I just want to know what you think because I might switch then. ^^;

[Snowdazed]

I think I'll go with the VLC, since my roommate uses that and she seems to like it. Plus, something named after the soviet union kind of makes me do a double take every time 
Thanks for the help! Hopefully it will work ^^

[Sonic]

I don't know much about CCCP but I do know VLC supports a wide variety of formats and can even stream out to the network or another file. It's also available for Linux. VLC is my default player for almost all my video files except WMV, which I find Windows Media Player does better; which is expected seeing Microsoft MADE IT. Oh and for clarification, VLC is a media player, not a codec system. It uses it's own built in Codecs. CCCP is something to look into if you want Media Player/Windows to be able to see without a 3rd party (3rd party meaning not Windows Media Player) application.

Just another thought but VLC actually attempts to repair damaged video files. I had a few that the index (What allows you to scroll the slider to jump to half way through the movie) was missing/corrupted and VLC will ask if I would like it to attempt to rebuild it.

[digidested2000]

Yeah, I personally use VLC, but apparently, VLC is PART of the CCCP? I think that's what Matt said, but I could be wrong.

[sanzogoku39]

VLC, I hear, is superior to just having CCCP, but I've never tried it. It's satisfactory enough just to use your normal player along with CCCP.

[Minoru]

Yeah, I personally use VLC, but apparently, VLC is PART of the CCCP? I think that's what Matt said, but I could be wrong.

Hm.. it's not to my knolledge, but I by no means know everything. XD

I like vlc play as well, I've just had bad experiences with it. ^^;;; Well, I have with the Windows version. The linux version rocks.

[Sonic]

Haven't had any issues thus far on Windows with VLC. I've used it on Win XP Pro, XP Pro 64-bit, Vista Home and Vista Ultimate x64. Than again, I don't let most of the junk your average user does to their system happen to mine, so my installs stay stable for quite some time...unlike my sister's laptop. 

[Minoru]

Haven't had any issues thus far on Windows with VLC. I've used it on Win XP Pro, XP Pro 64-bit, Vista Home and Vista Ultimate x64. Than again, I don't let most of the junk your average user does to their system happen to mine, so my installs stay stable for quite some time...unlike my sister's laptop. 

I keep my computers VERY clutter free and stable. I've just had some problems with the windows version of VLC concerning subtitles and full screen mode. It normally worked fine, but it started flickering the controls on and off in when I was playing ogg and mkv video.(that problem fixed itself out-of-the-blue. I'd like to know why if you could tell me.) Also, I had problems with the subtitles not showing up. (Yes, I had the encoding, font path, etc.. set correctly.) What's funny is that I've NEVER had problems with vlc on linux. (regardless of the many ways I've compiled it.) ^^;;

[SupremeOverlord]

Yeah, I personally use VLC, but apparently, VLC is PART of the CCCP? I think that's what Matt said, but I could be wrong.

I was smoking something heavy when I had that thought. I, for some reason, thought I saw similar icons in both and so on and so forth.

I might just grab VLC then. Can't hurt to have both.

[animehuman]

K-Lite codec pack. Done.

[Infinityatmo]

well other than VLC & CCCP, you could also try using Zoom Player