AutoMKV Installation and Configuration

As video encoding has steadily gained in popularity over the last several years, so has the maturity of free and open source video software. At the same time it can be more than a little intimidating to learn how to use some of these freely available tools, which often feature command line interfaces with a large number of additional options that must be specified for best results.

AutoMKV GUI

At its heart AutoMKV is a GUI for a number of command line tools for analyzing, editing, and encoding video and audio. It also features output to a variety of formats, including not only the standard AVI, MKV (Matroska), and MP4 files, but also WMV files encoded with Microsoft's own (free) encoding tool. Windows Media Video (WMV) is the basis for the VC-1 video encoding standard used for many Blu-ray releases.

Finding Optimal Settings With AutoMKV

Although AutoMKV sets a number options for you, and even lets you customize many using checkboxes, lists, and slider bars, it also shows you the command line being generated and run, and even allows you to add your own options to it. MeGUI-style profiles are also supported, allowing you to take advantage of a number of presets. The development of these profiles for MeGUI, and subsequent adoption as a standard for similar software like AutoMKV and StaxRip, has created a growing pool of what are essentially open source presets for any number of high quality (and free) encoding tools.

Required Software
	AutoMKV AutoMKV is a GUI that automates encoding with XviD and X264, and even Windows Media Video 9 (which VC-1 is based on). As the name suggests, it can output Matroska (MKV) files, as well as MP4, AVI, and of course WMV for Windows Media encoding.
	AviSynth AviSynth is a powerful open source editor, commonly used to provide input for encoders such as Cinemacraft Encoder for MPEG-2 and x264 for AVC. You can find more information on AviSynth in our guide on Using AviSynth 2.5. Although it can be very useful to learn some basic AviSynth scripting, as long as its installed AutoMKV will automate the process for you.
Additional Support and Playback Software
	Haali Media Splitter Haali Media Splitter is a DirectShow splitter for MKV (Matroska), MP4, MPEG-2 TS (transport stream), MPEG-2 PS (program stream), OGG, and AVI files. If you're using AutoMKV to create Matroska (MKV) files, Haali Media Splitter will allow you to play them in Windows as long as you have the appropriate video and audio decoders installed. If you need help with installation you can refer to our Introduction to Haali Media Splitter.
	ffdshow ffdshow is a DirectShow decoding filter for decompressing several video formats, including DivX, XviD, WMV, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 movies. ffdshow may be needed for both AutoMKV and your media player to support various video and audio formats. You can find detailed instructions for installation and configuration of ffdshow's video and audio decoding features in our guide for ffdshow Installation and Configuration.
	Windows Media Encoder 9 Windows Media Encoder is a tool from Microsoft for producing Windows Media files (or streams) in their WMA (audio) and WMV (video) formats. This tool can also be used to create WMV HD and VC-1 video streams as both are based on the Windows Media Video version 3 specifications. AutoMKV requires this program be installed to create WMV output
	AC3Filter AC3Filter is an open source solution for Dolby Digital, DTS, and MPEG Audio playback in Windows. While not required for AutoMKV, AC3 support is necessary for playing many video files, including DVD and Digital TV captures. If you need help with AC3Filter you can find detailed information in our guide titled AC3Filter Installation and Configuration

Continued On Page 2

Next we'll cover some installation and configure some program options, concentrating on those that are most likely to apply to most or all encoding jobs.

Page 2 - Installation and Basic Configuration

AutoMKV Installation and Configuration

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