apple tv plays x264(mkv)?

**liu6747** · 04-12-2007 07:42 PM

on awkwardtv wiki site, they say

Name Extension Works? Codec Notes
"Matroska .mkv, .mka Yes MatroskaQT, Perian SVN, Reportedly not very usable"

it is not very usable because is NOT runing optimizied code, like Perian 1.0, or the fact of low computer power of aTV? I am trying to make the choice between aTv and MAC mini for my HTPC. Anyone has the experience please let me know
thx

**mcka** · 04-14-2007 04:45 PM

Matroska is only a container, has not so much to do with the performance, which depends on resolution and codec. ATV/Quicktime support MP4 Containers out of the box, so why not using them?

**bertha674** · 04-14-2007 05:34 PM

If a mkv can be played with quicktime on a mac then it should be playable with an ATVFiles and the right codecs on the apple tv.

**fishnchips** · 04-17-2007 11:24 AM

I can confirm that with ATVFiles 0.2.2 and a SVN cut of Perian, I can play 720p x264 MKV files but they are very choppy. The same Perian component plays smoothly on my Mac Mini and Macbook.

**mcka** · 04-17-2007 02:56 PM

What's the bitrate?

Apple TV hardware is not as fast as Mac Mini/MacBook Hardware.

**fishnchips** · 04-17-2007 05:58 PM

Variable but average of 3000 Kbps. FYI, my Mac Mini is a 1.66Ghz CD so I have .66Ghz and an extra core on the AppleTV so I'm not too surprised but the fact that H264 .MOV files at 720p seem to play fine (at similar bitrates) would suggest that it's a codec tuning issue with the 'alpha' MKV support in Perian.

**cleansweep** · 04-19-2007 12:51 PM

Have you tried playing 720p .mkv files with vlc on the atv?

**fishnchips** · 04-22-2007 10:20 PM

Nope - I haven't hacked it enough to get VLC running yet. Will find the time during my next hack fest (probably upgrade the HD)

**iMags** · 04-22-2007 11:53 PM

I got a mkv playing (not via VLC), I couldn't see any video, only black screen, but I got sound (most likely AC3).
The video inside my mkv is .264, any codec or componetns recommendations?

**fishnchips** · 04-23-2007 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by iMags

I got a mkv playing (not via VLC), I couldn't see any video, only black screen, but I got sound (most likely AC3).
The video inside my mkv is .264, any codec or componetns recommendations?

Did you install SVN Perian? That should be able to cope with most of the codecs wrapped in a MKV (along with A52Codec). Perian 0.5 can't play MKV files and I find that MaktroskaQT is way too slow for anything other than a proof of concept.