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Known Participant
May 24, 2016
Answered

how to import *.mkv file?

  • May 24, 2016
  • 6 replies
  • 91923 views

hi,all:

     i've installed AE cs6,but it cann't import *.mkv file,it also cann't import *.mkv after i've installed quicktime 7.how to avoid that limitation?

thanks advance.

This topic has been closed for replies.

6 replies

Tom Nord
Community Manager
Tom NordCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
November 7, 2024
New Participant
November 10, 2022

I recorded 5 hours worth of video with OBS Studio for a timelapse. The video that they output can be read by everything except After Effect. Actually I'm pretty sure they're using a standard codec with nothing fancy. I am currently waiting for handbrake to finish converting it so I can finally edit it. Time remaining for the conversion : 7 hours. That make no sense and I'm not even sure why I'm still trying to make it work. Refund incoming soon.

ronniediaz
Participating Frequently
July 24, 2020
New Participant
July 25, 2022

I am not updating from CC2018 until they bring it back! What are you even thinking, Adobe? There is no way I'm converting my raw MKVs.

New Participant
July 25, 2022

Good news is it seems like they are working on it...

Participating Frequently
December 21, 2016

First question: What video and audio formats are contained in your Matroska (MKV) file?

If it's H.264/mpeg4 video, it's a very simple task to use XMedia Recode (Windows only - so please state if you're a Mac or Linux user, in that case you should use either Hybrid or Handbrake CLI) to switch to the MP4 container format.

If even the video format isn't recognized by Premiere such as Google's new VP9 video format, you are forced to transcode the video into another format. That means you risk losing quality + it will take you a lot more time to get started. You can use any of the tools linked above to do the conversion as well.

(Note: Just like Apple, Adobe also doesn't really like (technically superior) open source multimedia formats - something that is a pain in the arse for far more of their users than both companies would like to admit).

Always keep your original MKV files. It is by far the best storage format for video content. You can see why here:

Comparison of video container formats - Wikipedia

Mylenium
Brainiac
May 27, 2016

MKV files need to be unpacked/ converted using Handbrake or similar tools. As Rick said it would be smart to read up on that stuff. 

 

Mylenium

New Participant
October 24, 2023

Awesome, thanks! Handbrake did the job 

Inspiring
May 26, 2016

Moving out of AE SDK subforum to main AE forum

Community Expert
May 27, 2016

MKV is only a container it is not a codek. Are several articles available on the Google search that will tell you how to convert them to a format that AE  and Premiere Pro can use. The format is not currently supported: Importing and interpreting footage items in After Effects

Some MKV files may work because of the codec used for compression but you're kind of on your own here. I would convert them to a good production quality format.