DVD CONVERTER SOFT Reference Series // Digital Optical Output
DVD Converter Soft // Guide: DVD → MKV

DVD to MKV

Updated 2026-06-22 // Personal-archive reference

MKV (Matroska) is the container of choice when you want to keep everything a DVD holds — multiple audio languages, several subtitle tracks and chapter markers — in a single tidy file. It is ideal for archiving a disc faithfully without juggling separate files. This guide converts a disc you own to MKV for personal use.

Personal use

For discs you own, format-shifted for personal archiving. Copy-protection rules vary by country — see the DVD Ripper overview.

DISC ALL TRACKS MKV CONTAINER MATROSKA VIDEO H.264 AUDIO ENGLISH AUDIO DEUTSCH SUBTITLES EN · DE · FR CHAPTERS MARKERS
One tidy file — MKV keeps the video plus every audio language, subtitle track and chapter marker together.

Why MKV?

MKV's advantage is that it holds an unlimited number of tracks. A single film can keep its original and dubbed audio, several subtitle languages, and chapter points, all selectable at playback. It also supports a near-lossless "passthrough" of the original audio. The trade-off is compatibility: not every TV or phone plays MKV directly, so for maximum reach choose MP4 instead.

Two ways to make an MKV

  • Remux (passthrough): copy the disc's MPEG-2 video and audio straight into MKV with no re-encoding. Quality is identical to the disc, but the file stays large (4–8 GB).
  • Re-encode: convert the video to H.264 or H.265 to shrink the file, keeping the extra audio and subtitle tracks. Much smaller, with a small, usually invisible quality cost.
Several stacked video, audio and subtitle layers converging into a single container box.
MKV bundles the video and every audio and subtitle track into one tidy container.

Recommended settings (re-encode)

  • Video: H.264 at RF ~18–20, original resolution, source frame rate.
  • Audio: keep AC-3 passthrough for home-theatre setups, or AAC stereo for portability — or add both.
  • Subtitles: add each language as a selectable soft subtitle track.
  • Chapters: preserve the disc's chapter markers.

Step by step

  1. Scan the disc and select the main title.
  2. Tick every audio language and subtitle track you want to keep.
  3. Choose an MKV output profile — passthrough for a faithful master, or H.264 to save space.
  4. Confirm chapters are preserved, then set the destination and start.
  5. Open the result and switch between audio and subtitle tracks to confirm they are all present.

Playing MKV files

Most computer media players handle MKV out of the box, as do many recent smart TVs, media boxes and game consoles. If a particular device refuses an MKV, the quickest fix is usually to remux it to MP4 — no quality loss, just a different container. Keeping an MKV master and exporting MP4 copies as needed is a common, flexible workflow.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Re-encoding when you meant to keep a master. If your goal is a faithful archive, use passthrough — re-encoding to save space throws away the very fidelity you wanted to preserve. Decide which job this file is doing before you start.
  • Dropping tracks by accident. The whole point of MKV is keeping every audio language and subtitle. Tick them explicitly; many tools default to the first track only.
  • Assuming every device plays MKV. Computers and recent media players are fine, but some TVs and phones are not. Keep an MKV master and export an MP4 copy for those devices.
  • Forgetting chapters. Chapter markers make a long film easy to navigate, and they are trivial to preserve — but easy to leave switched off.

Frequently asked questions

Does MKV reduce quality compared to the disc?

Not if you remux (passthrough) — that is bit-for-bit identical. A re-encode adds a small, usually invisible loss in exchange for a much smaller file.

Will an MKV play on my TV?

Many modern TVs and media players support MKV, but not all. If yours doesn't, remux to MP4.

Can I keep both English and another language?

Yes — that is exactly what MKV is best at. Add as many audio and subtitle tracks as you like and switch between them at playback.

Why is my MKV file so large?

A passthrough MKV keeps the disc's original MPEG-2 video, which is lightly compressed, so the file stays in the 4–8 GB range. That is expected for a faithful master. Re-encode to H.264 if you want a smaller file and can accept a tiny, usually invisible quality cost.

Can I convert an MKV to MP4 later?

Yes, and it is quick. If the audio and video are already in compatible formats, the file can be remuxed straight into an MP4 container with no re-encoding and no quality loss — only the extra subtitle and audio tracks may need to be trimmed to fit MP4's limits.

Related reading

  • DVD Ripper overview — the full disc-to-file walkthrough and the legal notes on format-shifting discs you own.
  • DVD Copy — make a faithful 1:1 backup instead of a converted file.
  • All format guides — step-by-step conversions for every target.