Ripping TV Show from DVD-Video to MKV (Matroska) format on a Mac?

[TheOddLinguist]

Hello. After some research over the past week, I've gathered this much: XBMC's Library Mode provides a very clean way to watch episodes of TV shows. Fantastic. Now...though there are ways to allow the scraper to properly sort your files, things get a little kludgy when you're using TV DVDs. So, through what I've read...my best option is to separate the individual episodes into their own files. This way, they will list properly in Library Mode...and play simply by selecting the episode that I want. Beautiful. However, I'm looking to retain the multiple audio streams, subtitles, and chapters, etc. So, then I read that this would work best using a container format such as MKV. Great. Now...how do I do that? hehe

More specifically, I can't seem to find any software to make an MKV with everything I'm looking for. I thought I had a good thing going with Handbrake...but it doesn't support soft subs...so that doesn't work. I'm guessing I could use something like mkvmerge or another CLI tool...but I'm wondering if I'm missing some epiphanous GUI software or front-end that will at least add some level of simplicity to the process.

Anybody doing the same thing? Or maybe someone else in my boat? Maybe you have a better plan for me to look into? I think XBMC on AppleTV has solved my home theatre dilemma...if I can only figure out how to get the media the way I need it. hehe Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can provide.


Sincerely,
Christopher David YUDICHAK

[TheOddLinguist]

Well, after some more research and trial-and-error, I've almost reached perfection. I'll post details here later in case someone wanders into this topic with the same question. However, an issue has arisen...I'm wondering if it's related to the process. Maybe someone can help?

I'm making the MKVs with just the basic video...ripping the audio/subtitles off the disc...and using mkvmerge to create the final MKV with everything. It plays beautifully in XBMC...until I change the audio/subtitle track. Changing either one from whatever I have set as the default makes the audio skip to a different part of the episode...and the video starts playing at a faster speed. I did some quick searching through the forums...didn't see anyone having this problem. So, I'm guessing it's in my process...but I'm wondering if anyone can think of what would cause this to happen? Maybe I can pinpoint the step that causes the trouble. Let me know if you need more details. Thanks in advance for your help.

Oh...and still...if anyone knows a more streamlined way to make this happen, I'd love to hear suggestions or discuss. Thanks again.


Sincerely,
Christopher David YUDICHAK

[da.schizzle]

Does this happen in other media players too, or only in xmbc?
cause i have the same problem with mkv that work perfekt (when changing audio streams) in vlc but i have the same problem in xbmc, audio skips 2 seconds or more and then the video plays fast until reaching the audio stream.

[TheOddLinguist]

That's correct...it works fine in VLC [which, by the way, is the only MKV player of those that I've tried that is displaying the subtitles...if that helps someone diagnose the problem]...it only acts strangely in XBMC.

[igeekus]

This is a bit of a hunch... when you select a file, use the context menu and choose "Play Using" and I think there is an option for DVDPlayer (or something like that) Give that a shot.