Converting ISO to MKV format is an efficient way to retain the content of your video while improving compatibility and usability across platforms. Whether you’re backing up DVDs or Blu-rays or simply organizing your video library, MKV has a lot of benefits, including smaller file sizes and support for multiple audio and subtitle tracks. In this post, we’ll show you the simplest techniques to convert ISO files to MKV while maintaining a smooth and rapid procedure.
What is ISO and What is MKV?
An ISO file is a digital replica of an optical disc, such as a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray, that retains the entire data and structure of the original. ISO files, which are often huge in size and have the .iso extension, are widely used for backing up optical discs since they provide an exact replica without compression. These files can be played with media players or burned to a new disc as needed. However, most platforms do not support ISO files unless they are mounted or extracted using specialist software or tools.
MKV (Matroska) is a versatile container format used to store TV shows, movies, and other multimedia content. It can include multiple audio and video codecs, subtitles, chapters, and menus, all in a single file. MKV files have different extensions: .mkv for video (with audio or subtitles), .mk3d for 3D video, .mka for audio-only files (with subtitles), and .mks for subtitles. MKV offers the same content as an ISO image without quality loss and provides better compatibility across platforms.
How to Convert ISO to MKV Using Different Tools
There are some tools you can use to convert ISO to MKV effortlessly and fast, whether free or dedicated tools.
Convert ISO to MKV Using DVDFab DVD Ripper
DVDFab DVD Ripper is a reliable converter that can convert DVD ISO to MKV or various video and audio formats for playback on any device, media player, or home theater. If you want to convert DVD, UHD ISO files or Blu-ray to MP4, MKV and other formats. DVDFab software can do it with ease. It supports many output types and has a robust and impressive video editor. Additionally, its Task Queue allows multiple DVD ripping tasks to run automatically in sequence, streamlining the process and saving time.
Here are the steps for using it to convert a DVD to MKV specifically.
Step 1: Download, install, and start DVDFab, then add the DVD source.
- Launch DVDFab 13 and select the “Ripper” option. Then, click the “Add” button to choose your ISO file, or simply drag and drop it into the program.
Step 2: Choose the output profile.
- Navigate to Profile Switcher (Choose Other Profile) > Format > General and select MKV as the output format.
Step 3: Customize the video output
- The main interface of DVDFab Ripper includes two editing tools: “Advanced Settings” and “Video Edit”.
- Advanced Settings lets you alter the video quality, frame rate, resolution, encoding method, and other settings.
- The Video Edit menu lets you crop and trim videos, as well as add subtitles and watermarks.
Step 4: Lastly, start the conversion process.
- When you are ready to convert ISO to MKV, click the “Start” button to begin the conversion.
Convert ISO to MKV with VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a free, open-source, cross-platform media player and streaming server that supports practically all audio and video formats. It can play multimedia files, compress them, stream protocols, and convert ISO files to MKV. Yet, VLC can only manage unencrypted ISO files, it cannot handle copy-protected ones.
Follow the below steps to convert ISO to MKV using VLC:
Step 1: First, launch VLC Media Player after downloading and installing it on your computer.
Step 2: Select “Convert/Save” from the Media menu at the top of the main screen.
Step 3: Then, to load the ISO file, select “File” and then click “+Add”.
Step 4: After clicking the “Convert / Save…” option, select the profile. If MKV is not already on the profile list, open the “New Profile” button, then choose MKV, give it a name, and click “Create”. The Profile box will then allow you to select MKV.
Step 5: Finally, choose the destination location for your MKV file and click “Start” to convert the DVD ISO to MKV.
Convert ISO to MKV with MakeMKV
MakeMKV is a free and user-friendly application for converting ISO files to MKV format. Its intuitive interface makes the conversion process quick and effortless while ensuring lossless quality. It is an excellent choice for individuals who prioritize high-quality playback, despite the fact that the output MKV files can be large. If you have enough disk space and want a straightforward, efficient ISO-to-MKV conversion, MakeMKV is ideal. However, it supports MKV and only MKV.
Below are the steps to do the ISO conversion with it.
Step 1: Download, set up MakeMKV on your computer, and launch it.
Step 2: Then, click “File” and choose “Open” to load the ISO files. You can also select and import the target ISO file by pressing the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + O”.
Note: If MakeMKV does not identify the ISO file, try mounting it as a virtual DVD in Windows first. Simply right-click the ISO file and select the Mount option from the context menu.
Step 3: Once loaded, a tree-like display of the names, video, audio, and subtitle tracks will appear. You can choose which titles to save and which tracks to keep in each one.
Step 4: Finally, just click the “MakeMKV” button and start the conversion.
FAQs
Can I convert a copy-protected DVD ISO to MKV?
Yes, you can use DVDFab DVD Ripper to do that. Any common DVD copy protection, such as CSS, APS, RC, Sony DADC, and more, can be found and removed by DVDFab DVD Ripper. It can convert any ISO into a variety of digital file types, not just MKV.
Is it possible to convert ISO to MKV without losing quality?
Yes, MakeMKV allows you to convert an ISO to MKV without sacrificing quality. It does not re-encode or compress the video; rather, it extracts the original video, audio, and subtitle streams from the DVD and saves them as an MKV file. This keeps the original quality, making MakeMKV a popular choice for users.
Can you keep chapter information while converting the DVD ISO to MKV?
Yes, some specialized converters allow you to preserve chapter information when converting a DVD ISO to MKV. It keeps the DVD’s original chapters, allowing you to move through different sections of the video exactly like you would on a physical disc.
Conclusion
Converting ISO files to MKV preserves video quality while improving compatibility with various devices and media players. Unlike ISO, which requires specialized software to play, MKV is more adaptable and widely supported, retaining essential capabilities like multiple audio tracks, subtitles, chapters, and high-quality playing. Tools such as DVDFab DVD Ripper, VLC Media Player, and MakeMKV can convert ISO to MKV, making the process easier by offering customization, broad format compatibility, and lossless extraction for cross-platform playback.
