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MKV (Matroska Video) is a popular multimedia container format that supports a wide variety of video, audio, and subtitle tracks, making it an ideal choice for storing high-quality videos. However, sometimes you might need to edit MKV files – whether it’s to trim, merge, add subtitles, or adjust audio levels. Fortunately, there are several free tools available that can help you edit MKV files with ease. In this article, we’ll walk you through seven simple steps on how to edit MKV files for free.
1. Download a Free MKV Editing Tool
To get started, you’ll need a reliable and free video editing software that supports the MKV format. Some popular free MKV editors include:
- Shotcut: An open-source, cross-platform video editor with robust features and support for MKV files.
- Avidemux: A lightweight video editor that’s perfect for quick edits like cutting, joining, and filtering MKV files.
- MKVToolNix: A specialized tool for working with MKV files that allows you to edit, split, merge, and modify MKV videos.
You can download these programs from their official websites.
2. Open Your MKV File in the Editing Software
Once you’ve installed your chosen video editor, open the program and import your MKV file. This can usually be done by clicking “File” and then “Open” or simply dragging the MKV file directly into the software’s interface.
3. Trim or Cut Parts of the MKV Video
Trimming or cutting unwanted sections from an MKV video is one of the most basic edits. Here’s how to do it:
- Shotcut: Drag the video to the timeline, move the playhead to where you want to cut, and use the “Split” tool to divide the video. Then, delete the unwanted segments.
- Avidemux: Use the A/B markers to select the start and end points of the clip you want to keep, then delete or save the section.
These steps are helpful if you want to remove unnecessary parts of the video like intros or credits.
4. Merge Multiple MKV Files
If you have multiple MKV files and want to combine them into a single video, this process is simple:
- MKVToolNix: Open MKVToolNix and drag all the MKV files you want to merge into the window. After they’re loaded, click “Start muxing” to combine them into one video.
- Shotcut: You can import several MKV files into different tracks on the timeline, and they’ll be played one after another. Once they are placed in sequence, export the video as a single MKV file.
Merging multiple MKV files is perfect for creating longer projects from smaller clips.
5. Add or Edit Subtitles
Many MKV files come with embedded subtitles, but sometimes you need to add new subtitles or edit the existing ones. Here’s how to do it:
- Shotcut: You can add external subtitle files (e.g., SRT) by selecting “Open Other” and then “Text.” Import your subtitle file, and you can adjust the timing and position.
- MKVToolNix: Open MKVToolNix, import your MKV file, and then drag the subtitle file into the “Tracks” section. You can adjust subtitle settings here too.
This step is crucial for viewers who rely on subtitles or for when you want to translate or edit existing text.
6. Adjust Video and Audio Settings
Editing the video or audio settings of an MKV file is possible with some free tools:
- Avidemux: You can adjust audio/video codecs, change the resolution, or modify the audio volume. Simply select the “Audio” tab for audio settings and “Video” for video adjustments.
- Shotcut: Shotcut provides advanced features like filters for color correction, brightness, contrast adjustments, and audio normalization.
These settings are ideal for tweaking the quality of your video or ensuring the sound matches your preferences.
7. Export the Edited MKV File
After making your desired changes, the final step is to export or save your edited MKV file:
- Shotcut: Click “Export” and choose the MKV format as the output. You can adjust the resolution, frame rate, and quality here.
- Avidemux: After editing, click “Save” to export the file as MKV or another format of your choice.
- MKVToolNix: Click “Start muxing” to save your edited MKV file.
Make sure to review the exported video to ensure that all the edits are as expected before finalizing the process.
Conclusion
Editing MKV files doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. With free tools like Shotcut, Avidemux, and MKVToolNix, you can easily perform tasks such as trimming, merging, adding subtitles, and adjusting audio and video settings. By following these seven simple steps, you’ll be able to edit MKV files without spending a dime, and with a bit of practice, you’ll be able to tackle more complex video editing tasks.
