Netflix StreamFab v6.2.1.9: Real MKV Not Created When Downloading AV1 Codec

[jpp72]

So i just wasted ~85 download credits getting Brooklyn Nine-Nine from Netflix using the AV1 codec.

It seems like instead of using ffmpeg to remux the audio, video and subtitles, StreamFab uses GPAC but with a .mkv extension. That means the file is an MP4 with an invalid extension.

I noticed it when going into the folder, Icaros didn't list the subtitles. Opening MediaInfo, i saw that the subtitles were there but in Timed Text format. Timed Text is not supported by MKV.

Output of MediaInfo

General
Complete name                            : D:\Downloads\SF\Netflix\TV Shows\Brooklyn Nine-Nine\Season 1\Brooklyn Nine-Nine - 1x01 - Pilot - H264 720p WEB-DL-StreamFab Netflix.mkv
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom)
File size                                : 336 MiB
Duration                                 : 22 min 50 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 2 058 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 23.976 FPS
Collection                               : Brooklyn Nine-Nine:season_number=1
Track name                               : Pilot
Performer                                : Pilot
Encoded date                             : 2025-01-29 23:24:35 UTC
Tagged date                              : 2025-01-29 23:24:35 UTC
Cover                                    : Yes
date                                     : 2013:description=When tightly wound Capt. Holt takes over the precinct, carefree Det. Jake Peralta and his dysfunctional coworkers' lives get demanding.
Part_ID                                  : 1
FileExtension_Invalid                    : braw mov mp4 m4v m4a m4b m4p m4r 3ga 3gpa 3gpp 3gp 3gpp2 3g2 k3g jpm jpx mqv ismv isma ismt f4a f4b f4v

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AV1
Format/Info                              : AOMedia Video 1
Format profile                           : Main@L4.0
Codec ID                                 : av01
Duration                                 : 22 min 50 s
Bit rate                                 : 1 416 kb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 8 778 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 10 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.028
Stream size                              : 231 MiB (69%)
Title                                    : ?@GPAC2.3-DEV-rev7324-gbf629c69e-HEAD
Encoded date                             : 2023-10-08 15:40:27 UTC
Tagged date                              : 2025-01-29 23:24:36 UTC
Color range                              : Limited
Codec configuration box                  : av1C

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : E-AC-3
Format/Info                              : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital Plus
Codec ID                                 : ec-3
Duration                                 : 22 min 50 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 640 kb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 676 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel layout                           : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 105 MiB (31%)
Title                                    : English [CC]
Language                                 : English
Service kind                             : Complete Main
Encoded date                             : 2023-10-08 14:37:29 UTC
Tagged date                              : 2025-01-29 23:24:36 UTC

Text #1
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : Timed Text
Muxing mode                              : sbtl
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 22 min 33 s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 68 b/s
Frame rate                               : 0.670 FPS
Stream size                              : 11.2 KiB (0%)
Language                                 : French (CA)
Forced                                   : No
Encoded date                             : 2025-01-29 23:24:36 UTC
Tagged date                              : 2025-01-29 23:24:36 UTC
Count of events                          : 453

Text #2
ID                                       : 4
Format                                   : Timed Text
Muxing mode                              : sbtl
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 22 min 44 s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 80 b/s
Frame rate                               : 0.927 FPS
Stream size                              : 13.3 KiB (0%)
Language                                 : English
Forced                                   : No
Encoded date                             : 2025-01-29 23:24:36 UTC
Tagged date                              : 2025-01-29 23:24:36 UTC
Count of events                          : 632

​

I did not try changing my settings to use mkvmerge because there are issues from time to time with StreamFab using the wrong syntax so i always prefer ffmpeg. Either way, seems to me it is somehow hardcoded to use GPAC so i doubt it would change anything...It's a bug!

[Germania]

SF uses mp4box (instead ffmpeg) for this ..
.. if I try this (like SF log but shorter)

mp4box.exe -add video.mp4 -add audio.m4a -new result.mkv

So I get the same FileExtension_Invalid info without (Timed Text) subs

but with H264 it's okay (uses ffmpeg, not mp4box)

for AV1 I see in log this cmd

StartRemuxAV1Internal pid 25672 cmd: \"C:/Program Files/stream2hd/StreamFab/mp4box.exe\" -add \"C:/Users/Germania/Documents/DVDFab/Temp/outputTemp/Netflix/2025_01_30_15_54_26_80004161/video/1483438609\"#video -add \"C:/Users/Germania/Documents/DVDFab/Temp/outputTemp/Netflix/2025_01_30_15_54_26_80004161/audio/71048501\"#1:lang=deu:name= -udta 2:type=name:str=\"Deutsch\" -itags tool=:artist=\"Wir fangen Verbrecher und sehen gut dabei aus\":title=\"\":date=\"2013\":description=\"Als ein neuer Captain den Bezirk übernimmt, müssen sich Detective Jake Peralta und seine chaotischen Kollegen erst einmal an Capt. Holts strengen Führungsstil gewöhnen.\":title=\"Wir fangen Verbrecher und sehen gut dabei aus\":show=\"Brooklyn Nine-Nine\":season_number=1:episode_id=\"1\":comment=\"\" -new \"C:/Users/Germania/Documents/DVDFab/Output/Brooklyn Nine-Nine/S01/..\\Brooklyn Nine-Nine.s01e01_Wir fangen Verbrecher und sehen gut dabei aus.mkv\" \n

[jpp72]

SF uses mp4box (instead ffmpeg) for this ..
.. if I try this (like SF log but shorter)

mp4box.exe -add video.mp4 -add audio.m4a -new result.mkv

So I get the same FileExtension_Invalid info without (Timed Text) subs

but with H264 it's okay (uses ffmpeg, not mp4box)

for AV1 I see in log this cmd

StartRemuxAV1Internal pid 25672 cmd: \"C:/Program Files/stream2hd/StreamFab/mp4box.exe\" -add \"C:/Users/Germania/Documents/DVDFab/Temp/outputTemp/Netflix/2025_01_30_15_54_26_80004161/video/1483438609\"#video -add \"C:/Users/Germania/Documents/DVDFab/Temp/outputTemp/Netflix/2025_01_30_15_54_26_80004161/audio/71048501\"#1:lang=deu:name= -udta 2:type=name:str=\"Deutsch\" -itags tool=:artist=\"Wir fangen Verbrecher und sehen gut dabei aus\":title=\"\":date=\"2013\":description=\"Als ein neuer Captain den Bezirk übernimmt, müssen sich Detective Jake Peralta und seine chaotischen Kollegen erst einmal an Capt. Holts strengen Führungsstil gewöhnen.\":title=\"Wir fangen Verbrecher und sehen gut dabei aus\":show=\"Brooklyn Nine-Nine\":season_number=1:episode_id=\"1\":comment=\"\" -new \"C:/Users/Germania/Documents/DVDFab/Output/Brooklyn Nine-Nine/S01/..\\Brooklyn Nine-Nine.s01e01_Wir fangen Verbrecher und sehen gut dabei aus.mkv\" \n

So i am right. It is using GPAC (mp4box is a GPAC tool) and it's probably hardcoded that way. It works correctly for H264 and H265 but not AV1

[Stan001]

Sorry if this is a dumb response, but it does play in VLC media player, I have not tried other video players. I can only assume you want true mkv, as it could also be changed and saved as a mp4.

I will say, that it sucks you used 85 downloads before you found out.

I personally never really liked how Netflix worked overall in Streamfab. The craziness of HIGH and MAIN profiles etc. And the having to change audio to AAC to get English audio for certain titles.

[jpp72]

Sorry if this is a dumb response, but it does play in VLC media player, I have not tried other video players. I can only assume you want true mkv, as it could also be changed and saved as a mp4.

I will say, that it sucks you used 85 downloads before you found out.

I personally never really liked how Netflix worked overall in Streamfab. The craziness of HIGH and MAIN profiles etc. And the having to change audio to AAC to get English audio for certain titles.

Yes because most players check the headers to know how to handle files and not the extension. I want a true MKV and i dislike timed text. Have had issues with them.

As for the 85 tokens, i have several scripts already written to deal with video files. One of them converts all MP4 with external srt to MKV with embedded srt and it can also handle MP4 with Timed Text:



Netflix used to work great but i didn't like the moving of the audio selection to the Settings. I want to be able to pick any audio based on what content i am downloading. Why would i need 5.1 Atmos for a dating reality show? I also was to be able to mix Atmos with AAC or regular EAC3 5.1 with AAC 2.0

Hopefully when they finally implement the new pop-up download modal, it will fix most of my gripes of having to constantly change the settings.

[Cats4U]

The craziness of HIGH and MAIN profiles etc.

That was the result of user requests here from people that were of the false impression that a higher bit rate (MAIN) always equals better quality.

And the having to change audio to AAC to get English audio for certain titles.

You can only work with what the streamer gives you. They are the ones that call the shots. Their interest is only in putting something on your TV screen and coming out of your speakers, not to provide a certain codec to make it easier for you to copy the video. But you know that.

As far as AV1 and any other new codec that might come out, it will take a little while for them to work out their initial bugs in their use. As long as we have people such as jpp72 and others spotting these flaws and if the SF staff is willing to work on them, StreamFab has a good future ahead of it (especially if everything eventually follows the Amazon design model).

[Dog]

Have you tried running each episode through something like LosslessCut? That'll allow you to swap the container for each episode without re-rendering, and it might even correct the subs during the export (I haven't tested this specifically). It will preserve the metadata as well. In my experience it takes less than 10 seconds per episode of most shows.

[jpp72]

Have you tried running each episode through something like LosslessCut? That'll allow you to swap the container for each episode without re-rendering, and it might even correct the subs during the export (I haven't tested this specifically). It will preserve the metadata as well. In my experience it takes less than 10 seconds per episode of most shows.

There is no need to look for some 3rd party graphical tool when MKVToolNix can do it in bulk from the command-line. And like you said, 10 seconds per file, and the subs are now embedded srt. The command is as simple as:

mkvmerge -q -o "output.mkv" "input.mp4"

So, using a FOR /F loop takes care of that. As explained before, i already have the scripts and that is because AnyStream only had MP4 format while i prefer MKV.

[DVDalibaba]

lately i always have to change the audio selection aac and atmos for netflix. because when i queue episodes for new episodes every day it gets wrong when the audio configuration is different. so annoying this issue.

[Dog]

As explained before, i already have the scripts and that is because AnyStream only had MP4 format while i prefer MKV.

Guh...I missed that part of your post. Apologies for suggesting something you clearly already had a good handle on.

There is no need to look for some 3rd party graphical tool when MKVToolNix can do it in bulk from the command-line. And like you said, 10 seconds per file, and the subs are now embedded srt. The command is as simple as:

mkvmerge -q -o "output.mkv" "input.mp4"

So, using a FOR /F loop takes care of that.

Great info - thanks.