The WDTV Play does not support MPEG-2 (DVD Format) … all other WDTV’s do [see picture below]
MakeMKV is a “transcoder” all it does is change the Format (Container) not the codec inside.
(To change the ‘codec’ you will need to use an ‘encoder’ eg. Handbrake)
eg. here is a “MediaInfo” output log file of a DVD clip ripped to MKV by MakeMKV (notice the video info … it’s MPEG-2)
General
Unique ID : 187747372810015600430414906519750437354 (0x8D3ED4277C025B6DA71386B27CAFE9EA)
Complete name : K:\Sample.mkv
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4 / Version 2
File size : 18.0 MiB
Duration : 48s 48ms
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 3 150 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2014-04-24 04:49:35
Writing application : mkvmerge v6.5.0 (‘Isn’t she lovely’) built on Oct 20 2013 12:50:05
Writing library : libebml v1.3.0 + libmatroska v1.4.1
Video
ID : 1
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Custom
Codec ID : V_MPEG2
Codec ID/Info : MPEG 1 or 2 Video
Duration : 48s 48ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 2 895 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 7 500 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.280
Time code of first frame : 02:07:51;08
Time code source : Group of pictures header
Stream size : 16.6 MiB (92%)
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 48s 48ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -67ms
Stream size : 1.10 MiB (6%)
Default : Yes
Forced : No
