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The -convert command converts a single Dolby Vision Profile 7 file to Profile 8.1. The process strips the Enhancement Layer, injects the dynamic metadata (RPU) into the Base Layer, and produces a file compatible with most Dolby Vision devices.

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How conversion works

The conversion process:
  1. Extracts the video stream from your MKV file
  2. Strips the Enhancement Layer (EL)
  3. Injects the RPU metadata into the Base Layer
  4. Remuxes everything back into a new MKV file
No video re-encoding happens. The bitstream is processed directly, so conversion is fast and quality is preserved exactly.

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Safety features

dovi_convert is designed to be non-destructive:
  • Automatic backup - Your original file is renamed to *.bak.dovi_convert before any changes
  • Scan before convert - Each file is analyzed to detect Complex FEL
  • Safe defaults - Complex FEL files are skipped unless you explicitly override
All audio and subtitle tracks are preserved in the converted file.

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Basic usage

Convert a single file: 
dovi_convert -convert "Movie.mkv"
The command:
  1. Analyzes the file for FEL complexity
  2. Creates a backup (Movie.mkv.bak.dovi_convert)
  3. Converts to Profile 8.1
  4. Replaces the original with the converted file

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Conversion modes

dovi_convert has two processing modes:

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Standard mode (default)

Pipes video data directly between ffmpeg and dovi_tool. Fast and efficient - requires no temporary disk space for the video stream. 
dovi_convert -convert "Movie.mkv"

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Safe mode

Extracts the video stream to disk first, then processes it. Slower, but handles files that Standard mode can’t process. 
dovi_convert -convert "Movie.mkv" -safe
If Standard mode fails (common with Seamless Branching or irregular file structures), Safe mode is triggered automatically. You don’t need to manually retry.

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Command options

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Force conversion (-force)

Override safety checks and convert Complex FEL files: 
dovi_convert -convert "Movie.mkv" -force
Forcing conversion on Complex FEL files produces incorrect tone mapping. The picture may appear dark, have flickering, or show other artifacts. Only use this if you understand and accept the quality loss.

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Delete backup (-delete)

Automatically delete the backup file after successful conversion: 
dovi_convert -convert "Movie.mkv" -delete
This removes your only copy of the original Profile 7 file. Use with caution. If something goes wrong or you later want to restore the original, you can’t.

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Debug mode (-debug)

Generate a detailed log file for troubleshooting: 
dovi_convert -convert "Movie.mkv" -debug
This creates dovi_convert_debug.log in the current directory, containing output from all internal tools (ffmpeg, dovi_tool, mkvmerge).

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Handling Simple FEL files

When converting a Simple FEL file, dovi_convert prompts for confirmation: 
Simple FEL detected. This file likely converts safely, but verify with -inspect if uncertain.
Continue? [y/N]
This is a precaution - Simple FEL files usually convert correctly, but the scan might have missed isolated brightness spikes. If you want certainty, run -inspect first.

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What happens to your files

BeforeAfter
Movie.mkv (Profile 7)Movie.mkv (Profile 8.1)
-Movie.mkv.bak.dovi_convert (original backup)
The backup contains your complete original file. You can restore it by: 
mv "Movie.mkv.bak.dovi_convert" "Movie.mkv"

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Troubleshooting

If conversion fails:
  1. Run with -debug to generate a log: 
    dovi_convert -convert "Movie.mkv" -debug
  2. Check dovi_convert_debug.log for errors from ffmpeg, dovi_tool, or mkvmerge
  3. Common issues:
    • Seamless Branching - Try with -safe mode
    • Corrupted files - Verify the original file plays correctly
    • Disk space - Safe mode needs space for the extracted video stream

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Next steps

Batch Processing

Convert entire directories at once

File Scanning

Learn more about analyzing files before conversion