Why convert m2ts to mkv? - Page 2

I have been searching for a while for a M2TS to MKV converter. Found a bunch... But in reality I don't want a "converter" - I want a container changer. No need to do a transcode.

Oh yes, one feature that I really want the ability to automatically add chapters (say in five minute intervals).

Any suggestions on a single piece of software that will do this?

Thanks!

eac3to and MKVMerge will do the trick.

Hurm - forget if it does MKV but have you checked ClownBD or AVCHD?

Thanks guys. I took a look at all of them and MKVMerge appears to be the least painless. I'll try that later tonight.

Appreciate the help.

I tried using MKVMerge and when I try to open the m2ts if get an error message stating file not supported. Have you tried this program yet?

You have to use eac3to on the m2ts file first. It'll change the container from m2ts to mkv, and process whatever audio, chapters, subtitles you choose. Then use MKVMerge to merge all the files into one mkv. And just to note, it doesn't re-encode the video, it simply changes the container. Audio can be left untouched or transcoded. I normally transcode to FLAC, since mkv supports it, and you don't lose any quality (lossless to lossless).

Nah, it didnt work I have yet to succeed in converting my M2TS to MKV. I've tried a lot of things but none worked. I think I have installed too many dll's and stuff.

I'll try again next weekend ...

If Total Media Extreme would let me save the file in Mpeg, Mkv or AVI I wouldn't be going through this to begin with.

There is a program out there for the Mac that saves the file in m2ts and mpeg at the same time when using the Hauppauge. I'm thinking now it might be worth buying a MacMini before i pull all my hair out.....

Burner:

I too have TME. Lousy piece of software - but the only thing that I use to capture from my Hauppauge 1212.

I'm learning as I go. Files come out of the software as M2TS, but are really TS. So far tsMuxer is the closest I have come to success, makeMKV, mkvMerge, handbreak, and one or two others havent worked - yet.

This is crazy. But, I am still trying - not giving up yet.

Seriously, you guys are trying way too hard. Use "eac3to", command line version, and it'll work.

taz291819:

Yes, I tried eac3to (command line). I used the command...

eac3to z.TS z.MKV


EAC3TO>eac3to z.ts z.mkv
TS, 1 video track, 1 audio track, 0:02:26, 60i /1.001
1: h264/AVC, 1080i60 /1.001 (16:9)
2: AC3, 5.1 channels, 384kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -28dB, -100ms
a02 Extracting audio track number 2...
v01 Extracting video track number 1...
a02 Removing AC3 dialog normalization...
a02 Applying (E-)AC3 delay...
a02 A remaining delay of -4ms could not be fixed.
v01 Muxing video to Matroska...
a02 Creating file "z - 2 - AC3, 5.1 channels, 384kbps, 48khz.ac3"...
Added fps value (30 /1.001) to MKV header.
Video track 1 contains 8732 fields.
eac3to processing took 27 seconds.
Done.


It really doesn't get any simpler than that. I get an mkv file with no audio. (Using WMP to play file). I was surprised. Did I miss some special switch?

Another option, Does anyone know if there is software out there free or commercial that would work with the Hauppauge 1212 that would record in the format I want (MKV, MPG etc.). Thus eliminating these extra steps. I don't mind buying software that does what i need and want and saves me all this time converting files.

Yep, try this:

eac3to z.ts 1: z.mkv 2: z.ac3

Then use mkvMerge to combine the two files.

Ok. Got it to work sort of.

The 1212's TS right into PS3 plays fine. The MKV that I made using your instructions (thanks), has the video out of sync by about 50%. I am still sorting this out, but I am a lot closer than before.

One thing is that my fast computer is not available and I am using an older laptop. I suspect that it may be the culprit during playback.

It's got to be the older laptop. I've made maybe 100 or so MKVs using this method, and never had audio sync issues.

taz:

I don't know if you are following this thread anymore. Been busy the last few weeks, but I can report that everything works as you prescribed. Your help was much appreciated.


-A.J.

Good deal!

Thanks to all for the info about eac3to in this thread. I was able to rip a bluray (using AnyDVDHD) and create mkv files out of it using eac3to/mkvtoolnix. The mkv files play fine with mpchc on my HTPC, but when I play the same file on the Oppo BDP-83, it plays them in 4:3 AR only (basically image is "squished" horizontally with black bars showing on the sides). The original bluray plays fine on the Oppo. I'm a bit confused why would it do that since the video stream is exactly the same as the bluray. Anyone have any ideas if there is some option I can use in eac3to or mkvmerge to fix this problem?

i convert mkv files usign total video converter, it might work for you.

Try the different aspect ratio settings on the Oppo.

Not about cost, once you get into terabytes of data is the time involved moving it round and backing it up.

I bet 99.9% wouldnt be able to tell the different between a native blu-ray rip an 8-10gb h264 compressed version, even blown up on a big screen. Some of these movies just waste bitrate, polishing turds.

Of course I already tried that and it didn't help. In fact, I think it is not even 4:3 AR it is displaying it in, it is probably 1:1. The problem is most likely a bug in the Oppo (the file itself should be good since it plays well on the HTPC). I was just wondering if anyone could suggest any settings in eac3to or mkvmerge that might generate a file with some different parameters. Oppo is a bit choosy in what files it wants to play and some different setting just might do the trick.

I don't believe there are any options in eac3to, since it doesn't transcode any video.

You should give "Another EAC3to GUI Plus" a try. A few mouse clicks and yer done. It's a nice, simple GUI wrapper for Eac3to.

Not sure what you mean there are no options in eac3to. It has a few options for video and a whole bunch of them for audio processing (and mkvmerge has a bunch of options too). Even though it does not transcode video, still the container is changed from m2ts to mkv and surely it is the container which the Oppo doesn't like since it plays the same video stream directly from the bluray perfectly.

Anyway, I guess I was being lazy (and greedy) to see if someone could give me ready made options to try. I'll try the available options and report back if anything helped.

Of course there are options, I meant that I don't believe there are any options regarding aspect ratio flags.

I realize I'm digging up an old thread, but I thought this was the most appropriate place for my question.


I, too am looking for a "one click" solution to converting M2TS to MKV. I found the following which does claim to allow you to select the audio file. Does anyone here have experience with this program?: http://www.icoolsoft.com/m2ts-converter/

Thanks!

If you simply want to remux tsMuxeR.

Ummmm....no. I want to convert M2TS to MKV. I downloaded the trial of the aforementioned icoolsoft M2TS converter and discovered it only goes up to 720p.

Perhaps you should look up the definition of (re)mux/multiplex before you decide that someone's helpful suggestion is not what you're looking for.

Any "conversion" of M2TS to MKV is going to involve demuxing the M2TS into elementary streams and then muxing into the MKV container. It may also involve video/audio re-encoding in between if the program supports it and you want that.

tsMuxeR allows you to remux to MKV from a variety of containers including M2TS and lets you choose which streams you'd like to keep including any audio or subtitle tracks. It can also do things like converting DTS-HD to DTS as part of the process.

You never specified whether you also want to re-encode the video.