Splitting/Joining AVCHD video files (m2ts)

[glenpinn]

hi there, just like to ask for a recommendation on the best free application to Splitting/Join AVCHD video files (m2ts)

i am currently using asfbin to Split/join WMV files.

i use Avidemux to Cut/Join h264 mp4/mov files + it joins dvd Vob files as well.

i thought Avidemux would do AVCHD files, but it appears not to be able to do it.

so i now need something to do AVCHD files, if there is something out there.

cheers.

[thegeeman]

mkvmerge gui

oops . TSMuxer will do.

[glenpinn]

i just tried tsMuxeR and it worked, however there is no video preview option so i can use a slider to select the precise start and end points for my splits, only found an option for setting it by time.

does this sound right ???

the imported file was a .m2ts file, and i used the ts muxer option.

[thegeeman]

Unfortunately there is no video preview with TSMuxer. It will cut a file down to the millisecond though so it can be 'fairly' accurate. I say 'fairly' accurate as it comes down to which key frame it is cut on.

Below is from a previous post; thanks to poisondeathray for this:

if you cut at I-frames you can use tssniper, h264_ts cutter, or tsmuxer . GOP length is usually 1 second for hollywood blu-ray (so every 24 frames), so cuts won't be perfect (within 1 second), but there will be no quality loss

I hope this helps.

[glenpinn]

hi, thx for the reply, so if i want to cut a segment from either end of a .m2ts file, or chop a section out and join both parts back together, which fame should i cut set the start and end markers at.

i will give tssnipper a go as well.

also, my cutting doesnt have to be precise.

[Daniel_BMS]

How come TsMuxeR's creations are sometimes out of sync?

[glenpinn]

ok i just found out, by accident, that Avidemux does actually cut/split/join AVCHD (m2ts) files without needing re-conversion, just as it can do Avi and mp4 as well.

To cut/split/join AVCHD (m2ts or MTS files) use the Mpeg TS Muxer (ff) from the output format option list.

to join 2 or more separate files together, import the first file, then import the others using the "append" option then output as a single file again using the Mpeg TS Muxer (ff) from the output format option list.

[Daniel_BMS]

I don't see the MPEG TS Muxer (ff) option anywhere in what I think you mean is the output format option list.

I am starting to wonder if there is option at all to join TS video objects together. tsMuxer created off sync videos, tsDemuxer created an unplayable video, and AVIdemux created a low quality off sync improperly sized video.

[glenpinn]

I don't see the MPEG TS Muxer (ff) option anywhere in what I think you mean is the output format option list.

i am using Avidemux 2.6.0 beta (r7891) and i assure you that the MPEG TS Muxer (ff) option is in that output format drop down list, and it can be seen in the screenshot below and believe me, it works, and works beautifully on all my BD rips and files from my HD cams.

and AVIdemux created a low quality off sync improperly sized video.

i am a bit confused

how can it create a low quality off sync improperly sized video, that program does not alter the video file in any way from the original imported file ???

all it does is allows you to cut bits out, and join files together.i use it for several hours every day to do all my basic cutting and joining work, either while the files are in their native format direct from the HD camera (AVCHD m2ts) mpeg-2 transport stream or after they have been converted to h264 mp4 files.

if i am working with mp4 files i select the mp4 output format and if working in AVCHD m2ts files i use the Mpeg TS Muxer (ff) output format.

in all the time i have used Avidemux i never had any issues with out of sync files, and if i did, there is no way i would be using it with the work i am doing.

also if the imported files are 1080/50p as they are from my HD cams, thats the way they stay.

here is a screenshot of the output format types in my Avidemux 2.6.0 where i have imported a ZZ-Top movie ripped from the bluray disc, and my panasonic HDC-TS750 HD Cam shoots in exactly the same format.



here is a h264 mp4 file being output.

[Daniel_BMS]

My last post was mostly meant to summarize. If I wasn't going to bed at the time I probably would have guessed to update my AVIdemux. OK I tried merging 3 clips made with Pavtube Blu-ray Ripper. Unfortunately the sound cuts off each time an appended clip begins. Maybe the problem is with the source clips. Maybe they can't really be merged.

[glenpinn]

My last post was mostly meant to summarize. If I wasn't going to bed at the time I probably would have guessed to update my AVIdemux. OK I tried merging 3 clips made with Pavtube Blu-ray Ripper. Unfortunately the sound cuts off each time an appended clip begins. Maybe the problem is with the source clips. Maybe they can't really be merged.

hi, listen are all 3 clips you are using to join together identical to each other, that is, they must share identical resolution and audio, otherwise they cannot be joined properly, and when i have tried joining 2 or more clips that have different audio tracks for example, Avidemux just throws up an error telling me the files cant be imported because the "parameters are not correct"

when joining clips, just make sure all the source files are identical in every way, if they are not, then you may need to import them into an appropriate encoding program such as Handbrake and output all 3 files to the same format using the same audio, then Avidemux may be able to join them, but that option is only there if you dont mind converting them first, and you must output them to one of the file formats supported by Avidemux, otherwise they wont work.

im not sure how you can fix this without knowing exactly what the 3 files are that your trying to join.

if you do need to re-convert them, use h264 in either an mp4 or mkv container, and handbrake uses both these 2 formats exclusively, and is arguably the best conversion tool out there for these 2 formats.

if i want to re-convert avchd footage from my HD cams before joining them up with Avidemux, i use Handbrake to convert it to a h264 mp4 file using a constant quality output of RF:20.

also, i have never heard of this "Pavtube Blu-ray Ripper" program you mention ???

if your source files are ripped from bluray discs (movies) did you consider using another bluray ripping tool such as DVDFab, which has full bluray ripping support.

EDIT: can you right click on the 3 files you have, select properties, and take a screenshot of the file details and post them up here (see example below)

[Daniel_BMS]

They should all have the same properties as they all came from the same source and were created the exact same way.

[glenpinn]

ahh, so this is 3 very short segments from the same bluray movie ???

how did you get these 3 particular clips from the movie, like are these other features from the bluray that are not part of the main movie itself ???

[Daniel_BMS]

Nope they are all clips from the same chapter. I made them myself by trimming with Pavtube Blu-ray Ripper.

[glenpinn]

do u still have the original complete movie on your hdd by any chance, or have u still got the movie disc ???

if you do, you could import the movie into Avidemux and cut those same 3 portions out, discard all the rest, then join those 3 segments together as 1 file, but remember to get the newer version with the MPEG TS Muxer (ff) option for your output.

the issue with troubleshooting other peoples problems in because we dont have all the relevant information required.

[Daniel_BMS]

I think that is the answer. My clips aren't high quality enough so I will have to redo the clips in AVIdemux directly.

[glenpinn]

I think that is the answer. My clips aren't high quality enough so I will have to redo the clips in AVIdemux directly.

ok well see how you go and let me know, i just couldnt work out how you had 3 clips from the same movie and you had so much trouble joining them with Avidemux.

where possible, try and rip the movie to your hdd as it is, using a reputable ripping tool (again i suggest DVDFab) and import the complete movie file (m2ts) into Avidemux to work with, much easier to do, and because your working with the original movie file to cut segments from, you are guarenteed the pieces will be joined without any issues, and without any off sync problems.

once you have the required file completed, if you want to re-convert it to another format, you not dealing with lots of individual files, makes the job so much easier.

cheers

[Daniel_BMS]

I won't get to try this for a while. I have a lot more to do besides this.