Which is better (Avidemux / VLC) to Convert from .ts to mp4

[Jacobs]

Hello,

Kindly suggest which program Avidemux or Vlc, to use to convert .ts files to mp4 that will maintain the quality.

Thank you in advance.

[ProWo]

If the video/audio codecs are mp4 container compatible, then you can simply remux to mp4.
No recoding occours, no quality loss. Avidemux can do it.

[Jacobs]

If the video/audio codecs are mp4 container compatible, then you can simply remux to mp4.
No recoding occours, no quality loss. Avidemux can do it.

Thank you for addressing my query..

Here is the Media Info.. Can you please suggest me if I should use Avidemux..

ID                                       : 1 (0x1)
Complete name                            : D:\Xilli\Holidays.ts
Format                                   : MPEG-TS
File size                                : 5.10 GiB
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 4 182 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS

Video
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.1
Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 2 frames
Codec ID                                 : 27
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Nominal bit rate                         : 4 000 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.077
Writing library                          : x264 core 155
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=9 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.15 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-3 / threads=4 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / slices=1 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / stitchable=1 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=0 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=50 / keyint_min=1 / scenecut=0 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=cbr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=4000 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=4000 / vbv_bufsize=4050 / nal_hrd=cbr / filler=1 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=3:1.00

Audio
ID                                       : 257 (0x101)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Format version                           : Version 4
Muxing mode                              : ADTS
Codec ID                                 : 15-2
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : -40 ms

Thank you

[Alwyn]

Use AVIDemux. Follow this procedure on my website.

[ProWo]

To make it easy, you can also use clever FFmpeg-GUI.
Load your ts, click main, click multiplex, set mp4 as container and click multiplex.
Done

There is an automatic compatibility check for the involved codecs.

[videoAI]

you could also use :
https://www.videohelp.com/software/Video-to-Video-Converter
no encoding is required

[Jacobs]

Use AVIDemux. Follow this procedure on my website.

Thank you... I converted the file to mp4..

Here is the Media Info.. Does everything look ok?

General
Complete name                            : D:\Yumm\Holidays.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                                : 4.92 GiB
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 4 033 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Writing application                      : Lavf58.76.100

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.1
Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 2 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Source duration                          : 2 h 54 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 3 965 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.076
Stream size                              : 4.84 GiB (98%)
Source stream size                       : 4.84 GiB (98%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 155
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=9 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.15 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-3 / threads=4 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / slices=1 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / stitchable=1 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=0 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=50 / keyint_min=1 / scenecut=0 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=cbr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=4000 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=4000 / vbv_bufsize=4050 / nal_hrd=cbr / filler=1 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=3:1.00
mdhd_Duration                            : 10476200
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 60.6 kb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 128 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 75.7 MiB (2%)
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1

Thank you.

[Jacobs]

To make it easy, you can also use clever FFmpeg-GUI.
Load your ts, click main, click multiplex, set mp4 as container and click multiplex.
Done

There is an automatic compatibility check for the involved codecs.

Thank you.. I did give clever ffmpeg a try. Its a good tool. I need to convert 100 videos with each video having an approximate length of 2hrs. So, I thought to ask about Avidemux to save time.

Here is the Media Info of Mp4 file after using clever ffmpeg

General
Complete name                            : D:\Completed\Holidays_muxed.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                                : 4.62 GiB
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 3 785 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Writing application                      : clever FFmpeg-GUI

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Bit rate                                 : 3 716 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.072
Stream size                              : 4.53 GiB (98%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 164 r3191 4613ac3
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=23.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 2 h 54 min
Source duration                          : 2 h 54 min
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 60.6 kb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 63.2 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 75.7 MiB (2%)
Source stream size                       : 75.7 MiB (2%)
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1

Thank you.

[Alwyn]

I need to convert 100 videos with each video having an approximate length of 2hrs.

In that case, AVIDemux isn't the one. It can't easily do batching. But that file looks OK, although the bitrate is different to both the original and @ProWos (Clever FFMPEG). Did it process fairly quickly?

I'm pretty sure FFMPEG can be set up to do batch processing without recoding; @ProWo will know.

[Jacobs]

I need to convert 100 videos with each video having an approximate length of 2hrs.

In that case, AVIDemux isn't the one. It can't easily do batching. But that file looks OK, although the bitrate is different to both the original and @ProWos (Clever FFMPEG). Did it process fairly quickly?

I'm pretty sure FFMPEG can be set up to do batch processing without recoding; @ProWo will know.

For a 2hr video file, avidemux is taking me 2-3 Mins to convert one and Clever FFMPEG, is taking 2hrs to get one conversion done.

I am ok with manual conversion.

Should I opt for avidemux ?

Thank you.

[ProWo]

For a 2hr video file, avidemux is taking me 2-3 Mins to convert one and Clever FFMPEG, is taking 2hrs to get one conversion done.

Then you have recoded the video, not remuxed it.
As already mentioned above, load your ts video, click main, click multiplex, select mp4 as container and click multiplex at the bottom left.
After a few seconds this should be done.

[ProWo]

I'm pretty sure FFMPEG can be set up to do batch processing without recoding; @ProWo will know.

Batch processing isn't implemented yet in my GUI.

[Alwyn]

For a 2hr video file, avidemux is taking me 2-3 Mins to convert one and Clever FFMPEG, is taking 2hrs to get one conversion done.

I think then that Clever is recoding/rendering it whereas AVIDemux isn't.

Should I opt for avidemux ?

It's doing the job, it's just that it'll require 100 setups. I suggest you wait to hear from the FFMPEG experts about smart rendering in batch. I believe AVIDemux is using FFMPEG under the hood so FFMPEG must do smart-rendering; it's just that AVIDemux won't batch-process using the GUI.

Depending on your coding ability, I did find these ideas on the web:

https://www.gaelanlloyd.com/blog/batch-processing-video-files-with-avidemux/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Avidemux/comments/10eof7b/batchbulk_convert/

[Jacobs]

For a 2hr video file, avidemux is taking me 2-3 Mins to convert one and Clever FFMPEG, is taking 2hrs to get one conversion done.

Then you have recoded the video, not remuxed it.
As already mentioned above, load your ts video, click main, click multiplex, select mp4 as container and click multiplex at the bottom left.
After a few seconds this should be done.

Hi,

I have sent you a pm regarding the steps I took. I have taken a screenshot video of the conversion. I dont know how to send the video.

Thank you.

[ProWo]

You can post it here as attatchment.

[Alwyn]

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am doing!

I had a play with that Reddit script and it "seems" to work to run batching with AVIDemux. I basically followed the post to convert some VOBs to MPGs.

It all happened quite quickly so I suspect it was a smart-render process.

Full Reddit script:

set avidemux="C:\Program Files\Avidemux 2.8 - 64 bits\avidemux.exe"

set videocodec=Copy

set audiocodec=Copy

for %%f in (*.mkv) do %avidemux% --video-codec %videocodec% --audio-codec %audiocodec% --force-alt-h264 --load "%%f" --save "%%f.mp4" --quit

echo.

Pause

In your case, just change the ".mkv" to ".ts".

I think I can see what they've done but I don't understand the "force-alt-h264" part, not that it seemed to make any difference in my experiment.

You just need to make sure that the link to avidemux.exe is correct.

To create a BAT, just make a TXT file then change the extension to BAT. Edit it with Right-Click>Edit.

Note, this (Copy, Copy) will only work if your TS files are H264-based.

It should rip through your hundred files in a flash!

I normally dislike command lines but this wasn't particularly onerous considering the benefit. CBA=tick.

[Jacobs]

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am doing!

I had a play with that Reddit script and it "seems" to work to run batching with AVIDemux. I basically followed the post to convert some VOBs to MPGs.

It all happened quite quickly so I suspect it was a smart-render process.

Full Reddit script:

set avidemux="C:\Program Files\Avidemux 2.8 - 64 bits\avidemux.exe"

set videocodec=Copy

set audiocodec=Copy

for %%f in (*.mkv) do %avidemux% --video-codec %videocodec% --audio-codec %audiocodec% --force-alt-h264 --load "%%f" --save "%%f.mp4" --quit

echo.

Pause

In your case, just change the ".mkv" to ".ts".

I think I can see what they've done but I don't understand the "force-alt-h264" part, not that it seemed to make any difference in my experiment.

You just need to make sure that the link to avidemux.exe is correct.

To create a BAT, just make a TXT file then change the extension to BAT. Edit it with Right-Click>Edit.

Note, this (Copy, Copy) will only work if your TS files are H264-based.

It should rip through your hundred files in a flash!

I normally dislike command lines but this wasn't particularly onerous considering the benefit. CBA=tick.

Thats a great job mate.. Thank you for the efforts.

[Sharc]

You may want to try this simple ffmpeg alternative:
- Copy the code below into notpad and save it as container_change.cmd to your desktop.
- Then multiple select (in explorer) and drag and drop all the files you want to convert onto that icon on your desktop. They will be converted one by one.

:next
if "%~1"=="" goto done
ffmpeg -i "%~1" -c copy "%~1.mp4"
shift
goto next
:done

[Alwyn]

@Sharc, I don't know how you have your FFMPEG set up; I had to put the full path to ffmpeg.exe in that CMD file. Then it worked. I do have ffmpeg.exe in System32.

Interesting that both methods (and a VideoRedo test I did) are obviously smart-rendering indicated by the conversion speed but the file sizes come out different to the originals, in one case an original TS 2.1GB, converted MP4 1.8GB.

[Sharc]

@Sharc, I don't know how you have your FFMPEG set up; I had to put the full path to ffmpeg.exe in that CMD file. Then it worked. I do have ffmpeg.exe in System32.

I have it in its own folder and put its path into the PATH of windows for convenience.
If it is not in the PATH one can always specify the full path in the commandline as you did.

Interesting that both methods (and a VideoRedo test I did) are obviously smart-rendering indicated by the conversion speed but the file sizes come out different to the originals, in one case an original TS 2.1GB, converted MP4 1.8GB.

.ts and .m2ts are transport streams which have more overhead than .mp4 and .mkv files, hence the difference in filesize.
The overhead in .ts or .m2ts allows a fast resync when the stream is interrupted during transmission.

[Alwyn]

put its path into the PATH of windows for convenience.

Could you explain that? What is the "path of Windows"?

.ts and .m2ts are transport streams which have more overhead than .mp4 and .mkv files, hence the difference in filesize.

OK, good to know.

[Sharc]

put its path into the PATH of windows for convenience.

Could you explain that? What is the "path of Windows"?

Type PATH into windows search, then
System properties -> Environment variables -> System variables -> Path (add the bin folder of ffmpeg.exe to the list there).

Details depend on the OS. This may help:
https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm


(I wonder why it doesn't work when you put ffmpeg.exe into one of the windows folders as these are already in the PATH....)

[Alwyn]

I wonder why it doesn't work when you put ffmpeg.exe into one of the windows folders as these are already in the PATH....

Dunno, but manually adding it to the path as you described has fixed it. Now I just have to remember to rejig the path variable when I update my ffmpeg folder. I might just stick with pasting in the full path.

[Sharc]

Now I just have to remember to rejig the path variable when I update my ffmpeg folder.

Shouldn't be necessary when you update ffmpeg in the same folder.

[ProWo]

@Sharc & Alwyn
You must add -map 0, or only the first stream of any type (video, audio, subtitle) is muxed.

[Sharc]

@Sharc & Alwyn
You must add -map 0, or only the first stream of any type (video, audio, subtitle) is muxed.

Yep. Thanks for the hint.

[Alwyn]

Thanks @ProWo, where in the string would we put that?

[Sharc]

ffmpeg -i "%~1" -map 0 -c copy "%~1.mp4"

[JN-]

Adding a folder containing the ffmpeg utils ffmpeg.exe etc to the Windows PATH.

You need to download and install say a static version of ffmpeg and add it to the windows PATH.
Example ... https://www.gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/

Adding the ffmpeg "BIN" folder to the "PATH" ...

Search for "env" in Windows "search" ...
or Select "Settings" "System", then Search ...

Select "Edit the System enviornment variables" ... Not "Edit enviornment variables for your account"
With the "advanced" tab selected click the "Enviornment Variables" button at the bottom right ...
Select "Path" in the bottom "System variables" window pane.
Select "Edit" at the bottom.
Select "New" and then type in for example ... D:\ffmpeg\bin
Click "Ok" when done.

I use my "Remux" batch file based util to typically convert TS to other extensions, multiple input files as Sharc shows by using the "shift" command. Post #18.

[Jacobs]

Adding a folder containing the ffmpeg utils ffmpeg.exe etc to the Windows PATH.

You need to download and install say a static version of ffmpeg and add it to the windows PATH.
Example ... https://www.gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/

Adding the ffmpeg "BIN" folder to the "PATH" ...

Search for "env" in Windows "search" ...
or Select "Settings" "System", then Search ...

Select "Edit the System enviornment variables" ... Not "Edit enviornment variables for your account"
With the "advanced" tab selected click the "Enviornment Variables" button at the bottom right ...
Select "Path" in the bottom "System variables" window pane.
Select "Edit" at the bottom.
Select "New" and then type in for example ... D:\ffmpeg\bin
Click "Ok" when done.

I use my "Remux" batch file based util to typically convert TS to other extensions, multiple input files as Sharc shows by using the "shift" command. Post #18.

Thank you Gyan babu... Great Inputs... Unfortunately.. I am not so technical. I am kind of an end user ..