Looking for a tsMuxerGUI alternative for MP4 video files

[billw6560]

tsMuxerGUI (2.6.12) is my go to for anything m2ts/ts file demux/remux, not to mention general cutting up files. However, this great program doesn't read MP4 files. Is there an alternative program that functions like tsMuxerGUI, but for MP4 video files.

Thanks

[hello_hello]

MP4Box.
I don't know if there's a dedicated GUI for it, but MeGUI uses it as its MP4 muxer (under the Tools/Muxer menu).
ffmpeg can open and convert/remux most container formats. If you don't like using a command line try a GUI such as Clever FFmpeg GUI.
Personally, the first thing I do with any MP4 is remux it as an MKV with MKVToolnixGUI so it's easier to work with. It can also split and join files etc, and threre's utilities such as gMKVExtractGUI that use MKVToolNix to extract MKV streams. tsMuxer can also open MKVs.

[ProWo]

tsMuxerGUI (2.6.12) is my go to for anything m2ts/ts file demux/remux, not to mention general cutting up files. However, this great program doesn't read MP4 files. Is there an alternative program that functions like tsMuxerGUI, but for MP4 video files.
Thanks

You can try clever FFmpeg-GUI.

[Sharc]

MP4-Mux-Tool is a GUI for MP4box.
https://www.videohelp.com/software/Mp4-Mux-Tool
https://github.com/jessielw/MP4-Mux-Tool/releases/tag/1.21

[videoAI]

@billw6560

Mp4-Mux-Tool is 25mb
clever FFmpeg-GUI is 0.6mb (wins hands down)

[sam12345]

No doubt clever FFmpeg-GUI is best in it's class but FFmgeg does not mux the audio with clearity (Treble and Bass). I use YAMB 2.1.0.0 beta 2 with GPAC MP4box for H.264. It give perfect audio and video. Limitation is it does not do H.265,HEVC.

[hello_hello]

No doubt clever FFmpeg-GUI is best in it's class but FFmgeg does not mux the audio with clearity (Treble and Bass).

If ffmpeg is only remuxing, how could it change the audio?

[sam12345]

I have seen it practically. Try it and you will see the diffrence.

[Sharc]

@billw6560

Mp4-Mux-Tool is 25mb
clever FFmpeg-GUI is 0.6mb (wins hands down)

Nothing against clever, but your "size based comparison" (in mb = millibits) is biased and pretty much irrelevant to the subject. MP4-Mux-Tool includes mp4box and mkvextract. To save storage space one can link to these, similar as clever links to ffmpeg

[sam12345]

@billw6560

Mp4-Mux-Tool is 25mb
clever FFmpeg-GUI is 0.6mb (wins hands down)

Nothing against clever, but your "size based comparison" is biased and pretty much irrelevant to the subject. MP4-Mux-Tool includes mp4box and mkvextract. To save storage space one can link to these, similar as clever links to ffmpeg

My thread states...

Quality of audio compared to FFmpeg vs MP4box. MP4box is superior to FFmpeg.

[videoAI]

MP4Box and FFmpeg serve different purposes in multimedia processing.

FFmpeg is a comprehensive audio/video conversion tool with extensive
codec support and processing capabilities. MP4Box specializes in MP4
container optimization. The claim that MP4Box is superior to FFmpeg is
incorrect. They are complementary tools best used together: FFmpeg
for audio encoding and processing, MP4Box for container optimization.

Audio quality depends more on specific encoding settings, codec, and
bitrate rather than the tool itself.

[videoAI]

@sam12345

I have to agree with @hello_hello on this one ..

FFmgeg does not mux the audio with clarity (Treble and Bass).

If ffmpeg is only remuxing, how could it change the audio?

[hello_hello]

I have seen it practically. Try it and you will see the diffrence.

I couldn't work out how to remux an audio-only file with Mp4-Mux-Tool, but that shouldn't matter as a comparison between an original file and a version remuxed with ffmpeg should show that ffmpeg hasn't changed the audio at all.

[videoAI]

AI is pretty good at analyzing log files ..
Here a summary analysis of yours ..

## FFmpeg Remux Analysis Summary

### Key Operational Details
| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Date of Operation** | <b>2025-11-24</b> |
| **Start Time** | <b>04:29:45</b> |
| **Input File** | <b>O:\Original.mka</b> |
| **Output File** | <b>O:\remuxed ffmpeg.mp4</b> |
| **FFmpeg Version** | <b>2025-11-12-git-6cdd2cbe32</b> |

### Command Line Breakdown
- <b>Threads Used</b>: 1
- <b>Operation Type</b>: Audio remux (copy codec)
- <b>Flags Used</b>:
- `-vn`: Disable video
- `-acodec copy`: Copy audio codec without re-encoding
- `-y`: Overwrite output file

### Performance Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Input File Size** | <b>4,012,337 bytes</b> |
| **Output File Size** | <b>3,961 KiB</b> |
| **Duration** | <b>00:02:46.14</b> |
| **Bitrate** | <b>195.3 kbits/s</b> |
| **Processing Speed** | <b>1,750x realtime</b> |

### Audio Stream Details
- <b>Codec</b>: AAC (LC)
- <b>Sample Rate</b>: 44100 Hz
- <b>Channels</b>: Stereo
- <b>Packets Processed</b>: 7,155

### Noteworthy Observations
- <b>Minimal overhead</b>: 1.099658% muxing overhead
- <b>Successful completion</b>: Exited with code 0
- <b>Log generated</b>: ffmpeg-20251124-042945.log

...

[ProWo]

My thread states...
Quality of audio compared to FFmpeg vs MP4box. MP4box is superior to FFmpeg.

This is pure nonsense. The multiplexing doesn't change the audiostream.
The result is absolutely identical in terms of audio quality.

[sam12345]

There is nothing to blaim clever FFmpeg-GUI. I already said it's a class in itself but see the diffrence in audio quality FFmpeg vs MP4box ....gpac-2.5-DEV-rev2020-gfa417860-master-x64.exe after mux.

Everything is not best always.

FFmpeg vs MP4Box

FFmpeg = Swiss-army knife of audio/video: encoding, decoding, transcoding, filters, capture, streaming.

MP4Box = ISO-MP4 container expert: muxing, demuxing, fragmentation, DASH packaging, metadata editing.

If you need to create, modify, or optimize MP4 containers, MP4Box is often better.
If you need anything involving codecs, filters, or full workflows, FFmpeg wins.

1. What Each Tool Is Best For
FFmpeg — Best for:

Video/audio transcoding (H.264→H.265, etc.)

Applying filters (resize, crop, color correct)

Encoding/decoding almost any codec

Screen/stream capture and broadcasting

Creating GIFs, thumbnails, waveforms, etc.

Broad device and format support


2.MP4Box — Best for:

ISO MP4 structure work: muxing, demuxing, fragmenting

DASH streaming packaging

Metadata editing (atoms, chapters, brand flags)

Fast remuxing without re-encoding

MP4 optimization for progressive playback (“faststart”)

Experimental ISOBMFF features (HEIF, CMAF, etc.)

[sam12345]

Compare the diffrence between FFmpeg and MP4box.

https://limewire.com/d/xlqok#CF7BFsCRD5 00.06.30 min (on a good speaker system with woofer)

For MUXING purpose > MP4 - MP4box and for MKV - MKV tool nix GUI.

[hello_hello]

There is nothing to blaim clever FFmpeg-GUI. I already said it's a class in itself but see the diffrence in audio quality FFmpeg vs MP4box ....gpac-2.5-DEV-rev2020-gfa417860-master-x64.exe after mux.

The definition of remuxing is to take video and audio streams etc from one container and put them into another, whether it be the same type of container or a different one. Unless something is seriously amiss, that can't change the quality because the streams are simply copied, whether it's ffmpeg doing the remuxing, MP4Box, MKVToolNix or something else.

[sam12345]

There is nothing to blaim clever FFmpeg-GUI. I already said it's a class in itself but see the diffrence in audio quality FFmpeg vs MP4box ....gpac-2.5-DEV-rev2020-gfa417860-master-x64.exe after mux.

The definition of remuxing is to take video and audio streams etc from one container and put them into another, whether it be the same type of container or a different one. Unless something is seriously amiss, that can't change the quality because the streams are simply copied, whether it's ffmpeg doing the remuxing, MP4Box, MKVToolNix or something else.

I understand this but noticing this behavior with FFmpeg since 2018 till today. Try it, you won't regret it. If you don't have HiFi speakers system and have only normal ones or just wanna watch on Laptop with inbuilt speakers then FFmpeg is just fine.

[hello_hello]

Compare the diffrence between FFmpeg and MP4box.

https://limewire.com/d/xlqok#CF7BFsCRD5 00.06.30 min (on a good speaker system with woofer)

For MUXING purpose > MP4 - MP4box and for MKV - MKV tool nix GUI.

The audio in the containers isn't exactly the same length according to foobar2000, probably due to one of the remuxes not taking the encoder padding into account (lossy encoders pad the beginning and end with a small amount of silence and the player should skip it, but it can't if that information is lost, and in this case the difference was roughly 38ms if I remember correctly), so I compared them this way....

I opened both files with MKVToolNixGUI and remuxed just the audio from each as two MKA files. I then used gMKVExtractGUI to extract the raw AAC streams from each MKA. If ffmpeg didn't alter the audio, the two extracted AAC streams should be identical.

To test this, I imported both aac streams into Audacity. I then used Audacity to invert the channels of the AAC that came from the MP4 muxed with MP4Box. When you take 2 identical streams and invert one and play them together, they should cancel each other out, so the audio output should be complete silence. If there's even a tiny difference they won't cancel each other out completely and you'll hear something, but the output was totally silent.


[Attachment 89892 - Click to enlarge]

[sam12345]

Check the uploaded video samples with MediaInfo and compare the audio section with AAC. That's making the diffrence. check the bitrate section (max)

[hello_hello]

I don't know if MediaInfo is calculating/guessing that or it's being written to the container by the muxer, but it doesn't mean the audio has changed.

[sam12345]

I know this much only..Crisp audio (AAC) with MP4box as compared to FFmpeg with practical experience.
Once again clever-FFmpeg-GUI is best in it's classs for FFmpeg. No blaim on clever. It just honours FFmpeg.
This topic is over. Thread closed....@billw6560

[OFLU]

@sam12345, @hello_hello

Here is expalnation for FFmpeg to behave like MP4box


ffmpeg -i input.file ^
-map 0 ^
-c copy ^
-movflags use_metadata_tags ^
-movflags +faststart ^
-bsf:a aac_adtstoasc ^
-avoid_negative_ts make_zero ^
-fflags +bitexact ^
output.file

What it does :


1. -map 0

Copy ALL streams from input #0 (video, audio, subtitles, attachments, chapter metadata).

FFmpeg otherwise might:

drop some streams

reorder track numbers

skip subtitles

-map 0 ensures you get everything exactly as the source — same as MP4Box.

2. -c copy

Bit-perfect copying. No re-encoding.

Video stays bit-for-bit identical

Audio stays bit-for-bit identical

Zero quality loss

Zero DSP changes

Zero pitch/tempo shift

This is the single most important part for “perfect audio”.

3. -movflags use_metadata_tags

This forces FFmpeg to preserve existing MP4 metadata instead of rewriting it.

Without this, FFmpeg often:

changes major_brand, compatible_brands

adds its own encoder tags

writes extra fields in moov atom

changes creation_time

MP4Box is very strict about metadata, so this flag makes FFmpeg behave similarly.

4. -movflags +faststart

Moves the moov box to the beginning of the MP4.

Why?

Makes MP4 play instantly on web players

Allows streaming without downloading whole file

MP4Box also does this unless you disable interleaving.

This does not alter the audio/video data.

5. -bsf:a aac_adtstoasc

This is a bitstream filter for AAC audio.

It converts:
�� ADTS AAC → MP4 AudioSpecificConfig (ASC)

This is required when your input is:

MKV containing AAC

TS files

raw .aac

radio/stream captures

Why?
ADTS AAC has headers that are not valid inside MP4.

MP4Box automatically fixes this.
FFmpeg does not unless you include this filter.

If input is MP4 already → it does nothing (safe).

6. -avoid_negative_ts make_zero

Fixes timestamp issues.

FFmpeg sometimes creates:

negative timestamps

small audio/video sync shifts

a 1–5ms offset in MP4 files

This option forces all timestamps to start at 0.

MP4Box also avoids negative timestamps.

This gives smoother seeking and cleaner audio/video alignment.

7. -fflags +bitexact

Makes FFmpeg’s muxing deterministic, meaning:

No extra muxer randomness

No tool tags

No unnecessary metadata written

No timestamp jitter

This mimics MP4Box, which produces very deterministic MP4s.

It helps when you want consistent, clean MP4 structure with no hidden noise.

[cholla]

In this topic is there a good audio file to convert with both FFMPEG & MP4Box ?

I would like to test if I hear any difference after converting with my PC.
The files posted that I see have already been converted.

The OP billw6560 only posted the first post so we do not know what he ended up doing.

@ OFLU ,
Good post I plan to try this.

@ hello_hello,
I know you like foobar & I have use the version you posted for me.
Do you think it would give as good or better results than FFMPEG or MP4Box.

This topic is over. Thread closed....@billw6560

Only Moderators or Administrators can close a thread.
If you no longer want to post in this thread that is your option.

[hello_hello]

@ hello_hello,
I know you like foobar & I have use the version you posted for me.
Do you think it would give as good or better results than FFMPEG or MP4Box.

I don't think MP4Box has any conversion capabilities. It only takes existing streams and puts them into a new MP4 container (remuxing).

Foobar2000 can't remux. It's converter only re-encodes the audio. It does have options for optimizing files though. Moving flags to the beginning etc. If you right click on a file you'll find those options under the utilities menu. Those options can change though, depending on the type of audio. As far as I know, foobar2000 always optimizes files after it's finished re-encoding, so you don't need to do it separately. In fact by default QAAC does some optimizing itself when it's used to convert audio to AAC, so the default foobar2000 QAAC conversion presets add --no-optimize to the QAAC command line to prevent QAAC from doing so, as there's no point trying to optimize the converted audio twice.
The foobar2000 presets I uploaded for you include quite a few for converting the audio to various formats with ffmpeg. When converting to standard LC-AAC though, QAAC has long been considered to be the best quality AAC encoder.

ffmpeg can both remux and convert.
A command line such as the one below would ignore any video and subtitles while converting the audio to AAC (even if it's already AAC) and output an m4a. The flags are moved to the beginning of the M4A file.

ffmpeg.exe -i "input.mkv" -movflags faststart -vn -acodec aac -sn "output.m4a"

This command line would copy the audio instead of re-encoding it. I assume ffmpeg will output an error if the audio stream isn't compatible with the container type (m4a).

ffmpeg.exe -i "input.mkv" -movflags faststart -vn -acodec copy -sn "output.m4a"

As per the information OFLU posted above, -bsf:a aac_adtstoasc should be added to the command line when remuxing raw AAC streams into an MP4/M4A container. I don't think I've ever used it when remuxing AAC from other containers such as MKV into an MP4 container though, but maybe I should have??

As far as I know M4A files are the same as MP4s, with M4A used to distinguish files that only contain audio.

[hello_hello]

@sam12345, @hello_hello

Here is expalnation for FFmpeg to behave like MP4box

sam12345 will probably still be convinced they sound different.

[sam12345]

sam12345 will probably still be convinced they sound different

@hello_hello,@OFLU

Here is a clean explanation :

If you really are muxing only (no re-encode in either tool) and MP4Box output looks clearer than FFmpeg’s, then something else is changing in the container—even if the video bitstream stays identical.

Here’s what can cause apparent clarity differences even in pure stream copy:

✅ 1. FFmpeg may be altering metadata even with -c copy

FFmpeg sometimes rewrites or removes:

Color space tags (bt709, bt2020)

Color range (tv / pc)

Transfer characteristics

SAR/DAR info

If those tags change, the player may display the video with different:

brightness

contrast

color saturation

gamma
→ which the viewer perceives as “less clear,” even though the compressed data is identical.

MP4Box is more conservative and preserves original color metadata more accurately.

✅ 2. FFmpeg can rewrite sample aspect ratio (SAR)

If a file contains unusual SAR/VUI flags, FFmpeg sometimes “normalizes” them.

This can change how sharp or stretched the video looks.

MP4Box usually preserves exact SAR/VUI metadata.

✅ 3. FFmpeg may correct/modify codec private data (especially for H.264 / H.265)

When using -c copy, FFmpeg sometimes:

rebuilds SPS/PPS

rewrites HVCC/AVCC atoms

changes packet alignment
These changes can cause different playback behavior—especially in hardware decoders—leading to different perceived sharpness or motion clarity.

MP4Box uses a different implementation that may preserve the original bitstream structure more literally.

✅ 4. FFmpeg writes “moov” differently than MP4Box

Some players handle MP4 files differently depending on:

moov atom placement

interleaving style

time-scale written by the muxer

And that can affect:

motion smoothness

frame pacing

subtitle timing
→ which some users perceive as “clarity.”

✅ 5. Some players simply prefer GPAC/MP4Box-style MP4 files

This is especially true on:

Smart TVs

iOS devices

Android hardware decoders

Older chipsets

They decode MP4Box-muxed files slightly differently because MP4Box tends to:

include more compatible atoms

avoid rewriting elementary streams

write “cleaner” MP4 structures

FFmpeg’s MP4 muxer is good, but not as strict or compatible as MP4Box in some edge cases.

�� Conclusion:

Your video should be identical—but metadata, VUI flags, or container structure differences can change how the player decodes or displays it. That’s why MP4Box output appears clearer even though the bits are the same.

[ProWo]

In the absence of light, snow is black...