.ts file multiplexing: practical uses when having multiple A/V tracks

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

Hello, world! I’ve been playing with .ts video files. It turns out, through FFmpeg, you can multiplex many A/V tracks into a single file.
I consider it can be used not only for audio tracks (American English, español mexicano, français du France, and so on) but also for Adaptive Bitrate initiative and maybe for channel multiplexing. I’ll attach herein precisely the files whose A/V tracks are muxed to one file.

IMG_8999-SDTV-ldish.ts: This file represents the possibility of muxing many video tracks (that represent different NTSC SDTV resolutions), not just multiple audio tracks that represent different languages.
TRANSPONDER5023824842-SDTV-ldish.ts: This file proves multiplexing —in this case 4 A/V streams— is also possible. Please notice video track #2 (or #1 if track count begins with 0) actually has video, however it doesn’t show anything, just pure black, because it’s technically audio only (which is referred as audio track 2 or 1 [if your player also displays it starting with 0]).
TRANSPONDER5023824843-SDTV-ldish.ts: This file also shows stream scrambling is possible. That scrambling accounts for running the “tsp” command (from TSDuck) that scrambles the stream likely at AES-128 standard with certain key. The only one video stream that remains perfectly clear is the video stream #5 (or video stream #4 if your player starts the track counting from 0), which tells the users to insert a smartcard (notice I actually made the warning image, which isn’t related to professional TV providers).

Also, is it true that DISH Network (DIRECTV and other pay TV providers) effectively mux many master streams into one transponder (which likely translates to .ts files if downloaded to another server)?

If you consider this thread contains “facts” that aren’t proved yet or seem reckless to the forum, I gladly welcome any comments to this thread.
Warm greetings.

[pandy]

I gladly welcome any comments to this thread.

Don't get me wrong but TS ability to carry more than single video and associated audio tracks is well known from at least 30 years and it is covered in detailed way by worldwide accepted standards such as ISO/IEC standard 13818-1 or ITU-T Rec. H.222.0 . MPEG Transport Stream is foundation of all digital TV since 1995 https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.222.0 .

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

Hello! Yes, of course, unsurprisingly MPEG-TS haas been employed since many years ago.
I have a question: when multiplexing a plenty of audio and video tracks into a single .ts file (or transponder, or whatever you want to call it), may such tracks be taken as channels? Does DISH Network (or other pay TV providers) employ this method when multiplexing channels into a transponder?
I’ll appreciate the answer, greetings

[Columbo]

In a given transport stream, multiple programs can be defined in the PAT/PMT data. Each program packages a number of elementary streams that go together, typically video, audio, subs, etc.

I suggest you to do some research on transport streams.

[lollo]

To OP, you can also dump an entire transponder transport stream with a DVB-T or DVB-S card and a software like TSReader. Better to choose a non encrypted stream to avoid troubles with the CAMs.

Then you can watch/analyze/study the different channels inside the main transport stream, each of them having their own video and (multiple) audio streams, and all the rest.

[pandy]

I have a question: when multiplexing a plenty of audio and video tracks into a single .ts file (or transponder, or whatever you want to call it), may such tracks be taken as channels? Does DISH Network (or other pay TV providers) employ this method when multiplexing channels into a transponder?
I’ll appreciate the answer, greetings

I would try to address your question on transport stream and programs:

Yes, programs are outcome of combined audio, video, auxiliary data elementary streams - programs are logical structure - you can have multiple programs made from limited number of elementary streams - sometimes even tens of programs can be made from just few elementary streams - this is not so uncommon in broadcast practice.

Logical organization of data embedded in TS is called PSI/SI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program-specific_information?useskin=vector .

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

Yes of course, we could have multi audio tracks so that people may understand what is happening in a TV show or movie, in the language they (or we) understand well (whether it’s English, Spanish,…). Yeah, but I have another question: what’s really the point of possessing multiple A/V tracks as if they were programs, instead of dedicated program designations the MPEG TS architecture provides as capability/tool?? Do y’all really think multi A/V tracks containing supposedly different “programs” is also practical, or really preposterous because of not being how satellite/cable/terrestrial TV transponders really work in the proper way? Thanks for your answer, greetings

[betwixt]

Take look at Lyngsat.com for clues. If you are in Mexico, click on 'Atlantic' and you will see a list of satellites and the channels on each transponder. Each transponder carries one transport stream but you will note that streams may contain many programs, radio TV or data. By multiplexing them their combined bandwidth is greatly reduced and the bit rate for each program can be dynamically adapted according to content. For example a program with no movement and therefore low bit rate will release time for other programs. The video and audio PID which is embedded in the transport stream is used to filter the data so only the desired program parts are reassembled into the video and audio you selected.

Brian.

[Cedr00m4kv1x]

https://www.lyngsat.com/packages/Dish-Mexico.html
So you really mean TV providers (whether they’re FTA or restricted), such as DISH México, onviously use several A/V tracks.
What I wanted to mean is having multi A/V tracks so that, on VLC, you can go to another program by manually changing the video track (on VLC for PC/Linux, Video>Video track>(you select one) and then audio track (on VLC for PC/Linux, Audio>Audio track>(you select one), rather than encoding the transponder so that you can change the program in a better way (VLC for PC/Linux: Playback>Program>(you select one)). Which one is the most logical? Thanks for the answer, greetings

[pandy]

https://www.lyngsat.com/packages/Dish-Mexico.html
So you really mean TV providers (whether they’re FTA or restricted), such as DISH México, onviously use several A/V tracks.
What I wanted to mean is having multi A/V tracks so that, on VLC, you can go to another program by manually changing the video track (on VLC for PC/Linux, Video>Video track>(you select one) and then audio track (on VLC for PC/Linux, Audio>Audio track>(you select one), rather than encoding the transponder so that you can change the program in a better way (VLC for PC/Linux: Playback>Program>(you select one)). Which one is the most logical? Thanks for the answer, greetings

All regular broadcasters (whole world) trying to squeeze as much Audio and Video streams in single transponder as possible - IP broadcasters usually use single program (commonly single video and audio track) - different approach dictated by broadcast method (different transmission medium).
PC world and single customer is something else than RF broadcast addressed to millions receivers.