Combining Quicktime .movs, Command line executable?

[3N1GM4]

Hi, I'm looking for an application which will combine multiple sequential Quicktime .mov files (i.e. clip_01.mov, clip_02.mov etc) into one single .mov output. Now I know there are plenty of apps out there that will do this, but I'm specifically looking for one which will run from the command line, so it can be scripted into another app...

As lightweight an app as possible would be best, I'm not looking for some massive suite, just this functionality. Windows is the preferable platform, although if something exists for Linux, I'd be interested to know about it too...

If I've not explained myself clearly enough, just let me know and I'll try to clarify. Thanks in advance for any help.

[3N1GM4]

Also, it would be preferable if it could output encoded as Sorenson 3, which I don't think ffmpeg can do?

[Cornucopia]

"Commandline scriptable" and "lightweight app" are pretty much mutually exclusive--you won't ever find the 2 together.

However, you may be interested in this: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7970444. I'm sure it costs ~$600 or so, but it should be able to concatenate (merge) as well as convert, and it specifically says it is now scriptable on the command line, plus it includes MANY formats (in and out).

Scott

[Soopafresh]

Depends on the codec inside the quicktime, but this should work:

ffmpeg -i file1.mov -i file2.mov -i file3.mov -vcodec copy -acodec copy -y output.mov

Many different compiles available for ffmpeg.exe

http://www.paehl.com/open_source/?download=ffmpeg.zip

http://tirnanog.fate.jp/mirror/ffmpeg/

[3N1GM4]

Thanks very much for the reply, I will certainly check out that link.

I think I've probably misused the term "lightweight" in my OP. I simply meant I wasn't looking for a suite of apps, or massive app with a bulky GUI or anything like that, if that makes sense. Just a primarily command line dirven app to do the task I described. Anyway, perhaps just ignore the lightweight bit. =)

[3N1GM4]

Depends on the codec inside the quicktime, but this should work:

ffmpeg -i file1.mov -i file2.mov -i file3.mov -vcodec copy -acodec copy -y output.mov

Many different compiles available for ffmpeg.exe

http://www.paehl.com/open_source/?download=ffmpeg.zip

http://tirnanog.fate.jp/mirror/ffmpeg/

Hmm tried that, but ended up with a black output... I assume this is because my input files were Sorenson 3...

Is there a way for me to get Sorenson 3 encoded files to concat using ffmpeg and output as Sorenson 3 as well? Sorry for being dumb, I'm not an AV expert unfortunately... Idiot guide would be greatly appreciated.

[Soopafresh]

Another app you can try is mp4box. Syntax:

mp4box -cat file1.mov -cat file2.mov output.mov

http://tirnanog.fate.jp/mirror/gpac/dev/MP4Box.7z

[3N1GM4]

Another app you can try is mp4box. Syntax:

mp4box -cat file1.mov -cat file2.mov output.mov

http://tirnanog.fate.jp/mirror/gpac/dev/MP4Box.7z

Brilliant, I'll try that now, thanks!

[3N1GM4]

D:\movs>  mp4box -cat Cygnet.mov -cat endmovie3.mov output.mov

Appending file Cygnet.mov
No suitable destination track found - creating new one (type vide)
Error appending Cygnet.mov: Bad Parameter

Any ideas?

[Soopafresh]

Damn, wish I had some quicktimes to test the syntax with.

mencoder -o output.mov -forceidx -oac copy -ovc copy file1.mov file2.mov

http://tirnanog.fate.jp/mirror/mplayer/mplayer2007.03.10.7z

[3N1GM4]

Damn, wish I had some quicktimes to test the syntax with.

I'll upload the files I'm testing this on somewhere, will post links when they're done.

mencoder -o output.mov -forceidx -oac copy -ovc copy file1.mov file2.mov

http://tirnanog.fate.jp/mirror/mplayer/mplayer2007.03.10.7z

Ok, tried that, it appeared to work, the output file was roughly the size of the two input files combined, but when I tried to open the output.mov file, I got:

Error -2048: the file is not a movie file

[3N1GM4]

http://www.filefactory.com/file/516d6e/

http://www.filefactory.com/file/e2e399/


There's the two files I'm testing this on.

[Soopafresh]

Cool. I'll take a look.

[3N1GM4]

Thanks mate, hopefully you'll have more success than me!

[Cornucopia]

Remember, Sorenson3 is a pre-ISO (aka nonstandard) MPEG4 type stream. I would think much of the usual GOP restrictions apply when concatenating, including avoiding orphaned/unreferenced openGOP loose segments.
Which is why I was thinking a simple merge type function won't work, you've basically got to fully decode and then re-encode. Don't know if scripts are taking that into account or not, as I don't use scripts often.

>>>>>>
edit: Also, I'm pretty sure you'd have to have all the usual parameters--FrameRate, Resolution, AR--be identical in all the files. Otherwise, a player won't likely know how to switch at a boundary (bitrate and GOP size differences should be ok though).

Scott

[Soopafresh]

Cornucopia is quite right. If you saved to H264, it would be a different story.

[3N1GM4]

D'oh, yeah, I'm not sure the two files I've been testing on have identical AR, res or framerate... Better check that now, lol.

Edit: Hmm, those two testing files actually do have the same AR, res, etc...

[3N1GM4]

Cornucopia is quite right. If you saved to H264, it would be a different story.

Ok, so do you think there is any way to do what I'm trying to do with Sorenson 3 files like the two I linked to above?

[Soopafresh]

Mpegstreamclip for Windows XP would probably do it, but it is GUI based

[3N1GM4]

Mpegstreamclip for Windows XP would probably do it, but it is GUI based

Fair enough, and there's nothing you know of which can be command line invoked that will do it?

[3N1GM4]

Well, thanks for your help anyway, much appreciated.

If you come across any way to do what I'm trying to from the command line, that would be awesome.

[Soopafresh]

Of course. Don't give up just because we can't think of a solution. There's probably something out there that can do this.

[3N1GM4]

Yeah, I assume there is. I'll keep looking. Thanks again anyway.