Convert HD MKV or AVCHD to HD MPEG2/AC3, with subtitle support?

[elsinga]

Hi all!

My Panasonic plasma DLNA client only plays MPEG2 files properly, so I have to convert them before I can play them from the network. For MKV files, I use MKV2VOB and burn the desired subtitle in (which requires transcoding) and this works fine but I'd rather have a converter that embeds the subtitle stream(s) into the MPEG2 stream (avoids transcoding ). For AVCHD (M2TS) files I am still looking for a suitable converter.

Do you know of a converter that:
- accepts both MKV and AVCHD files and preferably DVD's
- will convert to MPEG2 in the same resolution (so 1080p stays 1080p, 720p stays 720p, SD stays SD)
- will convert the audio to AC3 if needed, but keep the 5.1 audio setup
- will convert multiple audio stream if possible (so I can keep both the native english and the lipsync'd dutch audio)
- will embed the subtitle stream(s) I select in the MPEG stream, so no burning them in is needed
- has the same quality video as the original file
- has an intuitive GUI, preferably
- is freeware if possible (but for a converter that does all of the above I will gladly pay a couple of bucks though)

The end result should be a nice MPEG2 video file with selectable audio and selectable subtitles.

Does anyone have a link to a converter that does all this magically?

[Moontrash]

MultiAvchd or FAVC or AVStoDvd

[elsinga]

MultiAVCHD looks like something to try, the others only seem to convert to DVD and SD by reading the descriptions. Thanks for the suggestions!

[edit] MultiAVCHD doesn't use the internal subtitles (does allow for external titles though) and doesn't convert to MPEG2 files, only to a DVD/BD disc with menu. Doesn;t seem to do what I want unfortunatelly. [/edit]

[Moontrash]

are you talking about to a .mpg or .mpeg file? or mpeg2 transport stream file? .ts

all these apps will convert to mpeg2 (vobs) and have external subtitle support...(.srt)

Multiavchd does mkv anything to PS3 or avchd or compatibility with any Panasonic tv(HD). It's a pretty amazing piece of software.

[elsinga]

I'm talking about an HD AVCHD M2TS or HD MKV file as input (both with embedded subtitles) and an HD MPEG2 file with embedded (not burnt in) subtitles as output.

I guess I must be understanding you and/or MultiAVCHD wrong, since it didn't looked like it would do what I want to me... Could you tell me where I went wrong and how it's supposed to work?

[Moontrash]

just open Multiavchd..."add video file" and click on "properties"..you should see a tab called external subtitles...click on "add" and browse for the subs you wanna use...i'm pretty sure the subs will be an optional on/off setting and not embedded permanently.



after your done with what subs you want click ok then click on start and you'll see what formats Multiavchd can convert to

[elsinga]

Thanks for the clarification. I will try this procedure soon.

[elsinga]

Just had my first go with a downloaded AVCHD version of Harry Potter. After clicking Properties multiAVCHD detects all streams in it, both audio streams and even the dutch PGS subtitles. That looked promising! Since I had already extracted the SUP subs and OCR'ed them to SRT subs (with the same basename as the M2TS file), multiAVCHD also detected them and added them to the properties. Since that was a bit too much (3 time the same subtitles, one internal, one external SUP and one external SRT) I removed the SUP one.

After hitting Start and choosing PS3, I got a nice AVCHD disc structure with essentially a movie in 2 less than 4GB parts. After copying it to an USB stick my Panasonic Viera plasma played it nicely, both audio stream could be chosen, but allas... no subtitles.

I also tried to rename the M2TS file to MPEG and that had the same result: played over the network both audio streams were there, but no subtitles. Not even with the .SUP and/or the .SRT file in the same directory. So multiAVCHD didn't add anything this time.

I am now trying without the SUP/SRT files (just the main M2TS file) and choosing TV/Camcorder PAL/50Hz. Hope that gets the subtitles displayed. I let you know after that conversion is ready.

[Moontrash]

how bout going thru the same process and clicking on the MKV (AVCHD) button instead of the m2ts or sony or panasonic buttons. Try an mkv single fiel and see if it keeps them in the mkv container

[elsinga]

The TV version of AVCHD also didn't display the subtitles on my Panasonic Viera plasma, so trying the AVI (XVid) container now. IF that also doesn't work, I'll try the MKV option (but since my TV doesn't do MKV it will only be usefull as an intermediate file for MKV2VOB).

Thanks for the help so far!

[elsinga]

I have now tried all non-transcoding conversions and none displayed subtitles. Too bad... And I don't fancy a 10 hour transcoding to MKV/AVC or MKV/XVid only to need another 4 hour conversion with MKV2VOB, so I am giving up on multiAVCHD for now.

if anyone has another converter I could use, please reply.

[elsinga]

I found mediAvatar Video Converter to be able to get me an MPEG2 file with burnt in subs, which is the best I can get so far. Software is US$ 40,- though... so I will search some further.

[Moontrash]

from reading online its no simple task to do subs with BR discs/Files but you might wanna try ts muxer or even mkvtoolnix

[elsinga]

he problem is that my tv doesn't seem to understand the subtitle PGS stream in the M2TS file. So I need to burn in the subtitle unfortunatelly.

I will have a look at TSmuxer, since the GUI seems to indicate that it can burn in subtitles. MKVtoolnix looks to be only for MKV files.

[johns0]

Please buy the movie,it is against forum rules to ask for help on illegally downloaded movies,this thread is closed.