Editing and Converting TS files to MP4s - advice on best free software?

[elsmandino]

Hello,

I have lots of .ts files that I gained from years of recording.

I want to firstly cut out all the adverts and then convert them to MP4s (I want to convert the video to H.264 but keep the original MP2 audio).

I also want to keep the same quality video as the original so, in theory, I shall have an identical file to the original, only smaller.

Any advice as to what the best free program/s are would be much appreciated.

Also, what about cleaning up the .ts for errors before I start editing? Should I run each file through mpeg2repair first or is there a better althernative?

The only single program I have found that does all the above was the free trial of VideoReDo. I did look at whether it was worth purching but it is prohibitively expensive for what I expect can be done just as well for nothing.

Thanks in advance.

[smrpix]

If you click on the word VideoReDo then go to the bottom of the page you will find some alternatives.

I'm going to grab some popcorn, sit back and watch because I think your expectations are unrealistic.

[elsmandino]

Thanks for that - when you say unrealistic expectations, do you mean that there is nothing out there that shall do everything I want in one program or that there is no combination of programs that can do what I want for free?

[Selur]

you didn't provide any info about your transport streams
Since you mentioned mpeg2repair, I assume they all contain MPEG-2 as video stream if that is the case, you could:
a. run your files through ProjectX to demux them and fix any problems
b. feed the output streams to in example Cuttermaran and cut and multiplex them
c. use most of the tools that can create mp4 content to do the encoding

If your transport streams do not contain MPEG-2 but MPEG-4 AVC video the whole thing becomes a lot more problematic. (can still be solved, but not that easy, since I do not know a good and free tool to fix transport streams with MPEG-4 AVC content; the cutting and converting isn't a problem)

Cu Selur

[smrpix]

I mean when you get into repairing streams, identifying and smart rendering non-keyframe edits, retaining mp2 audio in an mp4 container, keeping your sound in sync, converting your video to h.264 and error-checking your work for several years worth of recordings, $50 doesn't seem so prohibitive.

I went through a similar exercise about a year ago with literally hundreds of hours of material. There are so many things to double check and fix. Your time is worth something.

But with all sincerity, I wish you well in this.

[elsmandino]

Thank you both for your responses.

Selur - I am indeed only dealing with MPEG-2 video files.

Thanks for your recommendations. Cuttermaran is a great program - I have found a guide to installing a few add-ins, which allow you make cuts on any frame and finished files are great.

I have also been using Mediacoder to convert to MP4 with MP2 Video - one of the only programs I have found which shall allow this.

Smpix - very fair point. Using the above method may lose its novelty after having to spend the extra time trying to get the same output for free. Out of interest, what program could I consider for $50.00?

I had a look on the VideoReDo webstie and their TVSuite costs $116.00.