ts into mkv container

[Nuzhna Pomoshch]

I have just recently started downloading .ts files from video sites, and they play perfectly using mpv. However, for compatibility with certain devices (and to eliminate the high overhead in .ts files), I would like to move them to mkv containers (without reencoding, of course).

I have linux only, and use mkvmerge and ffmpeg. The first few I did ("mkvmerge -o file.mkv file.ts") played flawlessly, but I am having a problem with the most recent few (actually from a different site).

Ffmpeg barfs like this:

$ ffmpeg -i file.ts -c copy file.mkv
ffmpeg version 2.6.3 Copyright (c) 2000-2015 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 4.8.4
  configuration: --prefix=/usr --libdir=/usr/lib64 --shlibdir=/usr/lib64 --mandir=/usr/share/man --enable-shared --cc=x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gcc --cxx=x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-g++ --ar=x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-ar --optflags=' ' --disable-static --enable-avfilter --enable-avresample --disable-stripping --enable-nonfree --enable-version3 --disable-indev=v4l2 --disable-outdev=v4l2 --disable-indev=oss --disable-indev=jack --disable-outdev=oss --enable-bzlib --disable-runtime-cpudetect --disable-debug --disable-doc --disable-gnutls --enable-gpl --enable-hardcoded-tables --enable-iconv --enable-lzma --enable-network --enable-openssl --enable-postproc --disable-libsmbclient --enable-ffplay --disable-vaapi --enable-vdpau --enable-xlib --enable-libxcb --enable-libxcb-shm --enable-libxcb-xfixes --enable-zlib --enable-libcdio --disable-libiec61883 --disable-libdc1394 --disable-libcaca --disable-openal --enable-opengl --disable-libv4l2 --disable-libpulse --disable-libopencore-amrwb --disable-libopencore-amrnb --disable-libfdk-aac --disable-libopenjpeg --enable-libbluray --disable-libcelt --disable-libgme --enable-libgsm --disable-libmodplug --disable-libopus --disable-libquvi --enable-librtmp --disable-libssh --disable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libvorbis --disable-libvpx --disable-libzvbi --disable-libbs2b --disable-libflite --disable-frei0r --disable-libfribidi --enable-fontconfig --disable-ladspa --enable-libass --enable-libfreetype --disable-libsoxr --enable-pthreads --enable-libvo-aacenc --disable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libmp3lame --disable-libaacplus --disable-libfaac --enable-libtheora --disable-libtwolame --disable-libwavpack --disable-libwebp --enable-libx264 --disable-libx265 --enable-libxvid --disable-amd3dnow --disable-amd3dnowext --disable-avx --disable-avx2 --disable-fma3 --disable-fma4 --disable-xop --cpu=host
  libavutil      54. 20.100 / 54. 20.100
  libavcodec     56. 26.100 / 56. 26.100
  libavformat    56. 25.101 / 56. 25.101
  libavdevice    56.  4.100 / 56.  4.100
  libavfilter     5. 11.102 /  5. 11.102
  libavresample   2.  1.  0 /  2.  1.  0
  libswscale      3.  1.101 /  3.  1.101
  libswresample   1.  1.100 /  1.  1.100
  libpostproc    53.  3.100 / 53.  3.100
Input #0, mpegts, from 'file.ts':
  Duration: 00:42:30.00, start: 10.000000, bitrate: 2101 kb/s
  Program 1 
    Stream #0:0[0x101]: Video: h264 (Constrained Baseline) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn, 47.95 tbc
    Stream #0:1[0x102]: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 155 kb/s
[matroska @ 0x18c90f0] Error parsing AAC extradata, unable to determine samplerate.
Output #0, matroska, to 'file.mkv':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf56.25.101
    Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (H264 / 0x34363248), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 90k tbc
    Stream #0:1: Audio: aac ([255][0][0][0] / 0x00FF), 44100 Hz, stereo, 155 kb/s
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (copy)
Could not write header for output file #0 (incorrect codec parameters ?): Invalid argument

Mkvmerge appears to mux fine, but when I try to play the output, the sound synchronization (A-V) wanders back and forth between about -0.3 seconds and +0.3 seconds, which is not exactly pleasant to watch. Is there some way of fixing this? Thank you in advance.

[El Heggunte]

My suggestion: try demuxing (to elementary streams) with TSmuxer, and only then use MKVtoolnix.

The transport stream format is VERY flexible, and both ffmpeg and mkvmerge do not support all its possible variations : -/

[theewizard]

i think maybe you need to use MediaInfo on your troublesome files
either they are variable frame rate or the audio is not constant
i'm thinking the video is VFR
i'm not familiar with command line use of ffmpeg
i would try a command that fixes the frame rate to CFR of what ever the expected rate is supposed to be say 25fps

i'm sure somebody will correct me with better advice
yep good advice before i couls even get posted

[Nuzhna Pomoshch]

You are right, mediainfo does show a variable frame rate (never heard of that before):

$ mediainfo file.ts
General
ID                                       : 1 (0x1)
Complete name                            : file.ts
Format                                   : MPEG-TS
File size                                : 637 MiB
Duration                                 : 42mn 30s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 2 102 Kbps

Video
ID                                       : 257 (0x101)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : Baseline@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC                   : No
Format settings, ReFrames                : 3 frames
Codec ID                                 : 27
Duration                                 : 42mn 30s
Nominal bit rate                         : 1 950 Kbps
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Writing library                          : x264 core 118
Encoding settings                        : cabac=0 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=0 / weightp=0 / keyint=90 / keyint_min=9 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=0 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1950 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=1950 / vbv_bufsize=1950 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Audio
ID                                       : 258 (0x102)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version                           : Version 4
Format profile                           : LC
Muxing mode                              : ADTS
Codec ID                                 : 15
Duration                                 : 42mn 30s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy

That gives me something to search for (and I will take a look at tsmuxer, too). Thanks.

[El Heggunte]

Thanks for the MediaInfo log, it shows that the creator of those files didn't know what he/she was doing.
Transports streams are not supposed to use VFR, and the x264 command-line should have included the --force-cfr switch.

[Nuzhna Pomoshch]

Thanks for the MediaInfo log, it shows that the creator of those files didn't know what he/she was doing.
Transports streams are not supposed to use VFR, and the x264 command-line should have included the --force-cfr switch.

So is there a definite way to fix that? It seems that tsMuxer is 32-bit only (I don't have any 32-bit libraries installed or the ability to run 32-bit programs compiled into the kernel), so I can't check it out right now. [rant]I don't know why software makers keep pushing 32-bit binaries (especially for linux). Have they even made 32-bit processors in the past few years (I remember Mozilla saying for a long time "you don't need a 64-bit browser" - yes, I do. I am unable to run the 32-bit version).[/rant] If tsMuxer will work, I guess I can download a 32-but live DVD of some linux distribution, and boot into it, but that is a PITA.

[netmask56]

You could use ProjectX. It is available for Windows MAC and Linux. If you have any problems setting it up pm me and I will send the ini file that will set it up. Also I noted AAC audio with mixing mode ADTS this has been known to cause problems for some media players. By demuxing it will be an easy job to convert the audio to something else. AC3 or MP3 etc...

[Nuzhna Pomoshch]

So I have sort of an acceptable solution. The trick is to process (copy) the file with ffmpeg first.

$ ffmpeg -i file.ts -c copy file-ffmpeg.ts

So that adds about 40 MB to a 650 MB file, but also adds (according to mediainfo):

Menu
ID                                       : 4096 (0x1000)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Duration                                 : 42mn 30s
List                                     : 257 (0x100) (AVC) / 258 (0x101) (AAC)
Service name                             : Service01
Service provider                         : FFmpeg
Service type                             : digital television

Then if I do:

$ mkvmerge -o file.mkv file-ffmpeg.ts

I end up with an acceptable (though not perfect) mkv file (smaller than the original .ts file). When I play it, the sound synchronization still wanders around, but it is usually between +/- 0.050 seconds, and only goes above 0.100 seconds a few times a minute, so it is barely noticeable.

[El Heggunte]

FWIW:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=152419

Caveat: "win32 only" --- so you would have to use WINE as well.