Copying main m2ts file

[chechako]

Hi,

Sorry if the question is naïve but I am not a technical person.

I copy my Blu Ray discs on HDD. When playing them back on PC with VLC player, I want to go straight to the movie skipping all extras like introductions, menus, options, etc.

Can I simply copy the main m2ts file (I find it by the size and check by playing it back with VLC) and paste it to a new folder and play it back from the folder? The purpose is to save the disc space and to avoid the extra video I do not need. I am not going to watch it on a standalone device.

I tried it and it looks like it works but since I do not understand the technical part, I am concerned not to find one day that for some unknown reason I cannot play the file.

Thank you!

[videobruger]

Use MakeMKV. It'll remove (most) copy protection and produce a playable MKV file.

[netmask56]

MakeMKV will make a file of just the main movie. You can set it up to make copies of any other titles if you wish.

[chechako]

Hi,

Thank you.

I am aware of MakeMKV, Leawo and other similar software. But you could please answer the question?

As I said, I am not planning to play back the file on standalone devices and I do not want to see any technical files the mentioned software creates along with the main file if it is possible to achieve by simply copying and pasting the file.

Thank you.

[netmask56]

Well didn't assume you were playing on a standalone, I assumed from your post that you were playing on a PC or MAC . So as an example this is what my file of a rip of my DVD of an old 1977 movie looks like after processing the disc in MakeMKV. This is what it looks like on my PC The Serpent's Egg (1977).mkv So nothing "technical" about that, no "fiddly bits". And no you cannot simply copy and paste a DVD or BD. The disc requires decrypting first. The nice thing about MakeMKV it does it in one go and doesn't alter the quality in anyway. For some with limited storage capacity the downside is it doesn't shrink the file size. ie Size in = Size out

[lingyi]

A few points of clarification...

There is a very small reduction in file size when using MakeMKV because of overhead in .m2ts and .vob, ~100MB on a blu-ray.

While it's possible to directly copy the .m2ts to your hard drive, unless they're properly decrypted, they won't play back properly, breaking up during playing. AFAIK, all commercial blu-ray discs are encrypted, but not all DVDs are. In the days before DVDShrink, I used to copy unprotected .vobs (most Asian DVDs are protected) directly to my and combine and remux to .mpg.

It's usually faster to use a proper program to rip the discs instead of direct copying. When I used to copy the .vobs directly, there was a lot of slowdown because of file error checking.

MakeMKV and DVDFab products are the two most highly recommended ripping programs on this forum. Stick to those and you'll get much more support here versus Leawo and other software.

There are no "technical files" created by MakeMKV, it's simply the original file remuxed into an .mkv container. You do have to deselect the files you don't want besides the main movie and if you want, you can uncheck additional audio and subtitle options for the files you want to remux.

DVDFab is a bit more complicated (I only use MakeMKV). Here's the directions for ripping the main movie only: https://www.dvdfab.cn/tutorial/Blu-ray-to-Blu-ray-Main-Movie

[chechako]

Thank you. But your negative answer to the question is confusing. As I said I tried. I've just copied the main m2ts file to a new folder and can playback it from there either with VCL player or Power DVD. As for the technical files, that's what I've got with Leawo. They appear on the screen just for a sec and disappear but it is annoying.

"And no you cannot simply copy and paste a DVD or BD. The disc requires decrypting first" - Based on your explanation, it looks like I did not describe it right. The BD is not just copied on HDD. Actually, I used VLC to copy BD on HDD. It probably means it has been decoded and that's why I could copy just the main m2ts file. What would you say?

I understand that I could use MakeMKV and get what I need but already copied a few BD before it came to my mind.

Thank you for your time.

[lingyi]

It the disc a commercial release from outside the US or Europe? If it's not, it highly probable that it has copy protection and VLC happens to have the decryption key in it's database as mentioned in this 'commercial' article: https://www.easefab.com/tutorial/vlc-copy-blu-ray-for-free.html

"In fact, not all the Blu-ray discs are supported. VlC can only deal with discs which its library has the corresponding AACS keys. However, for legal reasons, AACS and BD+ DRM libraries and keys still are not shipped."

So VLC isn't just copying the file, it's ripping and removing the copy protection as must be done to properly copy it to the hard drive. Note that I'm using the term ripping in it's original and proper form, an exact bit for bit copy of the file from the disc less the copy protection.

You've been lucky with your discs, but you'll probably come across one that's either copy protected or has a decryption key that's not updated in VLC. This is one of the major advantages to MakeMKV and DVDFab. They're constantly updated (though it may take weeks or months) to allow ripping and remuxing in the case of MakeMKV of new releases as it's their main function unlike VLC.

BTW, you say the file plays correctly. Have you played it all the way through? The playback errors don't always occur immediately on an improperly decrypted file.

Bottom line, if VLC works for you, keep at it as neither MakeMKV, DVDFab or any other ripping program is a one or two click solution to getting the main movie only.

[chechako]

I really appreciate your advice. Thank you!

All of you give me advice how to properly create/extract a main file with a software like MakeMKV that would include the movie and nothing else. Thank you! But it is not what I have asked about.

Could you please answer the question as it is posted? Could you forget for a sec about the smart technical stuff like disc protection and so on? Let’s imagine that somehow, no matter how, I’ve copied the disc to HDD, protected or not, no matter how. It is there on my HDD, which, again, means it has been decrypted, right?

Then, would please finally answer the question without all the technical stuff: Under the conditions mentioned above, can I just copy and paste the main m2ts file into a new folder and use it to watch the movie on my PC?

Thank you!

[lingyi]

I explained it twice and can't make it clearer. The answer is if it's a properly authored commercial blu-ray it should have copy protection that REQUIRES DECRYPTION. Can you copy the .m2ts directly to your hard drive like any other file. YES, but it SHOULDN'T playback properly because it HASN'T BEEN DECRYPTED. You have an exact bit for bit copy of the file on the disc WITH THE COPY PROTECTION INTACT. Programs like MakeMKV, DVDFab and VLC rip the disc and REMOVE THE ENCRYPTION/COPY PROTECTION.

If you're able to copy the .m2ts file directly from your disc to to your hard drive AND are able to play it through without any glitches, you either have an unprotected disc or there's something different in your system that's allowing proper playback when it shouldn't.

Sorry for the yelling, but you're asking about doing something the wrong way and if for some reason it works for you, keep at it and hopefully you won't experience the problems EVERYONE else has with trying to direct copy the .m2ts files directly from a protected blu-ray.

Maybe someone will point out something I missed or misstated and refute what I've said. Anyway I'm out!

[netmask56]

Then, would please finally answer the question without all the technical stuff: Under the conditions mentioned above, can I just copy and paste the main m2ts file into a new folder and use it to watch the movie on my PC

Why don't you just try it - paste to a new folder and see if it works? You don't need 'permission' from anyone here all of whom have answered your question to experiment for yourself. Heaven help me I'm 81 and I try new things and want to learn new skills, I don't ask for help until I hit a hurdle. Be bold just doit! Like the others I've run out of patience so I'm out..

[smrpix]

can I just copy and paste the main m2ts file into a new folder and use it to watch the movie on my PC?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

[Iamback]

Good luck doing the copy-paste with seamless branching movies

[chechako]

Thank you all! I am overwhelmed with your kind assistance and educating me a little bit. As I wrote, I tried it with a couple of BD (ripped with VLC) and it works, so far. But I will follow your advice and from now on will do it the right way. Again, thank you. Merry Christmas to all of you!

[chechako]

Hi,

I’ve downloaded MakeMKV and trying to back up the main movie of The Batman Begins. Unfortunately, I cannot locate such an option in MakeMKV. I tried to locate m2ts through File but it does not work. I browsed FAQ, tutorials to get a hint but they only advise how to back up the whole movie.

What I am missing? Thank you.

[netmask56]

Ah yes MakeMKV doesn't directly read M2TS files. Just drop the file into MKVToolNix and it will wrap it in a MKV container. Done

Alternatively pop the actual disc in the PC and MakeMKV will do it. As you already have the M2TS file on your PC , MKVToolNix is the quickest way.

[chechako]

Thank you!

[lingyi]

I'm curious. Report back if your converted file plays back correctly. If it doesn't, that means it wasn't properly decrypted by VLC or direct copying.

[chechako]

Hi,

Thank you for asking.

I tried it. I selected main m2ts file (23 GB approx) through Input > Add source file in MKVToolNix. I choose the destination folder in PC and hit Start multiplexing. Window Job Progress showed 1% for some time and then right to 100%. As far as I understand, it is done. The problem is that what I've got is about 400 MB. It is only the beginning of the movie.

It looks like I do something wrong. But what? Thank you.

[chechako]

It might happen that it happened because it was not a commercial BD. A friend gave to watch and I liked the movie very much (The Last Samurai). I will try to do the same with Batman Begins. this one a commercial BD I've personally bought. I'll try it right now.

[chechako]

I tried but once I hit start multiplexing, it warned me about an error and stopped.......

I copied the errors:

--- Errors emitted by job 'Multiplexing to file "00000.mkv" in directory "F:\Tor_Download\Samurai_RU2"' started on 2019-12-23 20:47:32 ---
The type of file 'D:\BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts' could not be recognized.
--- Errors emitted by job 'Multiplexing to file "00000.mkv" in directory "F:\Tor_Download\Samurai_RU2"' started on 2019-12-23 20:48:10 ---
The type of file 'D:\BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts' could not be recognized.
--- Errors emitted by job 'Multiplexing to file "00000.mkv" in directory "F:\Tor_Download\Samurai_RU2"' started on 2019-12-23 20:48:26 ---
The type of file 'D:\BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts' could not be recognized.

Pls do not pay attention to SAMURA_2. it is just a folder I created for the jobs.

Thank you.