How to batch reduce DTS-HD to DTS core with MKVmerge? (or any other way)

[tijgert]

I need to convert a bunch of .MKV's that contain DTS-HD tracks into DTS core tracks, so basically strip the lossless HD part and keep the smaller core in the same video file, not as a separate audio file.
I'd like to batch convert them if possible, but I don't know how.
I think MKVmerge might be able to with the proper command as MKVtoolnix can do it with the gui, just not in batch.

Does anyone have the proper syntax for this or have another suggestion?

[Quint]

TsMuxer-GUI has a checkbox for downconverting this. And the GUI shows the options you choose in a textbox. So it should be not very complicated to write a batch for the command-line-TSMuxer.

[tijgert]

Thanks for the tip, however my batch writing skills are absolute zero. The idea is to find an app that can do that function.

So far I've found PopCorn MKV AudioConverter which can batch convert it to AC3, so that's something but not ideal.
The 'Simple AudioConversion' tool of that app has options to quickly convert to DTS core and strip the source audio too, which would be ideal, but it error's on the subtitle format which the main app strangely doesn't have a problem with.

[pcspeak]

Hi. Try this.
You may need to add/change some of the options for chapters, languages etc.

@echo off
if not exist New\ md New

for %%a in (*.mkv) do Call :process "%%a"
goto :end

:process
Title "%~n1"
"C:\Program Files\MKVToolNix\mkvmerge.exe" --ui-language en --output "New\%~n1.mkv" --audio-tracks 2 --language 0:en --reduce-to-core 2 --language 2:en --original-flag 2:yes "%~1" --title "%~n1" --track-order 0:0,0:2
goto :eof

:end

Cheers.

[tijgert]

Oh this is nice and highly appreciated!
I cannot make this myself, but I can learn and adapt the syntax and learn from there.

You've taught a man to fish today (one specific fish though )

[tijgert]

I had to use this script again but also found another one in the meantime:

@echo off
rem Set the path to MkvMerge:
set MKVMERGE=C:\Portable\MkvToolNix\mkvmerge.exe
FOR %%I in (*.mkv) DO "%MKVMERGE%" -o "%%~nI_core.mkv" --reduce-to-core -1 "%%I"
pause

What I am failing to learn is why one script says --reduce-to-core 2 and the other --reduce-to-core -1

I can't find what the difference is.

Edit:
Found it, -1 means it applies to all tracks.