Help: YouTube HDR to SDR Conversion Control with LUT using mkvmerge

[LegendarySaiyan]

Hello, I have been trying to attach/apply my custom SDR LUT to my HDR clip to control the SDR Conversion on YouTube.
I have read a lot of tutorials and watched videos on YouTube how to do this, but I still fail to do it.
I am not sure on what or where the mistake is, if I am doing something wrong or if the issue is connected to something else.
I am on Windows 10.

Here is what I did step by step:
1. Recorded my playthrough in HDR using Elgato 4K60 S+
2. Edited and rendered a simple short clip to test this method to attach/apply custom SDR LUT
3. Opened my rendered video in Davinci Resolve again and made a SDR LUT(cube file) after some grading.
4. Downloaded mkvmerger from given link (github) on Google Support
5. Extracted the Windows x64 version to my User accounts folder. C:/Users/Saiyan
6. I placed my LUT file (HDR_To_SDR_LUT) in the same folder as mkvmerge.exe
7. Placed my video file as well (HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4) in the same folder with the two other above.
8. Ran CMD, "C:\Users\Saiyan>" is the typical first line which opens up. I pasted my command

C:\Users\Saiyan\hdr_metadata-master\hdr_metadata-master\windows\64bits\mkvmerge.exe  
-o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv \
      --colour-matrix 0:9 \
      --colour-range 0:1 \
      --colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 \
      --colour-primaries 0:9 \
      --max-content-light 0:1000 \
      --max-frame-light 0:300 \
      --max-luminance 0:1000 \
      --min-luminance 0:0.01 \
      --chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 \
      --white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 \
      --attachment-mime-type application/x-cube \
      --attach-file HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube \
      HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4

This is what came up:

C:\Users\Saiyan>C:\Users\Saiyan\hdr_metadata-master\hdr_metadata-master\windows\64bits\mkvmerge.exe
mkvmerge v9.3.1 ('Mask Machine') 64bit
Error: no output file name was given.

mkvmerge -o out [global options] [options1] <file1> [@optionsfile ...]

 Global options:
  -v, --verbose            Increase verbosity.
  -q, --quiet              Suppress status output.
  -o, --output out         Write to the file 'out'.
  -w, --webm               Create WebM compliant file.
  --title <title>          Title for this output file.
  --global-tags <file>     Read global tags from an XML file.

 Chapter handling:
  --chapters <file>        Read chapter information from the file.
  --chapter-language <lng> Set the 'language' element in chapter entries.
  --chapter-charset <cset> Charset for a simple chapter file.
  --cue-chapter-name-format <format>
                           Pattern for the conversion from CUE sheet
                           entries to chapter names.
  --default-language <lng> Use this language for all tracks unless
                           overridden with the --language option.
  --generate-chapters <mode>
                           Automatically generate chapters according to
                           the mode ('when-appending' or 'interval:<duration>').
  --generate-chapters-name-template <template>
                           Template for newly generated chapter names
                           (default: 'Chapter <NUM:2>').

 Segment info handling:
  --segmentinfo <file>     Read segment information from the file.
  --segment-uid <SID1,[SID2...]>
                           Set the segment UIDs to SID1, SID2 etc.

 General output control (advanced global options):
  --track-order <FileID1:TID1,FileID2:TID2,FileID3:TID3,...>
                           A comma separated list of both file IDs
                           and track IDs that controls the order of the
                           tracks in the output file.
  --cluster-length <n[ms]> Put at most n data blocks into each cluster.
                           If the number is postfixed with 'ms' then
                           put at most n milliseconds of data into each
                           cluster.
  --no-cues                Do not write the cue data (the index).
  --clusters-in-meta-seek  Write meta seek data for clusters.
  --disable-lacing         Do not use lacing.
  --enable-durations       Enable block durations for all blocks.
  --timecode-scale <n>     Force the timecode scale factor to n.
  --disable-track-statistics-tags
                           Do not write tags with track statistics.

 File splitting, linking, appending and concatenating (more global options):
  --split <d[K,M,G]|HH:MM:SS|s>
                           Create a new file after d bytes (KB, MB, GB)
                           or after a specific time.
  --split timecodes:A[,B...]
                           Create a new file after each timecode A, B
                           etc.
  --split parts:start1-end1[,[+]start2-end2,...]
                           Keep ranges of timecodes start-end, either in
                           separate files or append to previous range's file
                           if prefixed with '+'.
  --split parts-frames:start1-end1[,[+]start2-end2,...]
                           Same as 'parts:', but 'startN'/'endN' are frame/
                           field numbers instead of timecodes.
  --split frames:A[,B...]
                           Create a new file after each frame/field A, B
                           etc.
  --split chapters:all|A[,B...]
                           Create a new file before each chapter (with 'all')
                           or before chapter numbers A, B etc.
  --split-max-files <n>    Create at most n files.
  --link                   Link splitted files.
  --link-to-previous <SID> Link the first file to the given SID.
  --link-to-next <SID>     Link the last file to the given SID.
  --append-to <SFID1:STID1:DFID1:DTID1,SFID2:STID2:DFID2:DTID2,...>
                           A comma separated list of file and track IDs
                           that controls which track of a file is
                           appended to another track of the preceding
                           file.
  --append-mode <file|track>
                           Selects how mkvmerge calculates timecodes when
                           appending files.
  <file1> + <file2>        Append file2 to file1.
  <file1> +<file2>         Same as "<file1> + <file2>".
  [ <file1> <file2> ]      Same as "<file1> + <file2>".
  = <file>                 Don't look for and concatenate files with the same
                           base name but with a different trailing number.
  =<file>                  Same as "= <file>".
  ( <file1> <file2> )      Treat file1 and file2 as if they were concatenated
                           into a single big file.

 Attachment support (more global options):
  --attachment-description <desc>
                           Description for the following attachment.
  --attachment-mime-type <mime type>
                           Mime type for the following attachment.
  --attachment-name <name> The name should be stored for the
                           following attachment.
  --attach-file <file>     Creates a file attachment inside the
                           Matroska file.
  --attach-file-once <file>
                           Creates a file attachment inside the
                           first Matroska file written.

 Options for each input file:
  -a, --audio-tracks <n,m,...>
                           Copy audio tracks n,m etc. Default: copy all
                           audio tracks.
  -A, --no-audio           Don't copy any audio track from this file.
  -d, --video-tracks <n,m,...>
                           Copy video tracks n,m etc. Default: copy all
                           video tracks.
  -D, --no-video           Don't copy any video track from this file.
  -s, --subtitle-tracks <n,m,...>
                           Copy subtitle tracks n,m etc. Default: copy
                           all subtitle tracks.
  -S, --no-subtitles       Don't copy any subtitle track from this file.
  -b, --button-tracks <n,m,...>
                           Copy buttons tracks n,m etc. Default: copy
                           all buttons tracks.
  -B, --no-buttons         Don't copy any buttons track from this file.
  -m, --attachments <n[:all|first],m[:all|first],...>
                           Copy the attachments with the IDs n, m etc. to
                           all or only the first output file. Default: copy
                           all attachments to all output files.
  -M, --no-attachments     Don't copy attachments from a source file.
  -t, --tags <TID:file>    Read tags for the track from an XML file.
  --track-tags <n,m,...>   Copy the tags for tracks n,m etc. Default: copy
                           tags for all tracks.
  -T, --no-track-tags      Don't copy tags for tracks from the source file.
  --no-global-tags         Don't keep global tags from the source file.
  --no-chapters            Don't keep chapters from the source file.
  -y, --sync <TID:d[,o[/p]]>
                           Synchronize, adjust the track's timecodes with
                           the id TID by 'd' ms.
                           'o/p': Adjust the timecodes by multiplying with
                           'o/p' to fix linear drifts. 'p' defaults to
                           1 if omitted. Both 'o' and 'p' can be
                           floating point numbers.
  --default-track <TID[:bool]>
                           Sets the 'default' flag for this track or
                           forces it not to be present if bool is 0.
  --forced-track <TID[:bool]>
                           Sets the 'forced' flag for this track or
                           forces it not to be present if bool is 0.
  --blockadd <TID:x>       Sets the max number of block additional
                           levels for this track.
  --track-name <TID:name>  Sets the name for a track.
  --cues <TID:none|iframes|all>
                           Create cue (index) entries for this track:
                           None at all, only for I frames, for all.
  --language <TID:lang>    Sets the language for the track (ISO639-2
                           code, see --list-languages).
  --aac-is-sbr <TID[:0|1]> The track with the ID is HE-AAC/AAC+/SBR-AAC
                           or not. The value ':1' can be omitted.
  --reduce-to-core <TID>   Keeps only the core of audio tracks that support
                           HD extensions instead of copying both the core
                           and the extensions.
  --timecodes <TID:file>   Read the timecodes to be used from a file.
  --default-duration <TID:Xs|ms|us|ns|fps>
                           Force the default duration of a track to X.
                           X can be a floating point number or a fraction.
  --fix-bitstream-timing-information <TID[:bool]>
                           Adjust the frame/field rate stored in the video
                           bitstream to match the track's default duration.
  --nalu-size-length <TID:n>
                           Force the NALU size length to n bytes with
                           2 <= n <= 4 with 4 being the default.

 Options that only apply to video tracks:
  -f, --fourcc <FOURCC>    Forces the FourCC to the specified value.
                           Works only for video tracks.
  --aspect-ratio <TID:f|a/b>
                           Sets the display dimensions by calculating
                           width and height for this aspect ratio.
  --aspect-ratio-factor <TID:f|a/b>
                           First calculates the aspect ratio by multi-
                           plying the video's original aspect ratio
                           with this factor and calculates the display
                           dimensions from this factor.
  --display-dimensions <TID:width>x<height>
                           Explicitly set the display dimensions.
  --cropping <TID:left,top,right,bottom>
                           Sets the cropping parameters.
  --stereo-mode <TID:n|keyword>
                           Sets the stereo mode parameter. It can
                           either be a number 0 - 14 or a keyword
                           (see documentation for the full list).
  --colour-matrix <TID:n>  Sets the matrix coefficients of the video used
                           to derive luma and chroma values from red, green
                           and blue color primaries.
  --colour-bits-per-channel <TID:n>
                           Sets the number of coded bits for a colour
                           channel. A value of 0 indicates that the number is
                           unspecified.
  --chroma-subsample <TID:hori,vert>
                           The amount of pixels to remove in the Cr and Cb
                           channels for every pixel not removed horizontally
                           and vertically.
  --cb-subsample <TID:hori,vert>
                           The amount of pixels to remove in the Cb channel
                           for every pixel not removed horizontally and
                           vertically. This is additive with
                           --chroma-subsample.
  --chroma-siting <TID:hori,vert>
                            How chroma is sited horizontally/vertically.
  --colour-range <TID:n>   Clipping of the color ranges.
  --colour-transfer-characteristics <TID:n>
                           The transfer characteristics of the video.
  --colour-primaries <TID:n>
                           The colour primaries of the video.
  --max-content-light <TID:n>
                           Maximum brightness of a single pixel in candelas
                           per square meter (cd/m²).
  --max-frame-light <TID:n>
                           Maximum frame-average light level in candelas per
                           square meter (cd/m²).
  --chromaticity-coordinates <TID:red-x,red-y,green-x,green-y,blue-x,blue-y>
                           Red/Green/Blue chromaticity coordinates as defined
                           by CIE 1931.
  --white-colour-coordinates <TID:x,y>
                           White colour chromaticity coordinates as defined
                           by CIE 1931.
  --max-luminance <TID:float>
                           Maximum luminance in candelas per square meter
                           (cd/m²).
  --min-luminance <TID:float>
                           Mininum luminance in candelas per square meter
                           (cd/m²).

 Options that only apply to text subtitle tracks:
  --sub-charset <TID:charset>
                           Determines the charset the text subtitles are
                           read as for the conversion to UTF-8.

 Options that only apply to VobSub subtitle tracks:
  --compression <TID:method>
                           Sets the compression method used for the
                           specified track ('none' or 'zlib').


 Other options:
  -i, --identify <file>    Print information about the source file.
  -F, --identification-format <format>
                           Set the identification results format
                           ('text', 'verbose-text', 'json').
  --probe-range-percentage <percent>
                           Sets maximum size to probe for tracks in percent
                           of the total file size for certain file types
                           (default: 0.3).
  -l, --list-types         Lists supported input file types.
  --list-languages         Lists all ISO639 languages and their
                           ISO639-2 codes.
  --capabilities           Lists optional features mkvmerge was compiled with.
  --priority <priority>    Set the priority mkvmerge runs with.
  --ui-language <code>     Force the translations for 'code' to be used.
  --command-line-charset <charset>
                           Charset for strings on the command line
  --output-charset <cset>  Output messages in this charset
  -r, --redirect-output <file>
                           Redirects all messages into this file.
  --debug <topic>          Turns on debugging output for 'topic'.
  --engage <feature>       Turns on experimental feature 'feature'.
  @optionsfile             Reads additional command line options from
                           the specified file (see man page).
  -h, --help               Show this help.
  -V, --version            Show version information.
  --check-for-updates      Check online for the latest release.


Please read the man page/the HTML documentation to mkvmerge. It
explains several details in great length which are not obvious from
this listing.


C:\Users\Saiyan>-o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv \
'-o' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --colour-matrix 0:9 \
'--colour-matrix' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --colour-range 0:1 \
'--colour-range' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 \
'--colour-transfer-characteristics' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --colour-primaries 0:9 \
'--colour-primaries' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --max-content-light 0:1000 \
'--max-content-light' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --max-frame-light 0:300 \
'--max-frame-light' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --max-luminance 0:1000 \
'--max-luminance' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --min-luminance 0:0.01 \
'--min-luminance' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 \
'--chromaticity-coordinates' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 \
'--white-colour-coordinates' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --attachment-mime-type application/x-cube \
'--attachment-mime-type' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      --attach-file HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube \
'--attach-file' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>      HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4
'HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Users\Saiyan>

I have moved the files to C:/Users/Saiyan and changed their paths before pasting it to CMD. I have checked over and over again and I am the only User and the Admin. Checked every file so they are not only read-able or locked in case this might have been the issue.
I removed the starting C:\Users\Saiyan\ and only kept the hdr_metadata-master\hdr_metadata-master\windows\64bits\mkvmerge.exe since CMD starts with the line "C:\Users\Saiyan>", did not work as well. I did a lot of other things which would take a whole page to write down, but nothing works.


I post this here with the hope of maybe one you will be able to help me with this issue. Please, I am desperate right now as I have tried to solve this for over 10 hours or so now. The inside of my head is like a warzone right now. Where did I go wrong and made the mistake??

Thanks in advance!!

EDIT: If there is an alternate method to attach/apply LUT's to a video then please let me know

[pcspeak]

[QUOTE=LegendarySaiyan;2649856]
8. Ran CMD, "C:\Users\Saiyan>" is the typical first line which opens up. I pasted my command

C:\Users\Saiyan\hdr_metadata-master\hdr_metadata-master\windows\64bits\mkvmerge.exe  
      -o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv \
      --colour-matrix 0:9 \
      --colour-range 0:1 \
      --colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 \
      --colour-primaries 0:9 \
      --max-content-light 0:1000 \
      --max-frame-light 0:300 \
      --max-luminance 0:1000 \
      --min-luminance 0:0.01 \
      --chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 \
      --white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 \
      --attachment-mime-type application/x-cube \
      --attach-file HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube \
      HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4

Maybe?

C:\Users\Saiyan\hdr_metadata-master\hdr_metadata-master\windows\64bits\mkvmerge.exe ^ 
    -o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv ^
    --colour-matrix 0:9 ^
    --colour-range 0:1 ^
    --colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 ^
    --colour-primaries 0:9 ^
    --max-content-light 0:1000 ^
    --max-frame-light 0:300 ^
    --max-luminance 0:1000 ^
    --min-luminance 0:0.01 ^
    --chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 ^
    --white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 ^
    --attachment-mime-type application/x-cube ^
    --attach-file HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube ^
    HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4

Cheers.

[LegendarySaiyan]

Thank you for your reply

I still get the "Error: no output file name was given."

And then I get this

C:\Users\Saiyan>    -o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv ^
More?     --colour-matrix 0:9 ^
More?     --colour-range 0:1 ^
More?     --colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 ^
More?     --colour-primaries 0:9 ^
More?     --max-content-light 0:1000 ^
More?     --max-frame-light 0:300 ^
More?     --max-luminance 0:1000 ^
More?     --min-luminance 0:0.01 ^
More?     --chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 ^
More?     --white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 ^
More?     --attachment-mime-type application/x-cube ^
More?     --attach-file HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube ^
More?     HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4

And when I press enter this comes up:
'-o' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

EDIT: What I do not understand is it says "no output file name was given." when I already have with "-o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv", and then it says "'-o' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file."

[pcspeak]

Check the first line of the batch file for the caret symbol:

C:\Users\Saiyan\hdr_metadata-master\hdr_metadata-master\windows\64bits\mkvmerge.exe ^

EDIT: Without the caret symbol to signify 'continues on the next line':
mkvmerge.exe is running as a command with no parameters.
-o is a second command - which is unknown.

Cheers.

[LegendarySaiyan]

I included the caret^ symbol on the first line as well. The thing is, it does read the mkvmerge and execute, but I guess it can't continue because the first Error I get is the "Error: no output file name was given."

Btw moved everything to my User folder now and pasted this, same result

C:\Users\Saiyan\mkvmerge.exe ^ 
    -o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv ^
    --colour-matrix 0:9 ^
    --colour-range 0:1 ^
    --colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 ^
    --colour-primaries 0:9 ^
    --max-content-light 0:1000 ^
    --max-frame-light 0:300 ^
    --max-luminance 0:1000 ^
    --min-luminance 0:0.01 ^
    --chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 ^
    --white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 ^
    --attachment-mime-type application/x-cube ^
    --attach-file C:\Users\Saiyan\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube ^
    C:\Users\Saiyan\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4

Is there something wrong with this line "-o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv ^"

[pcspeak]

EDIT: I made a mistake. Please read this post again.

Is there something wrong with this line "-o HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv ^"

I don't think so; try putting double quotes around the file name.

C:\Users\Saiyan\mkvmerge.exe ^ 
    -o "C:\Users\Saiyan\Documents\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv" ^
    --colour-matrix 0:9 ^
    --colour-range 0:1 ^
    --colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 ^
    --colour-primaries 0:9 ^
    --max-content-light 0:1000 ^
    --max-frame-light 0:300 ^
    --max-luminance 0:1000 ^
    --min-luminance 0:0.01 ^
    --chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 ^
    --white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 ^
    --attachment-mime-type application/x-cube ^
    --attach-file C:\Users\Saiyan\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube ^
    "C:\Users\Saiyan\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4"

Shorten the output file name and save it to a folder you KNOW you have read/write permissions on.

[pcspeak]

I just ran a quick test. Which worked fine.
Please note the output file parameter.

"C:\Program Files\MKVToolNix\mkvmerge.exe" ^
	--ui-language en ^
        --output "testzzz.mkv" ^
	--language 0:eng ^
	--language 1:eng "test2.mkv" ^
	--language 0:eng "test2.ass" ^
	--track-order 0:0,0:1,1:0
	pause

[LegendarySaiyan]

Moved all files into Documents folder and did try from there.

tried:
-o "HDR.mkv" ^
-o out "HDR.mkv" ^
--output "HDR.mkv" ^

Nothing

Btw, I appreciate the help you are providing me with. Thank you!

EDIT: I will try out -o "C:\Users\Saiyan\Documents\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mkv" ^ now

[LegendarySaiyan]

Alright!!!

This worked:

C:\Users\Saiyan\Documents\mkvmerge ^
-o C:\Users\Saiyan\Documents\HDR.mkv ^
--colour-matrix 0:9 ^
--colour-range 0:1 ^
--colour-transfer-characteristics 0:16 ^
--colour-primaries 0:9 ^
--max-content-light 0:1000 ^
--max-frame-light 0:300 ^
--max-luminance 0:1000 ^
--min-luminance 0:0.01 ^
--chromaticity-coordinates 0:0.68,0.32,0.265,0.690,0.15,0.06 ^
--white-colour-coordinates 0:0.3127,0.3290 ^
--attachment-mime-type application/x-cube ^
--attach-file C:\Users\Saiyan\Documents\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.cube ^
C:\Users\Saiyan\Documents\HDR_To_SDR_LUT.mp4

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! I appreciate it!! I really do!

Now, it remains to see if my Custom SDR LUT will work on YouTube's SDR Conversion
EDIT: Yes, it works! Thanks a lot again, appreciate the help

[Marian87]

Hello everyone,

Can someone please confirm that they've used the SDR conversion feature recently and it worked?
I tried all kinds of codecs and ways to attach a .cube in the mkv but it would just not work.
I checked every time to ensure that the LUT was actually attached but with no success in the actual YT conversion.

Thank you for your help!

All the best