channel4 - Add chapter markers to video files?

[pro3154]

Hi there!
Do you have any idea how we can get chapter markers (for example in .mkv) from shows like this?
For example 4 chapters here: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-fast-and-simple/on-demand/75544-002

In general it works fine with channel4.com. But I just can't manage to get chapter markers.
Sometimes it is really useful or even necessary to have chapters in the show, well … especially if you download cooking shows for your aunt or grandma.


As far as I see N_m3u8DL-RE has no options to add chapter markers to video files, does it? Anyway I found nothing.


I tried yt-dlp as well. I've been downloading videos with yt-dlp for a long time and I was used to get chapter markers in .mkv with the help of

--embed-chapters

OR even

--embed-metadata

I tried it also in this case but unfortunately it didn't work.
yt-dlp downloads a video and audiofiles without merging and without any other information:

 --embed-chapters is ignored since --allow-unplayable-formats was given

Any ideas? What else can I try?

[SaintyUK]

I'd suggest using N_m3u8DL-RE to download DASH and HLS and then mkvmerge to add the chapters - see how devine-dl does this (specifically stabbedbybrick's fork)

[pro3154]

I'd suggest using N_m3u8DL-RE to download DASH and HLS and then mkvmerge to add the chapters

I think I don't understand your answer.

If I use it without merging, for example like this

N_m3u8DL-RE "https://ak-jos-c4assets-com.akamaized.net/CH4_08_02_900_75544_003_1_172927372129769/CH4_08_02_900_75544_003_1_172927372129769_J01.ism/stream.mpd?c3.ri=13629144445474358419&mpd_segment_template=time&filter=%28type%3D%3D%22video%22%26%26%28%28DisplayHeight%3E%3D288%29%26%26%28systemBitrate%3C4800000%29%29%29%7C%7Ctype%21%3D%22video%22&ts=1730909258&e=600&st=bj13WLTw3Q40BCqX8-sDCJfbgx8kp2Ev3Lbe1C0rzOY" --save-name "Simple0103" -sv best -sa all -ss all -mt  --key 00000000000000000000000011272788:3d225c4007715a45ab8715ffed4f3800

Then I still don't have the chapter markers of the show.

[stabbedbybrick]

You get the chapter timestamps from their API, not the stream itself. If you want to do it all manually, you'd have to use the web developer in your browser, find the timestamps, and then use mkvmerge to add them when muxing.

[pro3154]

You get the chapter timestamps from their API, not the stream itself. If you want to do it all manually, you'd have to use the web developer in your browser, find the timestamps, and then use mkvmerge to add them when muxing.

Are the chapter timestamps encrypted in their API if the show is DRM protected?


What should I do to make it automatically, not manually?

[stabbedbybrick]

No, the vast majority of streaming services don't encrypt their API. Channel5 is the only one I can think of that does.

For automation, you'd need a script. If you don't know how to make one, I recommend checking out Devine from the sticky threads at the top. It's a framework written in python that'll allow you to add and download from various streaming services. You can find some of them in my signature, including Channel4/All4.

It's not super beginner friendly, but will save you a lot of time and manual labor once properly set up:


[Attachment 83373 - Click to enlarge]

[pro3154]

Thank you for your answers, stabbedbybrick.

Do you need Python knowledge to install and to set up Devine?

Is Devine the only possibility to make automatically the chapter markers?
I am asking so directly because it seems to me that Devine is the most difficult "tool" of all I saw here or read about here.

Devine from the sticky threads at the top. It's a framework written in python that'll allow you to add and download from various streaming services. You can find some of them in my signature, including Channel4/All4.

Well, I suppose it was the best explanation of what Devine is. At least for me. Merci, now I understand a little bit better

It's not super beginner friendly, but will save you a lot of time and manual labor once properly set up

Yes, I believe that.

the vast majority of streaming services don't encrypt their API.

Then I'll give it a try since I can't write scripts at the moment and, I think, will be not able to set up Devine properly so soon.

[jakke]

I'm resurrecting this thread with a similar problem. So far, I have succeeded in download a streamed video using N_m3u8DL-RE, however, the chapter markers present in the stream are omitted. Upon closer examination of N_m3u8DL-RE I concluded that it does not currently support chapters, or maybe I haven't looked in the right place.

@pro3154: Have you had any success?

@stabbedbybrick: Thanks for all the pointers.

You get the chapter timestamps from their API, not the stream itself. If you want to do it all manually, you'd have to use the web developer in your browser, find the timestamps, and then use mkvmerge to add them when muxing.

Can you clarify where to look for in web developer mode in the browser?

I understand your fork of devine takes care of the chapters, which is great. Does it do so out of the box or is some kind of adaption to the stream at hand necessary? I admit I have no prior experience with devine. Any more concrete pointers are welcome.

[SocietyBox]

Is Devine the only possibility to make automatically the chapter markers?

You can give yt-dlp-mp4decrypt a shot.

yt-dlp --embed-chapters --use-postprocessor Mp4Decrypt:when=before_dl;devicepath=/path/to/my.wvd https://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-fast-and-simple/on-demand/75544-002

[pro3154]

Is Devine the only possibility to make automatically the chapter markers?

You can give yt-dlp-mp4decrypt a shot.

yt-dlp --embed-chapters --use-postprocessor Mp4Decrypt:when=before_dl;devicepath=/path/to/my.wvd https://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-fast-and-simple/on-demand/75544-002

Thank you for the hint, SocietyBox!
It sounds very interesting
Have you tried yt-dlp-mp4decrypt yourself? If you did, tell me please:
- Does the standalone version of yt-dlp work?
- Do you need python for this app or its installation?

[SocietyBox]

Thank you for the hint, SocietyBox!
It sounds very interesting
Have you tried yt-dlp-mp4decrypt yourself? If you did, tell me please:
- Does the standalone version of yt-dlp work?
- Do you need python for this app or its installation?

It works great for me since. I think whether the standalone version works depends on your OS. For Windows, it doesn't. For linux_aarch64 (Debian Linux), it does. You do need Python and, most importantly, PIP installed.