Merging Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy Set

[rpmccly]

For some reason the Lord of the Rings Extended edition Trilogy set has each movie on 2 seperate discs, so there are 6 total blurays. I would like to merge them but I'm worried about the audio syncing properly and the loss of any quality if I just use any MKV merge program. Has anyone merged these movies or whats the highest quality merge program?

[tholau]

Well, I'v done it using MakeMKV to extract the BDs and MKVToolnix (http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoo ... loads.html) to crop.
I've cut the end titles of Part I and II, the opening credits from Part II and III with MKVToolnix.
Last step I've merged the parts again with MKVToolnix.
I took untouched video and audio, in audio all the english and german audio tracks are conserved...

Complete name : Herr der Ringe.mkv (I'm german hence The Lord of the rings)
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
File size : 189 GiB
Duration : 10h 55min
Overall bit rate mode : variabel
Overall bit rate : 41,2 Mbps
Encoded date : UTC 2011-11-19 07:25:00
Writing application : mkvmerge v5.0.1 ('Es ist Sommer') built on Oct 9 2011 11:55:43
Writing library : libebml v1.2.2 + libmatroska v1.3.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Ja
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Format settings, GOP : M=1, N=10
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : variabel
Bit rate : 33,6 Mbps
Width : 1 920 Pixel
Height : 1 080 Pixel
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23,976 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : progressiv
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.676
Stream size : 154 GiB (81%)
Language : Deutsch
Default : Ja
Forced : Nein

Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Format profile : MA / Core
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : variabel
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 7 Kan?le / 6 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, Back: C, LFE / Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 24 bits
Compression mode : / Lossy
Stream size : 6,91 GiB (4%)
Title : Lossless
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Audio #2
ID : 3
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Format profile : ES
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : konstant
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 7 Kan?le / 6 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, Back: C, LFE / Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 24 bits
Stream size : 6,91 GiB (4%)
Title : 3/2+1
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Audio #3
ID : 4
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Format profile : MA / Core
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : variabel
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 7 Kan?le / 6 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, Back: C, LFE / Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : / Lossy
Stream size : 6,91 GiB (4%)
Title : Lossless
Language : Deutsch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Audio #4
ID : 5
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Format profile : ES
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : konstant
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 7 Kan?le / 6 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, Back: C, LFE / Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 6,91 GiB (4%)
Title : 3/2+1
Language : Deutsch
Default : Ja
Forced : Nein

Audio #5
ID : 6
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format profile : Dolby Digital
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : konstant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 900 MiB (0%)
Title : 2/0
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Audio #6
ID : 7
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format profile : Dolby Digital
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : konstant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 900 MiB (0%)
Title : 2/0
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Audio #7
ID : 8
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format profile : Dolby Digital
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : konstant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 900 MiB (0%)
Title : 2/0
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Audio #8
ID : 9
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format profile : Dolby Digital
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 10h 55min
Bit rate mode : konstant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 Kan?le
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48,0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 900 MiB (0%)
Title : 2/0
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #1
ID : 10
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #2
ID : 11
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Deutsch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #3
ID : 12
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #4
ID : 13
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #5
ID : 14
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #6
ID : 15
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #7
ID : 16
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Englisch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Text #8
ID : 17
Format : PGS
Muxing mode : zlib
Codec ID : S_HDMV/PGS
Codec ID/Info : The same subtitle format used on BDs/HD-DVDs
Language : Deutsch
Default : Nein
Forced : Nein

Chapters removed - irrelevant because cropping changed some chapters

tholau

[Chetwood]

In case you're ripping the German version too, check out these proper chapter titles.

[bw001]

Here are the steps that I used:

1. Create both mkvs using whatever programs you prefer.
2. Open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
3. Set the output filename to what you want.
4. Note the number of chapters (27).
5. On the global tab, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 6338s in the box.
6. Start muxing.
7. When complete, close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 2 in mkvmerge. I tend to close it between uses so I don't miss a setting I needed to clear from the last step.
8. Set the output filename to what you want.
9. On the global tabe, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 00:00:00.500 in the box.
10. In the max. number of files box place 2. This is important as without it you will end up with a lot of files 1/2 a second long.
11. Start muxing.
12. When complete close mkvmerge and open it again.
13. Go to the Chapter Editor tab and drag the FOTR part 2 mkv into the chapters box.
14. Select each chapter in order, changing the name to the next number after the number of chapters in FOTR part 1. Chapter 1 becomes Chapter 28, Chapter 2 becomes Chapter 29, etc.
15. Once finished, on the menu click Chapter Editor > Save.
16. Close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
17. Click append and add FOTR part 2.
18. Set the output filename to what you want.
19. Start muxing.

Here are the trim settings for each LOTR EE Blu-rays Part 1 discs:

FOTR EE Part 1 end = 6338 seconds
TTT EE Part 1 end = 6396 seconds
ROTK EE Part 1 end = 7656 seconds

I haven't tried it, but you should be able to get chapter names from http://www.chapterdb.org

[mskovgaard]

Hi,

Have you had problems merging/appending ROTK to one MKV? I get a warning "The codec's private data does not match". I haven't split the files or modified them in any way. I just use "Append".

Thanks in advance
Morten

[Limey]

Here are the steps that I used:

1. Create both mkvs using whatever programs you prefer.
2. Open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
3. Set the output filename to what you want.
4. Note the number of chapters (27).
5. On the global tab, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 6338s in the box.
6. Start muxing.
7. When complete, close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 2 in mkvmerge. I tend to close it between uses so I don't miss a setting I needed to clear from the last step.
8. Set the output filename to what you want.
9. On the global tabe, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 00:00:00.500 in the box.
10. In the max. number of files box place 2. This is important as without it you will end up with a lot of files 1/2 a second long.
11. Start muxing.
12. When complete close mkvmerge and open it again.
13. Go to the Chapter Editor tab and drag the FOTR part 2 mkv into the chapters box.
14. Select each chapter in order, changing the name to the next number after the number of chapters in FOTR part 1. Chapter 1 becomes Chapter 28, Chapter 2 becomes Chapter 29, etc.
15. Once finished, on the menu click Chapter Editor > Save.
16. Close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
17. Click append and add FOTR part 2.
18. Set the output filename to what you want.
19. Start muxing.

Here are the trim settings for each LOTR EE Blu-rays Part 1 discs:

FOTR EE Part 1 end = 6338 seconds
TTT EE Part 1 end = 6396 seconds
ROTK EE Part 1 end = 7656 seconds

I haven't tried it, but you should be able to get chapter names from http://www.chapterdb.org

I tried to follow the above process. Steps 1-6 work fine but I get an error message on Step 11 stating that "The format of the split timecode/duration is invalid." Any ideas? I put the "00.00.00.500" code in the "...after this duration" box, which is how I read the instructions.

Also, FWIW, I tried skipping 7-11 and dragging Pt 2 into the Chapters box. This doesn't work either - it won't accept the file this way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[robpdotcom]

I put the "00.00.00.500 " code in the "...after this duration" box, which is how I read the instructions.

Read them again.

It should be: 00:00:00.500 not 00.00.00.500.

Use colons to separate hours, minutes, and seconds.

Also, for large files it can take a long time for mmg to read the chapters (step 13). It's faster to extract them with mkvextract first.

[reddskinnfan]

Here are the steps that I used:

1. Create both mkvs using whatever programs you prefer.
2. Open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
3. Set the output filename to what you want.
4. Note the number of chapters (27).
5. On the global tab, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 6338s in the box.
6. Start muxing.
7. When complete, close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 2 in mkvmerge. I tend to close it between uses so I don't miss a setting I needed to clear from the last step.
8. Set the output filename to what you want.
9. On the global tabe, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 00:00:00.500 in the box.
10. In the max. number of files box place 2. This is important as without it you will end up with a lot of files 1/2 a second long.
11. Start muxing.
12. When complete close mkvmerge and open it again.
13. Go to the Chapter Editor tab and drag the FOTR part 2 mkv into the chapters box.
14. Select each chapter in order, changing the name to the next number after the number of chapters in FOTR part 1. Chapter 1 becomes Chapter 28, Chapter 2 becomes Chapter 29, etc.
15. Once finished, on the menu click Chapter Editor > Save.
16. Close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
17. Click append and add FOTR part 2.
18. Set the output filename to what you want.
19. Start muxing.

Here are the trim settings for each LOTR EE Blu-rays Part 1 discs:

FOTR EE Part 1 end = 6338 seconds
TTT EE Part 1 end = 6396 seconds
ROTK EE Part 1 end = 7656 seconds

I haven't tried it, but you should be able to get chapter names from http://www.chapterdb.org

Personally, the 1st disc trim times seem right on, but the 2nd disc for each movie could be much better. I have found these to work best, without any black space between scenes:

FotR disc 2: ...after 2 seconds
TT disc 2: ...after 1 second
RotK disc 2: ...after 1 second

Just my thoughts. I also used VLC Media Player to find the times, by double-clicking the timestamp and telling it where to start. Takes some testing, but you can find the area where the movie actually has picture and sound starts.

[reddskinnfan]

Also, I found the cut off time for the TT to be 6394 on my disc, 6396 left two seconds of black screen.

[reddskinnfan]

Also, I found the RotK first disc should be cut to 7655, instead of 7656.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

[macseven77]

How do you handle adding subtitles in? I haven't tried to combine them, but to add the subtitles I used makemkv to rip the files from the disc and then used mkvtools, BDSup2Sub, Mkvtoolinx and then used handbrake. Can I do all of this and then follow the steps above to combine and then rip again with handbrake?

[KiltedShane]

Hi,

Have you had problems merging/appending ROTK to one MKV? I get a warning "The codec's private data does not match". I haven't split the files or modified them in any way. I just use "Append".

Thanks in advance
Morten

I am seeing the same thing. TLOR: FOTR merged without any problems but TTT and TROTK give me "... The codec's private data does not match (lengths: 68 and 191). Please make sure that the resulting file plays correctly the whole time. The author of this program will probably not give support for playback issues with the resulting file."

I ripped them from new blu-rays with MakeMKV. Looking at the codec information in VLC player they are exactly the same.

[KiltedShane]

I tried it again after following bw001's most excellent guide and still get

Warning: The track number 0 from the file 'D:\Video\BLAH-BLAH002".mkv' can probably not be appended correctly to the track number 0 from the file 'D:\Video\BLAH-BLAH001.mkv': The codec's private data does not match (lengths: 68 and 191). Please make sure that the resulting file plays correctly the whole time. The author of this program will probably not give support for playback issues with the resulting file.

[lfoust]

This is a great guide and worked perfectly for me. Thanks!

[Sky Walker 37]

Here are the steps that I used:

1. Create both mkvs using whatever programs you prefer.
2. Open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
3. Set the output filename to what you want.
4. Note the number of chapters (27).
5. On the global tab, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 6338s in the box.
6. Start muxing.
7. When complete, close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 2 in mkvmerge. I tend to close it between uses so I don't miss a setting I needed to clear from the last step.
8. Set the output filename to what you want.
9. On the global tabe, check Enable splitting... ...after this duration. Place 00:00:00.500 in the box.
10. In the max. number of files box place 2. This is important as without it you will end up with a lot of files 1/2 a second long.
11. Start muxing.
12. When complete close mkvmerge and open it again.
13. Go to the Chapter Editor tab and drag the FOTR part 2 mkv into the chapters box.
14. Select each chapter in order, changing the name to the next number after the number of chapters in FOTR part 1. Chapter 1 becomes Chapter 28, Chapter 2 becomes Chapter 29, etc.
15. Once finished, on the menu click Chapter Editor > Save.
16. Close mkvmerge and open FOTR part 1 in mkvmerge.
17. Click append and add FOTR part 2.
18. Set the output filename to what you want.
19. Start muxing.

Here are the trim settings for each LOTR EE Blu-rays Part 1 discs:

FOTR EE Part 1 end = 6338 seconds
TTT EE Part 1 end = 6396 seconds
ROTK EE Part 1 end = 7656 seconds

I haven't tried it, but you should be able to get chapter names from http://www.chapterdb.org

I tried all the steps but in the last step when trying muxing the two files it gives me following error:

" Appending a track from a file to another track from the same file is not allowed. This is the case for tracks number 14 & 15"

I reviewed everything but there are two different files with different chapter info.

Please advise.
Thanks.