Recommendation for MPEG2 converter to .H264

[theGuruWithin]

Hi Mike,

Love makeMKV. I purchased it years ago and have had great use for it, well worth the cost!

I am beginning to convert all my old DVDs with multiple audio tracks and commentary tracks.

I would really like to find a program that will convert the mpeg2 codec WITHIN the MKV container to a more efficient codec such as .h264 without changing or touching audio tracks. It would be great if I could adjust the compression bit rate on new .h264 video track without changing anything else.

Is there a tool you could recommend to simple turn mpeg2 video track codec to more efficient and more compatible .h264 or similar codec within - while passing through all other tracks unchanged keeping conversion in the MKV container.

in gratitude,
theGuruWithin

[Woodstock]

Several free projects do what you want to do, handbrake and ffmpeg to name just two.

[theGuruWithin]

thanks for quick response. How would this be done with ffmpeg just dealing with video and not changing (just passing through) all of the audio and CC tracks? Would you know command-line code or is there a good open source GUI for Windows?

[Woodstock]

I'm not an ffmpeg user, so I do not know the magic rituals (command line arguments) for it. Sorry.

[theGuruWithin]

I believe I have finally figured out command line for FFmpeg that works to accomplish this type of conversion.

ffmpeg -i "input_mpeg2.mkv" -map 0:v -map 0:a -map 0:s? -f matroska -vcodec h264 -acodec copy -c:s copy "Output_h264.mkv"

[Thomasbb]

theGuruwithin

I've tried the command you suggested (ffmpeg -i "input_mpeg2.mkv" -map 0:v -map 0:a -map 0:s? -f matroska -vcodec h264 -acodec copy -c:s copy "Output_h264.mkv") and I also got an output named Output_h264.mkv was 6 min long (

I drew in ffmpeg typed -i drew in the inputfile.mkv and then pasted your terminalcommand.... but is it the actual way you do it?

Do you type anything before or after the command so that the movie title shows up in the resulting file.

Will you eventually write the whole command here, removing the " sign if it doesn't belong there

best wishes Thomas

[gtrogue]

Why don't you use Handbrake and not worry about ffmpeg and the CLI.