DiscSteward — Blu-ray/DVD episode identification, MakeMKV automation and Plex naming

[DiscSteward]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to share DiscSteward, a Windows tool I've been working on to help identify TV episodes in Blu-ray and DVD rips and organise them for Plex.

I'm not a coder, and this tool was built with AI assistance. It is still a work in progress. From my testing, it looks to be working, but it needs testing on more discs and computers. Constructive feedback, bug reports and suggestions are very welcome.

Project and documentation:
https://github.com/UpsideDownDisk/DiscSteward

Windows download — v0.3.1:
https://github.com/UpsideDownDisk/DiscS ... tag/v0.3.1


What it does

DiscSteward compares Blu-ray playlists or supported DVD titles with the MKV files made by MakeMKV. It then tries to identify the show, season and episode using an exact disc match from TheDiscDb, or by matching against local subtitle files.

Matching a video's duration to a disc programme does not, by itself, establish its episode number. When identification remains uncertain, DiscSteward provides a manual review screen rather than automatically renaming it.


Local subtitle matching

You can supply downloaded .srt subtitles, including files inside ZIP archives. DiscSteward compares their timing patterns with the embedded subtitles in your ripped videos, using the middle 50% of each video.

This compares subtitle timing, not dialogue recognition or OCR. The show and episode label comes from the reference subtitle's filename, so correctly labelled subtitles matter. Weak or conflicting matches are left for review.

There is also a Match existing / misnamed files option. This can identify previously ripped MKVs without the original disc and lets you preview either renaming them in their current folders or moving them into a Plex library.


MakeMKV automation

The optional automated workflow can:

1. Read and save the disc information before ripping.
2. Run MakeMKV using its saved defaults or a selected profile.
3. Show ripping progress and keep a MakeMKV log.
4. Eject the disc after a successful rip when safe.
5. Match the ripped files using the saved disc information.

Each automated rip gets its own disc-named output folder. A watch mode can wait for newly inserted discs and save unresolved results for review later, so a question about one disc does not interrupt processing the next.


Renaming and manual review

DiscSteward can prepare Plex filenames such as:

Code: Select all

Show Name\Season 01\Show Name - s01e01 - Episode Title.mkv

You can review proposed changes before confirming them. Automatic acceptance is optional for eligible matches; manual assignments always require confirmation.

A preferred language setting helps choose between alternate ripped files. Existing destination files are not overwritten, and unused alternate copies remain available.

If automatic identification cannot resolve something, the manual review screen lets you select the file and edit its show, season and episode. Programme-order suggestions are clearly labelled as assumptions, not verified identities.


Reports and troubleshooting

DiscSteward saves readable text reports and detailed JSON reports beside the ripped files. These show matches, timing differences, identification sources, subtitle evidence and warnings. Completed renames update the reports and are recorded in a rename log.

The JSON report is particularly useful when investigating an incorrect match. Please remove any personal paths before sharing reports or logs publicly.


What you need

The v0.3.1 Windows download includes Python, so you do not need to install Python separately.

• Windows 11 on an Intel/AMD 64-bit PC.
• MakeMKV for ripping.
• FFmpeg, including ffprobe.exe.
• An accessible Blu-ray or DVD, extracted disc folder, or existing MKVs for subtitle matching.
• Local subtitle references if you want to use subtitle identification.
• Internet access for TheDiscDb lookups.

Download the Windows ZIP, extract the complete folder, and open DiscSteward.exe. Keep the accompanying _internal and licenses folders with it. MakeMKV and FFmpeg are installed separately.


Current status

This is the first portable Windows EXE test release. It is unsigned, and broader clean-PC testing is still needed. DVD support currently covers simpler sequential, single-angle titles; unsupported layouts are reported for review.

Disc-identification data, where available, comes from TheDiscDb and is credited in the reports. DiscSteward is an independent project, with source code available under the MIT licence.

If you try it, please report the version, disc format, show, season, disc number and release region, along with what you expected and what happened. A JSON report or relevant error log is helpful — please don't upload the disc contents themselves.

Thanks for taking a look. I'm learning as I go, and constructive feedback is very welcome!