How to add chapters to M2TS (from ripped BRD)?

[RocKKer]

This for my media player, I have kept the BRD structure for most of of my BRD rips because the chapter skip works, if I play just the M2TS file I lose the ability to skip (but this is only on some rips). These are movie only rips, no menus, I don't want any menus just the ability to skip.

Currently I rip with DVDFab (most of the time movie only), re-encode to smaller size with BR-Rebuilder.

I have searched and according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_container_formats) M2TS (BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream - .m2ts) supports chapters.

Sorry don't really know where to start to ask this question, If this isn't the place please point me.....

[chompy]

The chapters are stored in playlist (.mpls). If you only want to keep the movie without menus, just select movie-only backup in BD-Rebuilder.

Greetings

[RocKKer]

Thanks for the reply chompy.

I currently do that, my question is how can I add chapters to the .m2ts file, so I can chapter skip without all the BRD structure (.mpls)?

[liquidskin76]

Hey RocKKer,

M2TS and TS containers don't support chapters on there own, hence the need for a .mpls file in the Blu-ray folder structure. You'll have to use the large skip option in whatever player you use.

MKV container does support chapters on the other hand. Supports stacks of other features too. Miles better container than M2TS!

Cheers

[RocKKer]

Thanks for the info Liquidskin76,

I tried one of my BRD rips I used MakeMKV loaded up the disk file and converted to mkv. Skips work but PGS subtitles weren't there, I have to have subtitles - my household has a hearing impairment.

I think I could pull out PGS subtitles and convert to srt, but that extra step does not really interest me. I'm pretty sure in that case I lose forced subtitles. Unless there is something else I can do?

[liquidskin76]

Yea, it's early days for support of blu-ray pgs subs (.sub) in allot of players.

There are other ways of creating mkv's with embedded subtitles however they are not a 1 step process like MakeMKV.

[RocKKer]

I'll probably just stick with BRD structure, for me there is no real penalty for staying with the BRD structure. The ease that BD-RB gives this process makes it a breeze.

[Ghitulescu]

But the question remain: how to add chapters to the movie? The way of editing the MPLS (playlist) or the way VobBlanker did?

[jdobbs]

If you output to an MKV or MP4 using BD-RB, the chapters are maintained. You can also choose to keep that video/audio intact as well if that's your intent. I would assume your media player supports both of those formats.

[Ghitulescu]

This answers "how to preserve" the chapters, not "how to add" them.
The trouble-free answer would be to remux/reauthor again the whole thing and be sure not to forget to set the chapter marks.

For instance, one can add chapters using the playlist editor in BDedit, but it's a labour-intensive work, for one has to use an external player, note down the timing, then input them one by one, taking into account the IN_TIME and so on.

Is there another, more visual-oriented method?

[jdobbs]

There is more to adding chapters than just adding a time point. You have to encode the source with the chapters in mind -- and put an I frame at the chapter point. Otherwise on a BD you could be up to a half second off -- and on many MKV or MP4 encodes you could be 10 seconds off (because people usually set GOPs to 250 or so frames). So, depending on the player, you might end up with a 9 second wait for the video to start after you hit the "next-chapter" button.

[Ghitulescu]

This is known to me. This is why I mentioned VobBlanker, since the way it does the cell boundaries are observed.

[jdobbs]

This is known to me. This is why I mentioned VobBlanker, since the way it does the cell boundaries are observed.I figured you knew. I was just making the point for the OP.