Join multiple M4V to one file (maybe MKV?)

Question

So I've recorded all my old Mini DV tapes to .AVI with dvgrab, then Deinterlaced them with Handbrake (Bob Method) on the High Profile but I'm left with a bunch of M4V files now (due to the 2 audio tracks).

I want to make one file out of each tape now and, if possible, also preserve the timestamps in the filename. I have no idea how to join them now tho since making an MKV out of them would result in the player acting up (VLC, MPC and WMP all bring different results when playing the MKV file for some reason).

What's the best way to get the deinterlaced M4V files into one file for each tape now? Or do you guys have some other methods for this while still deinterlacing the original footage from 50i to 50p?

Answer 1

If you have ffmpeg installed, see this article that basically says to create a file that has all of the names, or to use the following command

Concat Protocol

ffmpeg -i 'concat:input1|input2' -codec copy output

Or

Concat Video Filter

ffmpeg -i opening.mkv -i episode.mkv -i ending.mkv \
 -filter_complex '[0:0] [0:1] [1:0] [1:1] [2:0] [2:1] concat=n=3:v=1:a=1 [v] [a]' \
-map '[v]' -map '[a]' output.mkv

Or

Concat Demuxer

$ cat mylist.txt
file '/path/to/file1'
file '/path/to/file2'
file '/path/to/file3'

$ ffmpeg -f concat -i mylist.txt -c copy output

Which one to use

concat protocol: use with formats that support file level concatenation (MPEG-1, MPEG-2 PS, DV).

concat filter: use if you need to re-encode such as when applying filters.

concat demuxer: use when you want to avoid a re-encode and your format does not support file level concatenation. If in doubt try the concat demuxer.

When in Doubt, choose Demuxer

This article was originally published here

Also, see http://ffmpeg.org/faq.html#How-can-I-join-video-files_003f