Converting video with DTS to AC3 using FFMpeg & PowerShell

I have a number of video files with DTS audio, I need to convert to AC3 Audio, without reprocessing the video. I have been given 2 scripts, the first one A-worked perfectly yesterday but today is thr...

powershell

Reddwarf4ever

Copper Contributor

Mar 14, 2022

Harm_Veenstra

Script A with Errors

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> $source = Get-ChildItem -path "D:\convert*" -Recurse -Include *.mkv
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> $ffpath = "C:\Windows\System32\ffmpeg.exe"
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> $DirOut = "D:\converted"
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> $output = Join-Path $DirOut -ChildPath ((Get-Item $source).basename + "_out.mkv")
Join-Path : Cannot convert 'System.Object[]' to the type 'System.String' required by parameter 'ChildPath'. Specified
method is not supported.
At line:1 char:40
+ ... in-Path $DirOut -ChildPath ((Get-Item $source).basename + "_out.mkv")
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (:) [Join-Path], ParameterBindingException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CannotConvertArgument,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.JoinPathCommand

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> & $ffpath -i $source -map 0 -vcodec copy -scodec copy -acodec ac3 -b:a 640k $output -loglevel 8 -stats

Script B with errors

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> :: convert all mkv files in a source Folder to mkv with AC3 using ffmpeg
>> :: eg. source T:\Old mkvs and eg.destination D:\New mkvs
>>
>> :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> :: first edit the two Directory values for the Source and Destination "and" the path of ffmpeg
>> :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> SET Source_Files_Dir=D:\convert
>> SET Converted_Files_Dir=R:\Sons.of.Anarchy
>> SET ffmpeg=C:\Windows\System32\ffmpeg.exe
>>
>> cd /d %Converted_Files_Dir%
>> for /F "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b /s "%Source_Files_Dir%"\*.mkv') do (
>> "%ffmpeg%" -i "%%a" -map 0 -an -vcodec copy -scodec copy -acodec ac3 -b:a 640k "%%~na_out.mkv" -loglevel 8 -stats
>> )
>> pause
>> exit
At line:13 char:4
+ for /F "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b /s "%Source_Files_Dir%"\*.mkv') do (
+ ~
Missing opening '(' after keyword 'for'.
At line:14 char:12
+ "%ffmpeg%" -i "%%a" -map 0 -an -vcodec copy -scodec copy -acodec ac3 ...
+ ~~
Unexpected token '-i' in expression or statement.
At line:14 char:15
+ "%ffmpeg%" -i "%%a" -map 0 -an -vcodec copy -scodec copy -acodec ac3 ...
+ ~~~~~
Unexpected token '"%%a"' in expression or statement.
At line:14 char:14
+ "%ffmpeg%" -i "%%a" -map 0 -an -vcodec copy -scodec copy -acodec ac3 ...
+ ~
Missing closing ')' in expression.
At line:15 char:1
+ )
+ ~
Unexpected token ')' in expression or statement.
+ CategoryInfo : ParserError: (:) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : MissingOpenParenthesisAfterKeyword

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Harm_Veenstra

MVP

Mar 14, 2022

$output = Join-Path $DirOut -ChildPath ((Get-Item $source).basename + "_out.mkv") fails when there are multiple files found ($source variable) Perhaps you should try this:

$ffpath = "C:\Windows\System32\ffmpeg.exe"
$DirOut = "D:\converted"
foreach ($sourcefile in $source) {
$output = Join-Path $DirOut -ChildPath ((Get-Item $sourcefile).basename + "_out.mkv")
& $ffpath -i $sourcefile -map 0 -vcodec copy -scodec copy -acodec ac3 -b:a 640k $output -loglevel 8 -stats
}

The second script is not PowerShell but batch/cmd, you should save the script in a .cmd file and try to run that...

Reddwarf4ever
Copper Contributor
Mar 14, 2022
Harm_Veenstra
thank you
How does script A know the source folder I.e. Convert ?

$ffpath = "C:\Windows\System32\ffmpeg.exe"
$DirOut = "D:\converted"
foreach ($sourcefile in $source) {
$output = Join-Path $DirOut -ChildPath ((Get-Item $sourcefile).basename + "_out.mkv")
& $ffpath -i $sourcefile -map 0 -vcodec copy -scodec copy -acodec ac3 -b:a 640k $output -loglevel 8 -stats
}

😎😎😎
- Harm_Veenstra
  MVP
  Mar 14, 2022
  Forgot to put this line in my post, it should be the first line
  
  $source = Get-ChildItem -path "D:\convert*" -Recurse -Include *.mkv
  - Reddwarf4ever
    Copper Contributor
    Mar 14, 2022
    Well, Script A worked perfectly Thanks
    
    Script B in a CMD window did nothing, sat there with a flashing cursor ???
    
    does it get too complicated to create folders in the converted folder the same as the convert folder, so the files are converted into like for like folders ?
    if it’s complicated I won’t trouble you, just a thought.
    thanks again

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Converting video with DTS to AC3 using FFMpeg & PowerShell

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