I think it depends on how you get the m2ts files.I was using a Hardware capture device to get some amazon prime series TV on to Windows for later (off line) watching -- a more modern piece of hardware now captures these directly to mkv / mp4 / HEVC H265 etc but that bit of hardware costs around €300 -- so I'll stick with what I've got.
The current version is actually nearly £300 in the UK
my version is the older discontinued usb2hdcap which still works excellently.
Converting file to mkv/mp4 via handbrake (free) on a fast processor does the trick just fine (although the fan on the cpu nearly goes bonkers on a duo physical XEON processor machine). Haven't used Handbrake for ages but it's still around.
So I'll mark as solved since I am using eseoteric hardware to capture the video.
Note though there's a zillion and one settings but it's free and does work -- you need plenty of juice though in your cpu.
Note : things like total recorder etc are no good here -- I'm capturing directly from an amazon fire stick or a Sky Q box (with a zillion load of recordings !!!).
The HDMI output from the firestick / SKY Q box goes directly into the hardware capture device which is fed to the physical screen as HDMI 2. My computer then uses the USB input from the device to capture the video.
Another splitter from the device output to HDMI 1 allows me to concurrently watch the video on a big physical screen instead of on the computers monitor. Sounds complex but not really.
So SKY Q / Firestick ---> HDMI out --switchable between the two. --->HDMI input on the hardware capture device
That HDMI from the capture device output also split -- one to HDMI 1 and one to HDMI 2. USB from capture device to computer.
Now can watch / capture the video from either the computer or (better) directly from the big screen.
Yes .m2ts like many of these audiovisual formats is really only a container, and if the audio or video file inside the container is unusual in any way, parts of the audio/visuals may refuse to run. I have been using handbrake for years, and it usually manages to fix such problems. It's invaluable in my opinion.
Yes .m2ts like many of these audiovisual formats is really only a container, and if the audio or video file inside the container is unusual in any way, parts of the audio/visuals may refuse to run. I have been using handbrake for years, and it usually manages to fix such problems. It's invaluable in my opinion.
Avoids all those rubbish things like "Online" conversion /zillions of stupid offers etc etc / silly subscriptions and other "offers of B/S software" you don't want or need.
I find now I just use the hardware capture to get the things I want while I'm at work (you have to record in real time) and then run the handbrake conversion overnight.
There's a "Set record" option in the software -- so just set the SKY Q box / firestick to the channel / series you want to record and it's all set.
Job done and I've got all the recordings DRM free and no expiry from the SKY Q box recordings including CH4, My 5 etc / Amazon firestick from the hardware device.
Record at a time available and full screen for watching too.
Tools etc shown here --red button --set record etc.
