Openshot cannot process certain TS (transport stream) files.

[CameronD73]

Previously reported in #5048 but that was closed without resolution.

Describe the bug:
TS files recorded directly from Australian TV broadcast show no video or audio. This applies to the preview window and also to any exported file.
If I apply minimal processing in AviDemux then it produces a usable TS file if in HD size , but not SD.

All files play correctly in VLC.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:
SD

1. download the example files
2. create new project
3. set profile PAL SD Widescreen Anamorphic 576i 720x576
4. import raw TS version (TS-snip-SD-raw.ts)
5. import processed TS version (TS-snip-SD-avidm.ts)
6. place raw version at start of track 5 and avidm version in track 4 to follow on.
7. try to play a bit of each: Note the raw track has no video nor audio.
8. the avidm version has video and audio, although it gets the aspect ratios wrong and has corrupted audio
9. export to MP4 (H264), using the same profile (point 3), Med quality
10. resulting video matches preview window in terms of no video or audio for the raw ts file plus the bad audio on the avidm file. But it is good for video - getting the aspect ratio correct.

HD
repeat for the HD examples, setting profile FHD PAL 1080i 25fps.

• we get the same result of no content for the raw ts file
• the avidm file has good video and audio.
• the exported h.264 file matches the preview - nothing from the raw file and a good recording for the one from avidemux.

Expected behavior:
I would like to see the recording that is in the file.

System Details:

• OpenShot Version observed in 3.3.0, replicated in latest daily: [3.4.0]: {{ log_context.openshot_qt_version }}
• Operating System / Distro: Windows 11 24H2

Log Files:

A debug log has been uploaded form the latest daily 3.4.0:
The sequence of events: open project; try to play a bit from raw ts file; then play a bit from the avi-demux version:
debug-mode-replay-openshot-qt.zip

Sample files and projects
A zip file with example TS files and projects is available here

The files were recorded from Australian broadcast TV using a Beyonwiz PVR.
I have provided one file as a SD example and one as HD, from different channels.

I used dd to create small example files of the first 5-10 MB or so (this caused truncation in a random location unrelated to frame content).
These are the "raw" sample files.

I also used AviDemux to re-export them, with video and audio in "copy" mode, output format set to Mpeg TS muxer (M2TS mode off, VBR on).
These are the "avidm" samples.

[Colorjet3]

Hello @CameronD73 Thank you so much for sharing those files so I can test with them.

OpenShot has never been designed to have the ability to read all types of files and/or with different codecs. It works best with .mp4 files.

The solution (more like a workaround), is to convert those .ts files to .mp4. I used ShutterEncoder and converted all 4 *.ts files to h.264 (.mp4) files. Imported those in and all four work in OpenShot.

I did a bit further testing with *.ts files:

1. The ts-snip-hd-avidemux.ts import and works just fine and I can edit it, etc.
2. The ts-snip-hd-raw.ts imports but no preview or audio. It also causes OpenShot to crash/close at times.
3. The ts-snip-sd-avidm.ts imports and video plays fine but the audio is distorted.
4. The ts-snip-sd-raw.ts imports but no video or audio.

I also Exported each *.mp4 file and the resulting *.mp4 file plays fine. I ensured that the profile during the export matched the profile of the source *.mp4 file.

I am going to assign this to the lead developer who can decide if this is a bug or enhancement or both.

I can not give you and ETA on this. This is a very small project and dependent on volunteers. The queue for bug fixes and enhancements grows faster than they are implement.

My test environment is:

1. Windows 11 Pro 24H2
2. Openshot v3.4.0-Release-Candidate (latest available).
3. Desktop Computer.

[CameronD73]

Thanks @Colorjet3 for the quick response.
Yes the workarounds are viable and I was planning to do as follows:

• For HS, simply passing through avidemux, retaining TS format, is very fast since there is no transcoding.
• Since it cannot handle the TS- SD audio at all, I will have to take the longer path via MP4 with those.

[Colorjet3]

You are welcome and good luck with your projects. I will keep this open until the lead developer has a chance to review it.