Merging m4v files

I've ripped some DVDs of TV series for iTunes, but Handbrake insists on converting them as 13 separate .m4v files... I'd like to merge them into 3 or 4 larger files.

Google seems to come back either with Windows programs or QuickTime Pro... as I only anticipate needing the facility a few times I'd prefer not to have to pay for it

Any suggestions?

Filmredux(was VisualHub) can stitch http://transcoderredux.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/tr...

MacRumours is reporting a lot of problems with that:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=584869

but I'll keep an eye on it, thanks.

Does terminal work?

Type:
cat [drag in and drop the files to concatenate] > ~/Desktop/combinedFileName.m4v

I doubt it, as I understand it mv4 is a container rather than a file format, but I'll give it a try when Handbrake eventually finishes its queue

You can do it in iMovie, if you have it of course..

Well, the command works (of course), but the resultant file doesn't . The player only sees the first of the concatenated files, presumably because the header isn't modified.

A member here kindly sent me a copy of VisualHub, which seems to be working but is far too slow with 600+MB files... if its estimates are to be believed it's going to take upwards of 20 hours to merge three files .

I might give QuickTime Pro a go after all- now the Store is open again I see it's only twenty quid, I thought it was rather more than that...

I've got the version of iMovie that came bundled with Leopard, will that do it?

And does it actually produce a merged file? I'd got the impression (don't know why ) that it simply picked up files from a "playlist"...

You can import the m4v files from iTunes or iPhoto, or anywhere else I guess, then drag them into your current project and stitch them into one movie
After that, it would pay you to have a look at the export or sharing options to ensure that you can get the right output.
I've done it in the past and exported to iDVD, using iMovie v.4 and v.7. with some success.
That was some time ago, and I learned how to do it on the fly, so it can't be that difficult

I think that whatever you use is going to take hours, especially if QuickTime is involved

Edited by deleted (Wed 04-Mar-09 11:48:24)

In reply to a post by cyclic999:

I learned how to do it on the fly, so it can't be that difficult

That's the way I usually operate- when all else fails, RTFM

I think that whatever you use is going to take hours, especially if QuickTime is involved

Ah well, I usually leave the computer on 24/7 anyway

Thanks for the help.