Music Media Helper (Tools for Multichannel Audio & Music Videos)

[HomerJAU]

A new Beta release for upcoming 8.0.10 is now available:

Version 8.0.10 beta 2 (December 6 2024)
-------------
New:
Media File Manager tool: Now saves scanned media file data to a new database and loads data from the database on starting File Manager or selecting a new Media Type, if a Scan has been run on that media type
Media File Manager tool: Added a new 'Refresh' button that checks and updates data for media folders added, deleted, renamed or changed ** Added in Beta 2

After the initial scan reloading the data on start-up or selecting a different media Type is almost instantaneous

Changes:
Media File Manager tool: Improvements to initial column widths and more optimisation of folder/file scanning

Fixes:
MMH Atmos Helper: Decoder - new user defined DRP install folder location added in 8.0.9 not saved/retrieved correctly - fixed

** NOTE to Existing 8.0.10 users that have used the previous beta 1 File Manager
You must delete your existing 8.0.10 beta database named 'MMHMedia.db' in this folder on your PC: (MMH will create a new one)
C:\Users\[USERNAMER]\AppData\Roaming\Music Media Helper

 

[HomerJAU]

Music Media Helper 8.0.10 Released:

Version 8.0.10 (December 7 2024)
-------------
New:
Media File Manager tool: Now saves scanned media file data to a new database and loads data from the database on starting File Manager
Media File Manager tool: Added a new 'Refresh' button that checks and updates data for media folders added, deleted, renamed or files changed

Fixes:
MMH Atmos Helper: Decoder - new user defined DRP install folder location not retrieved correctly - fixed

Changes:
Media File Manager tool: Improvements to initial column widths
Media File Manager tool: Source folder selection dialog: Added check disallowing duplicate folders
Updated MKVToolnix to 88.0
Updated PDF docs (new docs on updated Media File Manager)


** NOTE to Existing 8.0.10 users that have used the previous beta 1 File Manager and not yet done this do so:
You must delete your existing 8.0.10 beta 1 database named 'MMHMedia.db' in this folder on your PC: (MMH will create a new one)
C:\Users\[USERNAMER]\AppData\Roaming\Music Media Helper


Download MMH 8.0.10 installer here:
https://reva.blob.core.windows.net/mmh8/MMHInstaller.msi


The latest File Manager dialog showing new 'Refresh' button:

 

[gorman]

I write this after having completely uninstalled MMH and reinstalled the latest version.

I try converting a MPEG-H 3D file. The m4a file is added and channels and objects are detected. I press "Decode" after selecting output channel layout as 5.1.4 (theoretically planning to later try converting to Atmos, just as an experiment). A window opens but both progress bars are stuck at 0%.

I see an mp4box process starting and then being killed and then restarting and then being killed, ad libitum, in task manager. I have installed gpac-2.2.1-rev0-gb34e3851-release-2.2-x64.exe, if that matters.

 

[HomerJAU]

The latest versions of MMH don't require gpac. Maybe uninstall gpac (mp4box).

I remember test an updated mp4box but it failed, so MMH is using an older version.

 

[gorman]

The latest versions of MMH don't require gpac. Maybe uninstall gpac (mp4box).

I remember test an updated mp4box but it failed, so MMH is using an older version.

Uninstalled gpac, nothing changed.

If I use mp4box GUI to demux, I come up with a .mha1 file. Could you advise command line parameters to try and do it manually with mpeghDecoder.exe? Maybe error messages there could help in understanding what's happening.

MediaInfo shows:

Audio
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : MPEG-H 3D Audio
Format profile                           : LC@L4
Codec ID                                 : mha1
Bit rate                                 : 1 601 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 24 channels (22.2)
Channel layout                           : Lw Rw C LFE Lb Rb L R Cb LFE2 Lss Rss Tfl Tfr Tfc Tc Tbl Tbr Tsl Tsr Tbc Bfc Bfl Bfr
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Signal group #1                          : 24 objects
 Type                                    : Object
 Number of objects                       : 24 objects
Codec configuration box                  : mhaC

Edit: with other files it works... it must be a problem with these specific files, I suppose.

Edit 2: confirmed. Apparently there was a problem when the file had Codec ID mha1, while everything went smoothly with Codec ID mhm1.

 

[HomerJAU]

I tested latest MMH 8 earlier morning and it working on all MPEG-H favours including mha1 and mhm1.

Can you please upload one of your files that fail for testing please?

 

[AudiophileStyle]

Hi @HomerJAU just thought I'd let you know, if you don't already, that MMH is working great on Windows 11 for Arm running in Parallels on my MacBook Pro (M2 Pro).

 

[HomerJAU]

Hi @HomerJAU just thought I'd let you know, if you don't already, that MMH is working great on Windows 11 for Arm running in Parallels on my MacBook Pro (M2 Pro).

Excellent! Thanks for the feedback.

That’s good news for Mac users that want MMH.

 

[gorman]

Any reason comes to mind as to why I am unable to select the "Join Multiple MKV, MP4 or M2TS files into a single MKV with Chapters"?

I import several files and the radio button remains unselectable. When I press "Start processing", though, it apparently joins the files into a single one... while the selected radio button was "Split MKV files into Individual Chapter files"... counterintuitive at best, if that's how it's supposed to work.

 

[HomerJAU]

Any reason comes to mind as to why I am unable to select the "Join Multiple MKV, MP4 or M2TS files into a single MKV with Chapters"?

I import several files and the radio button remains unselectable. When I press "Start processing", though, it apparently joins the files into a single one... while the selected radio button was "Split MKV files into Individual Chapter files"... counterintuitive at best, if that's how it's supposed to work.

Maybe you have to select your option BEFORE you load the files.

 

[HomerJAU]

Music Media Helper 8.0.11 Released:

Version 8.0.11 (December 14 2024)
-------------
New:
Media File Manager tool: Added support for listing TV Series Episodes and Music Video/Concert song tracks - new
All tools supporting file Drag & Drop: Added support for folder Drag & Drop - adds media files in the folder dropped* - new
* Only a single folder can be dragged & dropped

Changes:
Media File Manager tool: Added new checkbox to force all file detail rows to display in grid (Album songs, Concert videos and TV Series episodes)
Updated MediaInfo to 24.12


Download MMH 8.0.11 installer here:
https://reva.blob.core.windows.net/mmh8/MMHInstaller.msi

The latest File Manager dialog showing how files are shown for TV Series (similar for Music Videos/Concerts -and of course Albums, which always supported the 'file view'):

 

[jarrod2750]

Has anyone run into an issue with converting mkv to m4a extracting the Dolby Atmos audio and some files not playing back on their device?

I tessted converting a few files that were giving me an issue to Wav instead of m4a and then they worked. I’m assuming that wav also preserves the Atmos channel layout and meta data? I was hoping not having to re-rip annd convert all the MKV discs!

Or am I better off using Mka?

My player is a zidoo UHD 8000.

Thank you.

 

[paligap]

Has anyone run into an issue with converting mkv to m4a extracting the Dolby Atmos audio and some files not playing back on their device?

I tessted converting a few files that were giving me an issue to Wav instead of m4a and then they worked. I’m assuming that wav also preserves the Atmos channel layout and meta data? I was hoping not having to re-rip annd convert all the MKV discs!

Or am I better off using Mka?

My player is a zidoo UHD 8000.

Thank you.

As far as I can tell, that player is not supposed to support m4a files. Are you saying it plays some m4a files but not others? Their website doesn't list MKA files, but if they work, that is what I would use.

 

[gorman]

Maybe you have to select your option BEFORE you load the files.

Nope, that's not it. I have "Batch Split MKV Files or Batch Join Files to Single MKV & MP4 file" window in front of me. No files loaded in the list. If I click the "Join Multiple MKV, MKA, MP4 or M2TS files into a Single MKV with Chapters" it does not get selected. The "Split MKV files into Individual Chapter files" remains selected.

EDIT: But if I load multiple files and then press "Start Processing", it actually creates a single MKV file with chapters. Using 8.0.11.

 

[jarrod2750]

As far as I can tell, that player is not supposed to support m4a files. Are you saying it plays some m4a files but not others? Their website doesn't list MKA files, but if they work, that is what I would use.

Yeah, it oddly plays some. I just did a MKA test and no good so I can rule that out. My options are to either convert to WAV or to use the entire MKV file and the Atmos track only. If I go the WAV route, does that preserve the Atmos channel layout and any existing meta data?

 

[himey]

I go the WAV route, does that preserve the Atmos channel layout and any existing meta data?

No. You lose the metadata for routing the height channels.

 

[jarrod2750]

No. You lose the metadata for routing the height channels.

Thanks for confirming. Sounds like the decision has been made for me - MKV file with an ATMOS only track.

 

[HomerJAU]

Nope, that's not it. I have "Batch Split MKV Files or Batch Join Files to Single MKV & MP4 file" window in front of me. No files loaded in the list. If I click the "Join Multiple MKV, MKA, MP4 or M2TS files into a Single MKV with Chapters" it does not get selected. The "Split MKV files into Individual Chapter files" remains selected.

EDIT: But if I load multiple files and then press "Start Processing", it actually creates a single MKV file with chapters. Using 8.0.11.

Can you please provide a screen shot. It’s works on my Win 11 PC when I looked yesterday. Maybe it skin related.

 

[himey]

Thanks for confirming. Sounds like the decision has been made for me - MKV file with an ATMOS only track.

That doesn't make sense that it plays some Atmos m4a files and not others. You should get to the bottom of that before committing to the mkv's. Are you in the audio section when you play the working m4a files? Maybe you accidentally moved over to the video sections when they stopped working?

 

[HomerJAU]

Some players will play Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital Plus JOC in m4a but not Dolby Atmos TrueHD in m4a.

Some BD players won’t play Atmos TrueHD in MKV files.

Best to ask/research before buying a media player or embarking on ripping.