Insert Chapter mark where each commercial has been cut out

General Support / Questions Commercial Removal
1

I’m electing to have commercials cut out. Is there a way to insert a chapter mark at the point where the cut has been made?

If not, is there a reference in the log file that would indicate the location?

2

Yes that feature already exists, there are two related features:

  1. Click on Only detect ads, this will only detect and not cut the commercials
  2. Check the option Add subtitles and chapters, this will create chapter markers where the commercial segments are detected (option in Expert Settings)

And yes it’s also indicated in the conversion log, it will look something like this:

2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Skipping initial segment, too small Start:0.000 Stop:0.000
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping segment Start:5.540 Stop:140.060
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping segment Start:170.470 Stop:731.030
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping segment Start:876.140 Stop:1436.330
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping segment Start:1691.290 Stop:2056.720
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping segment Start:2251.650 Stop:2604.970
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping segment Start:2740.000 Stop:3496.630
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping segment Start:3566.830 Stop:3663.540
2017-07-11T20:24:32 MCEBuddy.CommercialScan.Remover → ParseEDL: Keeping end segment Start:3667.760 Stop:3729.914

3

Thank you for all the details.

Number 2 is really what I was after, however it sucks that the only way to get chapter marks is to include subtitles. Although IMO assuming that if someone wants one they want the other isn’t a fair assumption.

4

Is there a downside to having the subtitles included. You don’t have to use them. The idea was it keep the UI simple.

5

While I haven’t tried to process anything with MCEBuddy that has subtitles, the downside would be if they are included and turned on by default. For many subtitles can be annoying. There are some shows and some instances where I prefer them, but those times are few. I should have clarified that as long as they are not on by default it’s not a problem.

1 Like
6

From experience that depends upon the playback software. Some allow you to configure the defaults while others either mark them on or off by default.

7

Primary I use Kodi.

8

I created a new thread to continue the discussion regarding subtitles. It has more appropriate subject.

1 Like
9

I have the chapter markers enabled as stated above. I’ve had it this way for months but I have never seen the chapter markers on playback. Is there something that has to be done to view this chapter markers? I’m using Plex for playback.

10

I don’t think Plex supports chapters marks AFAIK unless something changed recently. The chapters markers are there (you can verify it by looking to the conversion logs) but it depends upon the player to utilize them.

11

I’ve read that most of the plex clients now recognize chapter markers (up arrow to skip to next chapter). I’ve verified that they work on both the Windows / Xbox client as well as the FireTV clients.

Thanks! Will.

12

What profile are you using? i.e what’s the output format (TS, MP4, MKV)? Wondering if they are using embedded chapter markers or external file like XML chapter markers?