Transcoding ATSC TS to Blu-Ray Compatible With ffmpeg

I've researched this problem for weeks, and am no closer to a solution as I am not a coder. (sorry) Trying to transcode a US mpeg2 transport stream, using x264 to ==> h.264. Need to transcode SD & HD non-interlaced, and SD & HD interlaced, and want to just copy over the audio. Destination is hopefully mkv. I've succeeded in transcoding the video using the x264 command (by rote), but it is a very slow process taking hours for a 30 minute clip. And I can not figure out how to extract and copy over the audio, and it is so complex I gave up. So I am now attempting with ffmpeg. Code:

@Quantumstate: You're quite confused. Forget everything you know, and start from scratch. Please consider that neuron2 is quite an expert, and is well versed in the topics you're confused about, and your attitude is understandably frustrating to him, and probably others here :) We're willing to help, just relax! Let's figure out a few things first. I'll state what we know. 1) According to FFMPEG, Your input is an MPEG Transport Stream containing 720x480 (480p) MPEG-2 video, not 720p. 2) Your goal is to compress this to a smaller file / lower bitrate than the source. You're apparently okay with using the MKV container. Good choice! I don't use FFMPEG, so I'm not sure what the bitrate numbers mean. One says 15,000kbps (15mbps), and the other says 2984kbps. Please download DGIndex, and run the file through it so we can figure out the true bitrate. Simply drop the MPG into DGIndex and push F5. Let this process finish, and tell us what DGIndex reports the average bitrate to be. Then we can proceed further with determining a workflow to output your desired result - a smaller file (lower bitrate), with transparent quality to your source. Also, it might be helpful for us to see a stream sample. Please download DGSplit, load your file into it, and extract 25-50mb chunks. Wait until there are a few chunks done, then upload one of these chunks to a free file hosting service. I like Mediafire, but megaupload is fine too (lots of others, just no Rapidshare please) ~MiSfit

x264 is platform independent. I'd suggest installing WINE. Lots of extremely useful tools for open-source video encoding are windows-only at the moment, like neuron2's stuff, and AviSynth. If we have to continue with what you have.. fine :) How big is your file, and what's the duration of the video? ~MiSfit

CRF21 looks good to me, hopefully it will for you. And yes, CRF21 is a great place to start for HD or SD. Interlaced, I'd suggest deinterlacing. x264 supports interlaced video, but IIRC it's not hugely efficient. Again, I'm not an avid FFMPEG user, but here's what your goal is: "I want to convert a 3mbps 480p MPEG-2 video to CRF21 x264" :) ~MiSfit

Alright... stay tuned. Because I'm feeling inquisitive, I'm going to figure out an ffmpeg command that will do everything you need ;) ~MiSfit