mkv2mp4_hsubs.sh

#!/bin/bash
# Converts given mkv files with __embedded__ subtitles into __harsubbed__ mp4 files using 'ffmpeg'.
# - Uses hardlinking to overcome problem with spaces in filename of the source subtitle file
# - Using 'subtitles' filter needs that ffmpeg is compiled with '--enable-libass'
#
# https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/HowToBurnSubtitlesIntoVideo
# http://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#subtitles-1
#
set -u
set -e
shopt -s nullglob

for MKV in "$@"; do
	out="$(basename "$MKV" .mkv).mp4"
	echo "CONVERTING '$MKV' -> '$out'"
	cp -al "$MKV" input.mkv
	ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:a copy -c:v libx264 -profile:v high -level:v 4.2 -preset medium -crf 23 -vf subtitles=input.mkv "$out"
	rm -f input.mkv
	echo "==> $out"
	echo ""
done