Convert H264 to SER

convert_to_ser.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Convert video to SER format for Planet Stacker X"""
import struct
import subprocess
import sys
from datetime import datetime

def create_ser_file(input_file, output_file):
    """
    Create a proper SER file with correct headers.
    SER format specification: http://www.grischa-hahn.homepage.t-online.de/astro/ser/
    """

    # Get video info using ffprobe
    cmd = [
        'ffprobe', '-v', 'error',
        '-select_streams', 'v:0',
        '-count_frames',
        '-show_entries', 'stream=width,height,nb_read_frames,r_frame_rate',
        '-of', 'default=noprint_wrappers=1',
        input_file
    ]

    result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
    lines = result.stdout.strip().split('\n')

    width = height = frames = 0
    for line in lines:
        if line.startswith('width='):
            width = int(line.split('=')[1])
        elif line.startswith('height='):
            height = int(line.split('=')[1])
        elif line.startswith('nb_read_frames='):
            frames = int(line.split('=')[1])

    if not all([width, height, frames]):
        print(f"Error: Could not get video info. w={width}, h={height}, frames={frames}")
        return False

    print(f"Video info: {width}x{height}, {frames} frames")

    # SER Header structure
    file_id = b'LUCAM-RECORDER'  # 14 bytes
    lu_id = 0  # 4 bytes (LuID)
    color_id = 0  # 4 bytes (0 = MONO, 8 = BAYER_RGGB, etc.)
    little_endian = 0  # 4 bytes (0 = big-endian, 1 = little-endian)
    image_width = width  # 4 bytes
    image_height = height  # 4 bytes
    pixel_depth = 8  # 4 bytes (bits per pixel, 8 or 16)
    frame_count = frames  # 4 bytes
    observer = b''.ljust(40, b'\x00')  # 40 bytes
    instrument = b''.ljust(40, b'\x00')  # 40 bytes
    telescope = b''.ljust(40, b'\x00')  # 40 bytes
    date_time = 0  # 8 bytes (UTC time)
    date_time_utc = 0  # 8 bytes

    # Write SER header
    with open(output_file, 'wb') as f:
        f.write(file_id)
        f.write(struct.pack('<I', lu_id))
        f.write(struct.pack('<I', color_id))
        f.write(struct.pack('<I', little_endian))
        f.write(struct.pack('<I', image_width))
        f.write(struct.pack('<I', image_height))
        f.write(struct.pack('<I', pixel_depth))
        f.write(struct.pack('<I', frame_count))
        f.write(observer)
        f.write(instrument)
        f.write(telescope)
        f.write(struct.pack('<Q', date_time))
        f.write(struct.pack('<Q', date_time_utc))

    print(f"SER header written (178 bytes)")

    # Extract frames using ffmpeg and append to SER file
    print("Extracting frames as raw grayscale data...")
    cmd = [
        'ffmpeg', '-i', input_file,
        '-f', 'rawvideo',
        '-pix_fmt', 'gray',
        '-'
    ]

    process = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)

    with open(output_file, 'ab') as f:
        while True:
            chunk = process.stdout.read(1024 * 1024)  # Read 1MB at a time
            if not chunk:
                break
            f.write(chunk)

    process.wait()

    if process.returncode == 0:
        print(f"✓ SER file created successfully: {output_file}")
        return True
    else:
        print(f"Error during conversion")
        print(process.stderr.read().decode())
        return False

if __name__ == '__main__':
    input_file = 'input.mp4'
    output_file = 'output.ser'

    if len(sys.argv) > 1:
        input_file = sys.argv[1]
    if len(sys.argv) > 2:
        output_file = sys.argv[2]

    print(f"Converting {input_file} to SER format...")
    create_ser_file(input_file, output_file)