Combining m4v files using QuickTime Pro 7

I have created m4v files with the current version of Handbrake on the Mac.

Because some of these are episodes of a TV series, I would like to combine multiple files into a single (preferably m4v) file for use with Apple TV.

I recently discovered that, by using QuickTime Pro 7 (latest version of Pro), I could open up multiple m4v files, and copy them into a single file.

My problem came upon saving this file.

If I export the file to an mp4 (ie, m4v) file, then it apparently reencodes the file, which takes a long time and appears to create larger files.

Even worse, the audio/video sync is not maintained.

If I simply save the file to a MOV file, it happens relatively quickly, suggesting that it is not reencoding.

However, though the MOV file plays correctly in QuickTime, when I load it into iTunes, it does not play correctly in iTunes or on Apple TV, though the audio/video sync does appear to be maintained correctly.

The problems, however, are strange.

For example, when I combined 4 episodes (by copying 1 into 2, then 1+2 into 3, then 1+2+3 into 4, and then selecting Save As), the first episode played only audio, while the other three episodes played correctly.

I have also tried numerous other programs that claimed to be able to combine m4v/mp4 files, but none worked correctly with files of any significant length.

If I could just eliminate this strange behavior of the saved MOV file, I could rely on this QuickTime Pro method.

I am continuing to try other cut/paste variations, but so far without success.

Can anyone explain this strange behavior with a MOV file in iTunes (in which one or more of the files plays audio only, while the others play fine), despite the fact that the file plays correctly in QuickTime Pro 7?

Any help would be greatly appreciated (even a suggestion for another program that actually works to combine m4v files without reencoding).

FYI - I have tried MPEG4 StreamClip, Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate, Video Converter for MAC, and others.