I'm using this method to encode:
smartripper->dvd2avi->vfapi->subrip->srt2ssa->virtualdub w/subtitler filter->tmpeg.

The mpeg-2 that comes out of this whole process has perfect subtitles but the brightness is turned all the way down when I play it in windows media player and ati dvd player. However, the file plays fine (ie. at normal brightness) on windvd 3. Turning up the brightness filter in tmpeg doesn't change how the mpeg plays on the two prior players but only increases the brightness when played on windvd.

Is the phenomenon described above normal, or do I need to adjust some settings? TIA