How to extract the subtitle?

[Jo The Veteran]

Ok, i have an mkv and want to extract it's subtitle stream which is in, i believe it's the same system that dvds work on.In anycase mkvextract can't extract it , though it describes it as S_VOBSUB. On the other hand vdubmod doesn't even open the file . The rest streams are prety much common stuff for mkvs, an xvid video stream and 2 ogg audio streams. Last and a bit strange , the subtitle seems to be second in row of streams (video first) and not in the bottom as it is usually in other mkvs. If it were any normal DVD i would use subrip or any simillar program to get the sub but here there aren't vobs neither ifos to use . Any ideas?

[Jo The Veteran]

Anyone??

[celtic_druid]

mkvextract can extract vobsubs.

[Jo The Veteran]

I thought i was very clear in my first post.

In anycase mkvextract can't extract it , though it describes it as S_VOBSUB

File is mkv, sub is in dvd sub system, and mkvextract DOESN'T EXTRACT IT, not now or ever - new or older version.
I was just asking for maybe there was a program beyond my knowledge. I've seen this in several other cases where this type of subtitle can't be extracted in mkvs or ogms, in anycase i don't think it can be done.

[celtic_druid]

I read your first post. Read your last one to. Doesn't change the fact that mkvextract DOES support vobsubs. Extracts one for each stream though rather than placing them all in one sub/idx.

If it really doesn't work for your mkv, then I guess upload a sample to Mosu.

[Jo The Veteran]

You got me there. upload a sample of what? the video file? to where/who?
By any chance, if it does extract them, in what kind of format do the subs come to? srt? ssa? ass? I'm asking this because "the fact that mkvextract DOES support vobsubs" could mean support for other types of subtitles than the one i'm refering to.

[celtic_druid]

Yes it supports extraction of other subtitle tiles to, but that is beside the point.

It extracts back to idx/sub files, but as I said one for each stream rather than back to a single sub/idx. Extracting to a text format like srt requires OCR'ing.

Mosu is the main developer of mkvtoolnix. Yes a sample of the video. As I said, if mkvextract can't extract vobsubs from your mkv then it needs fixing, because it definatly should be able to do it. Make 100% sure that it doesn't work first though. i.e. don't confuse mkvextractgui or similar with mkvextract. Mkvextract is what does the work. Like if you updated the GUI and not mkvtoolnix.

[Jo The Veteran]

man, you were right after all, i was just updating the gui and not the core executable. My last version of mkvextract.exe dated back to 2004. In anycase now it riped the sub just fine, thanks man!
Isn't it stupid though to use a dvd format subtitle in mkv files? i mean, it's size is greater and if you want to extract it you have to use a subrip type program to make it a valid text-like subtitle. All to much trouble for just one subtitle huh? I guess the knowledge of how things are done is the reward.
Thanks again.

[celtic_druid]

Well OCR'ing subs takes time and as I understand it is harder for non English subs. How is it OCR'ing Japanese?

Also, with mkv vobsubs take up 50% or less space.

I am almost always right.