Conversion of MKV subtitles to DVD

[BillinToronto]

I recently purchased a copy of AVS Video Converter 5.6.1.715 to convert *.MKV files to different formats. I first tried to convert to DVD mpeg2 files.

The original audio track is in a language I don't understand and the subtitles were crucial to making the video meaningful to myself and others.

Although the conversion of the video and audio track was excellent, the video is not useful without the translation through the use of the subtitles. (VLC Media Player says the subtitles are "Styled ASS (English)"

I'm told that "AVS Video to Go" can save some subtitles but, alas, not for *.mkv files.

I'm not sure how the subtitles are integrated in any case.

I could save the files as AVI - and if I could get the subtitle file - I could try to integrate the two in a programme like Adobe Encore - or perhaps another programme??

Your collective wisdom gratefully appreciated

Cheers,
Bill in Toronto

[poisondeathray]

There are many ways to approach this; I'll assume you want to use your bought software.

.mkv is just a container. It will contain audio, video, subtitle files, and maybe attachments.

One way is to use mkvextractgui from mkvtoolnix kit to extract your subs (it looks like you have advanced substation alpha .ass subs)

Convert them to another format such as .srt or idx/sub that your authoring program accepts. There are several options like subtitle creator, subtitle workshop. Note you will lose all the font colors, fancy styles, etc... since only .ass and .ssa subs have this format, and they are not dvd compatible

You can re-assemble the .mkv with converted subs using mkvmergegui. Open the original .mkv and add the new subtitle. Checkmark the files you want, uncheckmark the files you don't want (such as the .ass subtitle), then plug this back into your software

[BillinToronto]

Thanks so much for your reply. I followed your instructions and was able to extract the subtitles successfully.

However, it appears that the AVS Media Converter can't convert the MKV file's subtitles, although it does adequately convert MKV video/audio to a DVD folder and burns a disk - but, minus the subtitles. AVS Video to GO does handle subtitles, but not MKV files. Hmmm.... and since the audio track is in a language I do not understand, I need the subtitles to understand the story line.

So, your assumption that I would like to use the purchased software is correct, but unfortunately the software doesn't do this job. It does convert to a number of portable devices - which may be useful in the future, I suppose.

Nevertheless, the direction you sent me in was a good learning experience, and I appreciate the opportunity.

So, I still have these MKV files with subtitles to convert and associate in a menu, and would like to create a DVD playable diskette of these two files.

If I can convert to an editable AVI file, I could import it into a timeline in ENCORE CS3, and then add the subtitles (which I've never done), I suppose. But perhaps there is a simpler way, and other software you might be able to suggest. The video inside the MKV file is H.263 at 1080x720, as I remember. I don't intend to do any editing with the video in the container.

Any suggestions, appreciated.

Thanks again.

Bill in Toronto

[poisondeathray]

Did you successfully convert the subs from .ass => .srt from the steps above?

If so, just use a DVD authoring program such as FAVC (free) or ConvertXtoDVD (trialware); in fact convertx will handle the .mkv natively (with .ass subs). These 2 re-encode, author the dvd structure and even make simple menus.