Epic thread: Anime MKV files to MP4 for iPad.

[Syn3rgetic]

I'm sure this has been requested to death, but I need a layman's guide to converting my MKV, soft-subtitled anime, into an MP4 with the subtitles HARDcoded WITHOUT losing the formatting. I only have a mac, so the windows guides won't work for me. If anyone could lend me a hand with this, I would gladly send out some otaku goods. XD

Thanks, Calvin.

[Ai Haibara]

I'm assuming the subtitles are an .ass subtitle stream within the MKV. (You can use the OS X version of MediaInfo to check... not sure about VLC's information function (whether or not it'll mention anything about the subtitles)) If you can get the subtitle file (and possibly the fonts, if present) demuxed from the MKV, you can use the OS X version of AVIDemux to convert the video to .mp4 with the ASS/SSA hardsubbing filter, which should keep all the effects.

(I don't know what might be used to demux the MKV - MKVTools, perhaps? - as I don't normally do video work on my Mac. )

[Syn3rgetic]

I have the h624 file, the acc file, the fonts and the ass file....I just don't know how to get them together into one MP4 file

[freebird73717]

handbrake would be what I would use

Use mkvextract (from mkvtoolnix) to get the subs (not sure if there is a gui for this on a mac. You may have to do this via command line)

Then open the mkv in handbrake

Select your subs on the "subtitles" tab and make sure to put a check mark in the box "Burned In"

Encode away.

If your output file comes out with an extension of mv4 or m4v (not sure which it sometimes does) you can just rename to mp4.

There are windows guides for all of these software but the functions should be the same on a mac.


edit.
You replied while I was typing this. Just use handbrake as I outlined.

[Syn3rgetic]

How do I add subtitles? It's an ass....theres only an IMPORT SRT button...

[Ai Haibara]

If you've got the .ass file, the fonts, and the original MKV, just load those into AVIDemux. (It'll convert directly from the original MKV - all you need to demux are the subtitle streams and whatever additional fonts they may be using.)

In AVIDemux, load the MKV. It'll probably complain about h.264/using B frames. Choose whichever mode you want it to use; I usually tell it not to use the mode that may risk frame accuracy. From the video and audio dropdowns at the left, pick the codecs you want (and the MP4 container from the bottom dropdown). I'll admit here I also don't know what format and resolution videos need to be for the iPad, though.

If the audio is already compatible with the iPad and doesn't need to be re-encoded, set the Audio drop-down to Copy. You can't do that for the video, however, since hardcoding the subs means it'll need to be re-encoded. Click on the Filters button under the Video dropdown, open the Subtitles category from the left pane, and select the ASS/SSA Subtitles filter. Load the .ass file from there.

Once everything is set the way you want it, go to the File menu and pick the Save Video option (can't remember offhand if it's Save Video or Save Video As - I'm not at a system with it installed ). Tell AVIDemux where to save the video, and be sure to give the filename the .mp4 extension (it doesn't add the extension automatically).

Unfortunately, this method does produce out-of-sync files every once in a while. But I'm not aware of any other methods to hardsub using .ass subtitles under OS X. I can't even remember if ffmpegx handles .ass subtitles. I'm sure someone else may have an easier method.

Edit: made a stupid mistake, fixed. Maybe.


Edit #2: freebird - so Handbrake does support .ass subtitles? Wasn't at all sure.

[Syn3rgetic]

encoding now! if this works, i'll send you something i got in japan

[Syn3rgetic]

IT WORKED! GREAT SUCCESS.....is what I want to say but, its out of sync!!

[freebird73717]

Edit #2: freebird - so Handbrake does support .ass subtitles? Wasn't at all sure.

Nope. My bad on that.
Ass could be converted to Srt on a mac though
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t51656.html

http://www.aegisub.org/

[Ai Haibara]

...but that would lose all the formatting of the subtitles, which isn't what the OP wants.

Syn3rgetic: if the method I listed is what you tried, did you try it with the other method AVIDemux mentions (the one that it claims is safer but may lose frame accuracy?) It usually works for me... usually. But I do still end up with the occasional MKV that won't convert without sync loss. I'll admit I've never tried the 'safer' method, however.

[freebird73717]

Didn't think about that. To be honest I rarely do subtitles when watching anime. I usually just watch the english dubs.

[Syn3rgetic]

trying now

[Syn3rgetic]

I tried the SAFE method. No dice, same problem. I noticed there's a time shift option, gonna try that out. If the audio plays ahead of the video, the time shift should be a positive number right?

[Syn3rgetic]

GREAT SUCCESS! I had to time shift it by ~-2050ms to get the audio to sync...but I finally did it. I'm sure there are easier ways but...I'm happy for now XD

[emmgunn]

The latest beta of MKVtools has a preset for the iPad. Open the mkv file, choose the tracks you want (including internal or external subtitles if you want them hardcoded), select the ipad preset and then "Go". It'll figure out what needs to be re-encoded and what can be passed thru to save time. I'm looking for feedback, so feel free to e-mail me if it doesn't work for you.

[freebird73717]

machen I really don't like spammers.
edit
the mods have now deleted machen for spamming.