Best way to convert MKV to DVD with nice looking subtitle(s)

[xxbs]

Hi,
I use a lot of programs, and im bit of a geek in this area (bluray and HD .mkv), but sometimes it happens that i wants to convert one of my BD rips (MKV x264 with merged subtitles and 23.976 fps) to a DVD NTSC or PAL, and i dont know how the best way is, with the nicest looking subtitles.
I want i clean movie with sharp subtitles, not blurry or pixelated. i want subtitles looking like retail DVD subs, not like those on the attached screenshot. they ar viewable, but not nice looking
I dont care if the conversion takes 10 hours, as long as its a nice and good looking result.

Is the only way to get nice looking subtitles, to hardcode them to the MKV and afterwards convert it to DVD?

Help would be appreciated, and as i said, i want the best possible result, no matter how much power and time it takes.

Thanks in advance

[manono]

Is the only way to get nice looking subtitles, to hardcode them to the MKV and afterwards convert it to DVD?

That's probably the worst way. You'll want selectable subtitles. About the best way, in my opinion, is to create them yourself. That way you can get the font, size, colors, postioning, etc. just the way you like. Me, I make mine in MaestroSBT and also create an anti-aliasing color. How are you creating your subs now?

[xxbs]

To the movie on the screenshot i used DVD Flick to convert MKV to DVD, and added subtitles in same program, used my favorite subtitle font "DINMittelschrift-Regular", size and vertical margin.
Otherwise i use Subtitle Edit to create ASS with same font, saves it, opens it with notepad and correct the shadow, MarginV and Bordersize.

But i'll try MaestroSBT and then what?
Then i shall Convert the MKV to DVD with what?
And then Author it with subtitles with what?

Thanks.

[manono]

But i'll try MaestroSBT and then what?
Then i shall Convert the MKV to DVD with what?
And then Author it with subtitles with what?

If that's your favorite font, then what don't you like about it (other than it needs an anti-aliasing color, maybe)?

Convert MKV toDVD with what? Most people use an MPEG-2 encoder.

Author with subs with what? Use an authoring program. I usually use Muxman. It takes subtitles in SST format which I create in MaestroSBT. By the way, MaestroSBT accepts subs only in SSA format, but it's easy to convert from ASS which you're already familiar with.

[xxbs]

If that's your favorite font, then what don't you like about it (other than it needs an anti-aliasing color, maybe)?

Convert MKV toDVD with what? Most people use an MPEG-2 encoder.

I like the font very much, and uses it all the time on MKV HD movies.
But when ill throw it on the DVD i DVD Flick, the result isn't satisfying, as you can see the edges aren't sharp like i wants the to be, it looks like its stretched from 5 to 20 (font size). i wants them sharp.

other than it needs an anti-aliasing color, maybe - Which color do you mean?

Which MPEG-2 encoder should i use, to get it to end up with an .iso file after authoring?

Sorry my noob questions, but im used to work with HD and bluray, not DVD

[xxbs]

I have now tried FAVC after reading other threads.. it only support .srt format.
it looks quite nice though.
But the sound i horrible, i used AC-3 at 448 Kbps. HORRIBLE scattering..

[manono]

other than it needs an anti-aliasing color, maybe - Which color do you mean?

You use white and black, so an anti-aliasing color would be some shade of grey, to soften the unnatural look of diagonal and rounded lines.

Which MPEG-2 encoder should i use, to get it to end up with an .iso file after authoring?

You don't need an ISO after encoding. You won't get one anyway from a pure encoder. You'll get an MPV or M2V. The best free MPEG-2 encoder is HCEnc. There are several all-in-one programs that use it, though, including Avs2DVD. I have no idea if the subs it makes for you are up to its standards. As I said before, I make my own.

[xxbs]

Great, Thanks!
One question though, how do i get Avs2DVD to show the output subtitle file, .sst created in MaestroSBT, properly?
Cause, stupid as i was, i deleted the bitmaps..
In MaestroSBT, which settings should i use for bitmaps and shall i load the bitmaps into Avs2DVD too?

[manono]

One question though, how do i get Avs2DVD to show the output subtitle file, .sst created in MaestroSBT, properly?

I haven't a clue as I don't use that program. As I think I mentioned earlier, I do these things manually. There's a dedicated Avs2DVD thread at this site, one the developer visits frequently. SSTs are a combination of the text file and all the bitmaps. It's useless without both. Since Avs2DVD uses Muxman for authoring, by loading the SST it should also load all the BMPs automatically. If it doesn't work, it's probably because you didn't create the BMPs properly (one common mistake is not making 4-bit BMPs)

In MaestroSBT, which settings should i use for bitmaps and shall i load the bitmaps into Avs2DVD too?

Any authoring program that accepts SST input, you load the SST file and the BMPs are loaded automatically. As far as I know, only Muxman, DVD Maestro, and Scenarist accept SST input. You can always use Muxman to author the DVD with SST subs and then use VobBlanker to stick it into a DVD you create somehere else, one without any subs even.

As for settings, there's a guide around here somewhere, but I can't find it.
1. Open your SSA file
2. Set Files: Click on top 'Browse' button and set for SST output, give it a name and a separate location (2 locations if your video is 16:9).
3. Rendering: Windows BMP 4 bits, 'only one set of text, anti-alias, and output color', 720x480 (or 720x576 if for PAL), 4:3 correction (and make a complete other set later for 16:9 correction if for a 16:9 video).
4. Timing: 29.97, 29.97, drop frame (or 25, 25 and no drop frame if for PAL)
5. Segments: nothing
6. Styles: ->Edit Styles: Choose font (I use Tahoma), hit 'Change', and change to the size you want (I use 22 or 23). The default 60/20/20 should be OK, but if you have particularly wide subs (they take a lot of space on the line sometimes), maybe 60/05/05. Or higher on the screen (70, 80, 100), or lower, anything you like.
7. Edit and Preview: Have a look. Go back and change things you don't like.
8. Generate: Make your SST file and all the BMPs. Have a look afterwards. Don't be alarmed by the colors you see. You set the final colors yourself in PGCEdit or DVDSubEdit. Or maybe Avs2DVD does it following your settings (haven't a clue).

[xxbs]

Thanks a lot mate, i wil try it out, and return when done, or if i need any more help.
Thanks again!

[xxbs]

I've now tried with created subs, and used Avs2DVD to encode, SUCKS!
it took the bitmaps this time, and putted them into the frames, so every time the subs should show up, there came a blue screen with red subs, like on the bitmaps. it just took the bitmaps and replaced the frames with them..

[_MrC_]

I've now tried with created subs, and used Avs2DVD to encode, SUCKS!
it took the bitmaps this time, and putted them into the frames, so every time the subs should show up, there came a blue screen with red subs, like on the bitmaps. it just took the bitmaps and replaced the frames with them..

Please, a littel more politeness...

Could you please upload (i.e. mediafire.com) or send me (avstodvd@gmail.com) the SST subs set?



Bye

[xxbs]

Sorry if it came out like that, im just a bit frustrated
Heres the MaestroSBT generated subtitle, with .sst and .bmp's.
Settings:
Rendering: Windows BMP 4 bits, 'only one set of text, anti-alias, and output color', 720x480
Timing: 23.976, 23.976, no drop frame
Styles: "DINMittelschrift-Regular", 20pt.

Rest is default.
http://www.mediafire.com/?2gm80wxouaox6ea

Thanks again.

[manono]

Timing: 23.976, 23.976, no drop frame

You have a little trouble following directions, do you?

...so every time the subs should show up, there came a blue screen with red subs, like on the bitmaps.

That's easy to fix using DVDSubEdit. No need to redo the encode. The blue is the background color and you just have to open the subs and change that to transparent. Since you created an anti-alias color, you can change to your 'final' colors at the same time. Probably black (outline), grey (anti-aliasing) and white.

Rest is default.

Are you sure you didn't mess with the colors under Rendering->Color Rendering->Color Keys? Judging from your BMPs, it sure looks like it to me.

[xxbs]

You have a little trouble following directions, do you?

No not at all, but the video input and output is 23.976 fps, so i figured it had to be the same on the subtitles.

That's easy to fix using DVDSubEdit. No need to redo the encode. The blue is the background color and you just have to open the subs and change that to transparent. Since you created an anti-alias color, you can change to your 'final' colors at the same time. Probably black (outline), grey (anti-aliasing) and white.

Ah bummer, i already have deleted it :P No worries, i encode a new one, using the same subtitles

Are you sure you didn't mess with the colors under Rendering->Color Rendering->Color Keys? Judging from your BMPs, it sure looks like it to me.

Yes im sure, this is how it looks, check the attached file.

[manono]

Interesting, mine looks different when I open it up (which is the default setting, I think).

I have a suspicion that Muxman is expecting mine because I never have the trouble you did, but I'm not at all sure about that. This is with 'Only one set of text, antialias, and outline colors' ticked. What happens when you hit that 'Default' button? Anything? It takes a while until you get the hang of it.

[xxbs]

Oddly anough, even that i havent touched the settings, when i hit the "Default" button, it jumped to the settings you have...

[xxbs]

The newly created sub with default look is this one:
http://www.mediafire.com/?24b92iig3bm31bc

[xxbs]

OK, now i have encode a new DVD with Avs2DVD, without subs, demultiplexed it, added them with MaestroSBT, and editing them ind DVDSubEdit, but DVDSubEdit delays the subtitles? it look quite nice though, but i would like i little more Outline though..

Edit: DOH! i could just set the outline to 2 in MaestroSBT :P but it still aint in sync in the end of the movie.. i tried using 29.97 fps, it just made it worse..

[manono]

The newly created sub with default look is this one:
http://www.mediafire.com/?24b92iig3bm31bc

OK, that's more like it, as far as the colors go. You like your outlines different than I do, though. Also, I'm afraid your subs are too low. If your TV has any overscan at all, they'll disappear. You changed the 60 pixel bottom margin, did you? Maybe 60 isn't the default, but just the way I like mine and have it in my own SSA subs.

Sometimes there's no way to know how you want them to look until viewing the DVD on the TV set. But you can also raise the sub's vertical position in DVDSubEdit, too, after having made the DVD.

...but DVDSubEdit delays the subtitles?

No, I don't think so:

4. Timing: 29.97, 29.97, drop frame (or 25, 25 and no drop frame if for PAL)

Timing: 23.976, 23.976, no drop frame

You have a little trouble following directions, do you?

No not at all, but the video input and output is 23.976 fps, so i figured it had to be the same on the subtitles.

It's not checking the drop frame box that caused your subs to go out of synch.

[xxbs]

It works like a charm now, thanks a lot!

Ill return if necessary..
Can i give some credits on this site or any othe appreciation for your help? i cant thank you enough.

[manono]

You're welcome.

Can i give some credits on this site or any othe appreciation for your help?

Sure, I like glory as much as the next guy.

But, truthfully, it's MaestroSBT that should get the credit. It takes some time to learn its ins and outs, but it's a wonderful little program that allows anyone to make subs as nice-looking (or better) as anything the studios put out. In my opinion.

[xxbs]

Thats the only program where ive been satisfied with the output..
Your guides and MeastroSBT i got a fantastic result. thanks!