Subtitles on a VCD 2.0 - help!!?

[theDruid]

I've finally found a successful way of making VCD2.0 discs from DVD originals.. I use SmartRipper to rip to HD, and then FlaskMPEG (with the Panasonic plugin) to convert to MPEG1. (I then use TMPGEnc with the PAL/VCD template, then Nero to burn.)

However, this has worked fine (brilliant quality) with English language films, until I have tried to do a couple of movies that I need to have subtitles with (Crouching Tiger, Taxi 2, & Battle Royale).

How do I get the original language soundtrack with English subtitles in SmartRipper/FlaskMPEG?

The VOB files SmartRipper puts on my HD don't seem to include subtitles (when played with WinDVD 2.4), even although this is the default way the DVD plays (on a PS2! and on the PC with WinDVD).

How can I rectify this - I've used DVD2MPG Squeezer before, and this gives me the option to select subtitles/audio settings etc.. but the quality isn't nearly as good as SmartRipper/FlaskMPEG.

Please help!!

I don't really want to have to do SVCD - VCD2.0 suits me fine; is there any way I can get the subtitles the way I'm doing it?

I've tried changing the "Stream" settings on SmartRipper - to ensure I get the subtitles, but this doesn't seem to do much - they're still not there as an option in WinDVD, and don't appear in the .mpg file if I use FlaskMPEG to create a MPEG1 file

thanks a lot,

mcdruid.

[poopyhead]

don't worry about streams...just continue to rip the dvd in "file mode" with smartripper if you're gonna use FLASKMPEG

when using flask, there should be an option to select subtitles (same window as where u select the audio you want)...i believe it shows up after you've open the vobs w/ flask

[Goldenaxe4000]

http://www.geocities.com/installflaskmpeg0594/

go there !

[theDruid]

Hi - thanks for the help!

However, I'm having trouble finding the subtitles option in Flask (I've got v. 0.594). I've also tried the version that Goldenaxe4000 linked to, (and ran the fix.bat file as instructed), but I still don't see any subtitles option!

Also, in SmartRipper - which files should I be looking to select to include the subtitles? I've selected all the .vob files, and the .ifo and .bup files for the main title. Once these are ripped, I still don't get an option to include subtitles when playing the .vob's with WinDVD.. should I be able to?

thanks again,

mcdruid

[Condor]

I have better solution.

It is better to make d2v project from DVD2AVI. After that using VFAVI u can make fake AVI. This AVI u can open in VirtulDub. In VirtualDub u have to have installed plugin for reading subtitles from file (SSA, SRT, ...).
This plugin will put subtitles into videostream with VERY GOOD quality, better than FLASK or DVDx do. On VirtualDub u will chose FRAMESERVE to make a short file with extension AVI (rename during saving).
Now u can open in TMPGEnc and make VCD.

I am using thi solution and its with more steps but result is excelent.

Condor

[theDruid]

Condor - it's only taken me about 3 months, but I've finally worked out how to do what you described above. You're right - it works much better!!

thanks!! :P

[vitualis]

I would disagree. I believe that the FlaskMPEG method (especially with Flask 0.6 subtitled fixed version) is a much more refined method at making hard-encoded subtitles for VCDs.

Not only do you get to select which subtitle and audio track you want, you can also preview before you encode.

As for the original poster, is there any particular reason you first encoded to MPEG-1 with the Panasonic encoder and then RE-encode that with TMPGEnc?

Panasonic MPEG encoder is an excellent MPEG-1 encoder at VCD bitrates, and there is absolutely no need to re-encode that with TMPGEnc.

Regards.

[theDruid]

2 things:

1 - I would like to have used Flask with the subtitles, but for this particular movie, the Flask didn't seem to be able to see the subtitles - even when I had selected them. I'm happy using subRib/TextSub/VirtualDub in the future when I do another movie with subtitles.

2 - You're right about not having to go through TMPGEnc after Flask/Panasonic. Nero was telling me that my mpeg's (from Flask) were not VCD compliant before, and I knew I didn't want to rely on Nero to re-encode them, so I was running them through TMPGEnc with the template just to get them compliant before burning. I've got the settings sorted now so that if and when I use Flask, the mpeg is complaint straight away, and can go directly into nero.

I'm still climbing up that learning curve!!

[better life]

Condor:
What is VFAVI, where can I find it?
Better Life

[theDruid]

I'm not Condor.. but http://www.divx-digest.com/software/vfapi.html is what you're talking about i think.

[better life]

TheDruid: Thank you, I will check it out.

[ranma_st]

Hey

Druid can you tell me how do you open your ripped files in Flask? Are you using "open file" or "open DVD"?

8)
Rey

[theDruid]

Hi Rey,

I think I normally use "Open DVD" rather than "Open File".

Why do you ask?

cheers,


mcdruid

PS. I use Flask 0.594, not the 0.6 preview

[ranma_st]

Because when I use Open File I get the movie and the audio but no subtitles. However, when I use Open DVD and open the IFO file I get Video, Audio and Subtitles. So is odd that you can't get the subtitles.

Also, sometimes there are several subtitles option for the same language. May be two english sub, or two french subtitles and you have to choose the right one. If not you don't get the subtitles in you final movie.

8)
Rey

[theDruid]

yeah - the Flask does list 2 sets of English subtitles and nothing else. Problem is if I select either of them, no subs appear in the mpeg it outputs.

I'm perfectly happy what I eventually did - the method Condor talked about above

(subrip/DVD2AVI/VirtualDub/TextSub/TMPGEnc)
http://forum.vcdhelp.com/userguides/87065.php - Scenario 2

but I did wonder why Flask wasn't picking them up in the first place.

I think i read somewhere that Flask just doesn't see the subtitles in some films. As far as I remember, Flask has worked on some movies, but didn't on this one - Taxi 2.

cheers,

mcdruid

[ranma_st]

I know you are happy with your method, but have you tried

Smart Ripper/DVDx 2.0

just two steps, and you can preview your movie to see if the files have the subtitles.

8)
Rey

[theDruid]

Yeah - thanks Rey.. I have tried using DVDx and managed to get the subtitles.

However, I'm not crazy about the overall image quality with DVDx - I've tried with & without the PanEnc plugin, and not been that impressed.

I didn't realise DVDx 2.0 was out though - I've got 1.8 I think. Maybe I'll give the new one a spin at some stage!

cheers,

mcdruid.

[vitualis]

If you use Flask for subtitles, you MUST use the "subtitled fixed" versions.

The standard versions don't parse all the subtitles properly and often don't work (e.g., the subtitles to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon).

The "subtitled fixed" versions (esp. 0.6 prev 1.1) are excellent however.

Regards.

[Psycho_Dad_Rules]

Hi all,

Just a thought. DVD2SVCD can now encode VCD's. This package also give you the possibility to add fixed subs and easiliy let's you select them.

greetz,

pSyChO dAd

[theDruid]

Thanks pSyChO dAd.

I've always been put off all things SVCD because of how little you can fit on each disc - but I'll have a look at DVD2SVCD now you've told us that it can do VCD too.


cheers,

mcdruid

[aguillon]

Have you tried ripping your DVDs using another ripper? I use DVD Decrypter to great effect, and have no problems with subtitles.

And yes, you should use FlaskMpeg version 0.6 preview 1.1 (don t forget to load the IFO parsing patch).

Cheers

[better life]

aguillon: Thank you, I will try.