Q re: different ways to get hardsubs....

[Questmark]

In this guide by Baldrick https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=272736

he has the hardsubs added to a video by using VirtualDubMod and going into the filters section and adding in textsubs, etc.

I've also read another guide where you simply rename the srt file with the same file name as the avi, to get them to automatically come up in a player.

Both of these seem to work when you get to encoding-- namely, that the subtitles are brough into the process automatically and become hardsubs on the m2v, but I dont' really understand the difference between the two-- is there any? and are there any real advantages for one method over the other? If I'm editing subs, etc. does that make one method better than the other? Or are they really both fine?

Baldrick's obviously seemed more complicated and takes longer, but I thought there might be some benefit to it..... Also, is there some loss in quality to Balrdick's method? You're having to reencode it, right?.... when you hardsub the subs to it?

[Baldrick]

the vobsub / vsfilter directshow filter(when you name srt file same as the video) may not work in all encoders. some have had problem with tmpgenc and vobsub / vsfilter...subs that have dissapaerad

the virtualdubmod method is mainly if you want hardsubs on avi and not mpg. if you want subs on mpeg use vobsub / vsfilter or frameserve from virtualdub to avoid two encodings. you always has to reencode when you add subs.

[Abond]

As you mention m2v, it is usually conected with SVCD or DVD. Both formats support selectable subtitles. I think this is the best what you can get.