Adding subtitles to an AVI

[ker-plop]

I recently came across a foreign movie that I'd like to watch, but there's some assembly required. It came like this:

Movie_CD1_DVDRIP.avi
Movie_CD2_DVDRIP.avi
Movie_DVDRIP.sfv
Movie__english_subs_&_directors_comments.zip

Inside the .zip file were the following:
Movie_CD1_DVDRIP.srt
Movie_CD2_DVDRIP.srt

I can play the movie on its own, but no sound comes until I covert it with ffmpegx.

Anyway, my question is this: do I need a program to merge these files into each other and get subtitles on the movie, or is it more about arranging them in the same place? If I DO need a program, what (freeware) can you recommend?

[Case]

VLC Media Player will most likely play it with sound, even if it were DTS.
VLC will automatically activate the subs if the filename matches and if they are in the same folder as the movie file.

If the audio is Dolby Digital, then QuickTime might need the A52 codec before QuickTime Player will decode the sound, if you prefer QTP over VLC.

[ker-plop]

OK, with that codec I got the audio to work with QuickTime, but still don't know how to stick the subtitles in.

[rumplestiltskin]

If you'd like to embed the srt, ffmpegX will do this. I use it to make videos with subs for my iPod and AppleTV.

[ker-plop]

OK. And if I wanted to remove those subtitles from the created movie, what would I use?

[rumplestiltskin]

Once they're embedded, they're embedded and can't be removed.

If you use VLC I believe the .srt file needs to have the same name as the video but with the ".srt" extension -and- the .srt file needs to be in the same folder as the video. (No embedding being done here.)

[Alcuin]

If you'd like to embed the srt, ffmpegX will do this. I use it to make videos with subs for my iPod and AppleTV.

Hello Rumpelstilzchen

it would be very kind if you could give a bit more details on how to do so with ffmpegX.

In my case I have avi files (XviD encoded) for each episode of a season of my favourite show. And for each avi file I have two additional subtitle files that have the same basic filename but another extension: .idx and .sub.

Playback via VLC works fine, the subtitles are rendered over the video. Great.

But I want to watch it on TV with my divx/xvid-capable DVD player which can't handle these .sub/.idx files (tried it). Video playback is fine but the subs aren't recognized by the player.

I couldn't find a way in ffmpegX to multiplex the .avi with the .sub into another .avi that I'll burn to DVD to watch it on TV.

Is there no other tool for OS X available?

Thanks a lot,
Stefan.

[rumplestiltskin]

You need to use the mencoder choice rather than ffmpeg. I'm not at the Mac with ffmprgX right now but there's a button in one of the tabs which will permit you to specify which ".srt" file you want to use for the movie. I use the XviD choice and embed the subtitles, then convert that result into iPod(640x) which I drop into my iPod and connect to my TV (or just drop into iTunes and stream it through my AppleTV to my TV).

[Alcuin]

Yes, I found a button that allows me to add subtitle files. Even before I posted here.

But unfortunately, this tab (Tools>author) just allows a DVD, SVCD or VCD as target format.
But I just wanted to render the subtitles into the avi file and come up with a subtitled-avi.

Does it really have to be so complicated:

.AVI & .SUB ---> DVD/SVCD/VCD ---> RIP into .AVI with subs ?

I had hoped there is a tool that just takes my .AVI and my .SUB (with .IDX if necessary), then I press a button and get the .AVI again -- but with the subs rendered into it.

*sigh*

[mats.hogberg]

Yes you can (AviSub) - but far from all applications (and even fewer standalone players) can use embedded subtitles in AVI. Better to keep the subs as separate .srt for maximum compatibility.
<edit>Sorry - I again missed the fact this was a Mac thread...</edit>
/Mats

[rumplestiltskin]

I go AVI>AVI(XviD with mencoder) and add the subtitles during this encoding. Then I do the iPod(H264) encoding. I lose no quality.

[mats.hogberg]

Not my business, but yes, you lose quality twice - first when going AVI -> AVI, and again when going AVI -> H264. If the quality drop is visible on a small iPod screen is a different matter.

/Mats

[rumplestiltskin]

Not my business, but yes, you lose quality twice - first when going AVI -> AVI, and again when going AVI -> H264. If the quality drop is visible on a small iPod screen is a different matter.

/Mats

I plug my iPod into my TV. I can see no loss in quality except, of course, if you want to let ffmpegX drop the bitrate for the H264 encoding dramatically (as it normally likes to do). I bump it up about 20% fro the recommendation and, while it's not DVD quality, it's fine.

Don't let the good be the enemy of the perfect.