.srt->sub/idx won't show in a multiplexed .mp4 - Why & how can I change it?

[Fañch]

Hi,

I've got an .mp4 which I want to multiplex with three different subtitles coming from two different sources:
One being an english/french sub/idx and coming from one DVD, the second a spanish sub/idx (originally .srt coming from a subtitle-related website).

After getting multiplexed (using Yamb), the 1st sub/idx (containing french & english) shows fine when playing the file.

The problem comes with the 2nd sub/idx (spanish). As I said, this file was originally an .srt file, which I converted into a sub/idx one.
And from what I could read out there, it seems there's some work to do with "IDs", "updating file offsets" or "authoring" sub/idx files coming from several sources. Since I'm not familiar with these terms yet, I have to say I'm quite stuck now at to what step I should take now.

I also came across a so-called "VobSub ID Adjuster", which anyway is nowhere to be found on the internet.

Has anyone any idea of how I could get this 2nd subtitle file accepted/read by my media players? (I tried both MPC and VLC)

Thanks a lot if you can.

N.B. I was wondering if the subs had not gone transparent during the .srt->.sub/idx conversion, but they show fine when played UNmultiplexed and named after the video file (like any classic subtitle file), so I guess it really has to do with that unknown factor I'm trying to point out here.

[Fañch]

Let's make it shorter:

How can I basically edit a .sub file?
And by editing, I don't mean editing text or time, but the file's properties.

I can "enter" the .idx file simply with the Notepad and edit from there, but I can't figure out how to open the .sub one (opening it with Notepad loads quantity of gibberish signs).

I believe the solution to my problem could lie in there...

[Fañch]

...and the solution lies NOT in the editing of .sub files (for which I did not find any possible workaround) but in the editing of the DVD itself. Which means if you want like me your external .sub/.idx file to appear in your multiplexed video, you must first include it in the source, ie. authoring the DVD/BluRay itself. I did it by following this tutorial: http://club.myce.com/f62/how-add-subtitles-dvd-croatian-english-tutorial-135193/

You'll roughly go through the following steps :
- demultiplexing your DVD (eg. with VobEdit)
- changing your .sub/.idx into a .sup file
- loading that new .sup file in the new DVD before multiplexing it (IfoEdit)
- then starting all over again the encoding process 'till you get your beloved .mp4

[mrcoolekin]

I don't know much about .mp4 containers, but you could try using VobsubMuxer and mux all of your subs together into 1 file. Then mux your subs with your video and see how that works. If that doesn't work *shrugs*

[Fañch]

Thanks for your reply.
I installed Vobsub a couple of weeks ago but I can't find any muxer in it (joiner, cutter are there but that's it).

[poisondeathray]

Do you need mp4 container? I think you'll find multiple subtitle, subtitle types, sub styles, etc.. support better in mkv container . Mkvtoolnix

[Fañch]

Yep, I read abt that too (a supposedly better subtitles support in .mkv) and I might test it in this matter.
Yet, I guess I'll have to go through the authoring step all the same.

And no, I don't need mp4 container, but since it's more widely-supported than mkv, I'm working my way through to it (yet it's true I start considering the mkv option more and more).

[mrcoolekin]

Vobsub wasn't what I was talking about. I was talking about Vobsubmuxer. I guess they don't have it here anymore on this website, but you can get it here: http://www.trustfm.net/divx/SoftwareVobsubMuxer.php?page=VobsubMuxerDownload. I don't have have the current version of what's posted on that website, but it should work the same.

The MKV container is so much better than mp4.