Cannot get Handbrake to work with SRT subtitles.

[Bsmooth]

I downloaded srt subtitles and tried to get them to work with Handbrake. Despite trying different settings they just don't show up. I'm new at this so please have patience. I tried all sorts of different things according to different youtubers, but nothing worked. I even tried naming them the same, but that didn't work either.
I'm sure its something simple, but like I said I'm new at this. Suggestions ?

[ProWo]

First of all:
What do you want to do with the srt subtitle?
Should it be added to the video so that you can switch it on and off later with the video player as you wish?
or do you want to burn the subtitle into the video so that it is always displayed?
In the first case, it is sufficient to mux the subtitle to the video. You can do this with various programs.
In the second case, search for burn in subtitles in the Handbrake settings.

[Bsmooth]

I'm trying to back up my Blurays to hardisk. In some cases the subtitles are so big they take away from watching the film. So I would like to be able to customize them; make them smaller, move them up or down. I'm using a Zidoo Z9X Pro 4K for a player. Not sure If the Zidoo can change the subtitles or not.
If I use MKV to get a file and want to make it smaller(only using 1080P) by using Handbrake I can either use the PGS subtitles from the MKV files or use imported SRT files. I'm not sure which to use.

[ProWo]

In this case you should use Handbrake without subtitles, to recode then videostream only.
The other streams (audio and subtitles) can be muxed later with the new created videostream, ge with Mkvtoolnix.
The subtitles itself can be cusomized with ge Subtitle Edit.

[loninappleton]

Subtitles should be able to be adjusted for size in your player as another option. Your player will show settings for that so check what's in there as defaults etc. You might check a different player against that to compare etc. Daum PotPlayer has the most detailed adjustments that I've seen for this sort of thing but VLC has an easy to read setup for subs as well. Just be advised that adjustments don't work on all sub formats. The changes will be temps though (I think ) and dependent on the player.

It's good advice (above) to just make an SRT and work on that separately then select it from the player's menu.

[Edit] I've also found that Notepad++ (a standlone free program) which can read SRTs is very valuable
to see the SRT as text.

[Bsmooth]

Regular Notepad works as well, just open as all files instead of just text. So far the only way of getting them to work is using Subtitle edit to get them the right size, then after that use MKVToolNix to put them into the video file. But I had no luck with Handbrake at all getting them in.
Pretty time consuming, but I'm learning this whole process isn't exactly what I would call fast by any means.

[davexnet]

Regular Notepad works as well, just open as all files instead of just text. So far the only way of getting them to work is using Subtitle edit to get them the right size, then after that use MKVToolNix to put them into the video file. But I had no luck with Handbrake at all getting them in.
Pretty time consuming, but I'm learning this whole process isn't exactly what I would call fast by any means.

It works for me. On the subtitle tab/tracks, import subtitle. Deselect forced and burn-in
For mkv and mp4 I got selectable subs, .ass for mkv and timed text for mp4

[loninappleton]

Regular Notepad works as well, just open as all files instead of just text. So far the only way of getting them to work is using Subtitle edit to get them the right size, then after that use MKVToolNix to put them into the video file. But I had no luck with Handbrake at all getting them in.
Pretty time consuming, but I'm learning this whole process isn't exactly what I would call fast by any means.

It works for me. On the subtitle tab/tracks, import subtitle. Deselect forced and burn-in
For mkv and mp4 I got selectable subs, .ass for mkv and timed text for mp4

I know I moved to Notepad++ only for reading subs but if standard Notepad works all the better.

[Bsmooth]

But still haven't figured how to make them work in Handbrake... weird.

[loninappleton]

Have the folks at Handbrake forum seen your issue? Just an idea.

[edit]

Withdrawn my remark. Hb just said their user forum no longer available. But there is something going on
at github:

https://handbrake.fr/community.php

[Bsmooth]

Still learning the process, but it would be nice to have a database of info somewhere, instead of having find little bits and pieces of info from all over the place.
This is still the most responses I've gotten from any of the forums, which include MKV forums, AVS Forums, AV forums, and a few others from youtubers.
Even the Zidoo Z9X Pro 4K I just got had terrible docs. I had an issue with a few unmatched films I wanted to fix and had to finally find it online.
I'm old school, so thanks to everyone so far. But your not off the hook quite yet, I'm sure I'll have more questions.