What is the easiest way to add subtitles to mpeg files?

[Paco M.]

Hi,

I have several mpeg files ready to author a DVD. But, before authoring, I would like to add one selectable subtitle to each mpeg.

I do not need any button in the DVD menu for subtitle activation. I simply want to use the subtitle key of the DVD player remote commander to switch them on/off.

In theory, a mpeg file is the result of multiplexing several streams (audio, video and subtitles). How can I do it in the easiest way?

Thanks in advance.

Paco

P.S. I have tried with spumux.exe (included in DVDauthorGUI) but some problems, not yet solved, were found.

[Baldrick]

you must author with a tool that support subtitles, like dvdauthor. what exactly have done with it?

and a mpeg can't have any switchable dvd subtitles, a dvd vob can though. do you have the subs in text files or do you have mpegs that are actually vobs????

[Paco M.]

Hi Baldrick,

Thanks for your answer, but I think that multiplexing subtitles into existing mpeg2 program streams is possible. Have a look at:

http://dvdauthor.sourceforge.net/doc/spumux.html

Colleagues working in Linux environment have shown it to me. I have tested a demo DVD following functional specifications as described in my first mail. My problem is that I have not got yet same results in Windows.

Do you think that the problem is strictly in the authoring tool? or there is another misunderstanding?

Paco

[Baldrick]

okey...mpegs can have subs but they aren't that useful until have you have authored them to dvd.

but what is your source files??? you must have video,audio and subtitles?? why not try dvdauthorgui, it let you add video,audio and subs and make the dvd(it uses spumux in dvdauthor)

[Paco M.]

Baldrick,

My source files are CBR encoded MPEG 2 with audio (48 kHz, MP2) and (little) video.

I use spumux for multiplexing mpeg and .png based subtitle stream. No error is reported till this point.

But I have too many mpeg files and DVDAuthorGUI is not a friendly tool for my pourposes. I use instead TMPGEnc DVD Author, that does not support subtitles menu.

Do you think this tool change in some way the MPEG files, or better, subtitle stream included in each MPEG file? Which is my mistake?

Thanks again.

Paco

[mats.hogberg]

I think as TDA doesn't suport subs, the VOBs it outputs wont either, regardless of if your source mpegs contain subs or not.
You have to use an uthoring app that supports subs.

/Mats

[Baldrick]

tmpgenc dvd author doesn't support subs, it doesn't add the subtitle info to the .ifo files(so the dvdplayer knows that the dvd has subs) and it might remove the subs when it remultiplexes to dvd vob files.

you must use dvdauthor or dvdauthorgui or gui for dvd author.

[Paco M.]

Baldrick, Mats,

Thank you very much for your posts. I understand now where is the source of my problem with subtitles.

It's a pity because authoring a DVD with 300 or 400 links (audio compilations on DVD) is quite easy with TMPGEnc DVD Author and much more difficult with any other tested tool.

Paco

[mats.hogberg]

"Roll your own" is always nice, but have you tried Audio DVD Creator?

/Mats

[Paco M.]

Yes, I follow any news about programs for making audio compilation on DVD (DVD2one Audio Remaster, Audio DVD Creator, .... ). But up to date I have not found exactly what I would like (friendly user interface, direct acces to any chapter, easy encoding and authoring).

You can find the specifications I want in chapter 1 of the guide, https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?guideid=539

At the end of it there is also the following paragraph:

"In future, a new functionality to add could be to include selectable subtitles to show information about each theme (performer, title, CD). These subtitles would be displayed only at listener will. That way, risk for screen due to long time still pictures projection is minimized."

Bye.

Paco

[mats.hogberg]

I'd like to read that article, but the links are dead at DigitalDigest...

/Mats

[Paco M.]

Hi,

Spanish version of the guide can be found at

http://www.videoedicion.org//index.php?page=Manuales
http://www.dvdrspain.com/pafiledb3/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=237

I suppose you prefer an English copy. Let me know an e-mail address to send you the pdf or doc file.

Paco

[Paco M.]

Hello again.

I have a DVD authored with TMPGEnc DVD Author. The source mpeg files are supposed to have a subtitle stream multiplexed with audio and video strreams.

- Is the subtitle information still available in the VOBs generated by TMPGEnc DVD Author?
- If so, is it possible to edit the .IFO file to "active" the subtitles?

Thanks.

Paco


P.S. Link to "Audio Compilations on DVD Guide" works again:

http://www.dvdr-digest.com/articles/32_1.html

[mats.hogberg]

P.S. Link to "Audio Compilations on DVD Guide" works again:
http://www.dvdr-digest.com/articles/32_1.html

Thanks! Got it.

/Mats