About SVCD Subtitles

[NomaD]

Hello

I wanted to ask: I read the tutorial about the Subtitles but I didn't understand if the subtitles are subtitles like on a DVD - Can you turn them off if you want to?

Another thing is: Can I put subtitles on a SVCD after I encoded it with TMPGEnc? I really don't want to do that again - It took 7 hours!!!

Thanks a lot!
CheerZ!

[Vejita-sama]

There are two ways to add subtitles to your x(S)VCD. Permanant subtitles (ie. they're part of the MPEG and can not be turned off). Or (x)SVCD/MPEG2 supports selectable subtitles, which can be turned on/off.

However, most DVD players don't actually support selectable SVCD subtitles, and the program you need to make them (I-author) is next to impossible to find and not sold in the US.
http://www.vcdhelp.com/svcdsubs.htm

So most people make x(S)VCDs w/ permant subtitles. There are a lot of different ways to do this (see Author section) but what as always worked best for me:

1) Rip DVD, use DVD2AVI to generate D2V + WAV.
2) Apply VFAPI codec to D2V -> AVI
3) Load avi in Virtual Dub, apply VobSub filter. Resize (and any other filters you might want)
4) Frameserve to TMPGenc (or CCE)

There's a really good guide for this (with more info then you need really) at:

http://www.flexion.org/video/DVDConv/DVD2AVI/index.html

So to anwser your last question, you can't add the subs to the MPEG w/o re-encoding it IF you aren't adding multiple audio tracks, using an interlaced source, or other MPEG2 specific stuff you might want to make an xVCD at 352x480 or 480x480, and up the bitrate.

At the same resolution and bitrate, MPEG1 looks the same as MPEG2. The difference is that MPEG2 supports lots of stuff that MPEG1 does not. Encoding MPEG1 is much faster than encoding MPEG2, so you can save some time making xVCDs to SVCD standards.

[NomaD]

Thanks a lot ))

I didn't understand though the last thing you said You're saying that making XVCDs is better than making SVCDs?

What does MPEG2 supports that MPEG1 doesn't?

Thanks again!

[Vejita-sama]

No I'm saming making xVCDs is faster than making (x)SVCDs. MPEG2 supports - multiple angles, multiple audio tracks, selectable subtitles, interlacing, etc. MPEG1 is a very simple format, and doesn't really support anything but progressive video and 1 audio track. But if that's all you need, then you can save some time by encoding MPEG1.

However, the standard VCD template calls for MPEG1 @ 352x240 resolution and video = 1150kbit/s. The standard SVCD template calls for MPEG2 @ 480x480 and video = 2520kbit/s.

But you can make an xVCD using the SVCD standards (ie. 352x480 or 480x480 and up the bitrate) and you'll get the same quaility encode, but a little faster. Also increase the odds/ease of playing it

This assumes you have a progressive (ie. non-interlaced source) video source, and only 1 audio track. I only mention it because you said you don't want to wait 7hrs to re-encode your MPEG. You can also save time by not down mixing your audio from 48k -> 44.1k, most stand alones and all PCs (with a sound card made in the last 5yrs or so) will play 48k audio no problem.

[vitualis]

It should be noted that 48 kHz sound is not standard though and such a disc may not work on some players (it will probably work on most DVD players but possibly not on many stand-alone SVCD players).

Regards.