How to convert srt/sub/ssa to SON/SCR for "Final Cut Pro" on Mac

[mriddler]

Hi all,
I have an Arabic (right to left language) subtitle, I have it in SRT format, SUB/IDX format and SSA format. I want it in either SON (The Sonic Solutions bitmap-based format) format or SCR (The Daiken-Comtec Laboratories Scenarist bitmap-based format) format. I tried MaestroSBT to convert ssa to son (with TIFF images) but it hangs when I check the "right to left language" box. Any other tools can be useful?
So now you know that I could generate the SON file with TIFF sequence but it comes disordered due to language specifications.

Subtitles need to be used in "Final Cut Pro" on Mac, I need them to be provided in a format which we can drop onto a project in final cut

Please help ASAP...

===============
[SOLVED] This post worked with me thanks to Midzuki:
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic366834.html#1959557

[jman98]

Subtitles Creator
http://www.soft14.com/Multimedia_and_Productivity/DVD_tools/Subtitles_Creator_14335_Review.html
(NOTE: This is NOT the same program as Subtitle Creator - no "s" after "Subtitle")
can convert SRT files to Scenarist compatible subtitles. I have used it many times for this. It will definitely work with Latin and Cyrillic based SRT files. Perhaps it will work for your Arabic subtitles too.

[mriddler]

Subtitles Creator
http://www.soft14.com/Multimedia_and_Productivity/DVD_tools/Subtitles_Creator_14335_Review.html
(NOTE: This is NOT the same program as Subtitle Creator - no "s" after "Subtitle")
can convert SRT files to Scenarist compatible subtitles. I have used it many times for this. It will definitely work with Latin and Cyrillic based SRT files. Perhaps it will work for your Arabic subtitles too.

It didn't work
Blank images!! I tried all Bitmap Image Formats...

[Midzuki]

I presume MaestroSBT works better when fed with Unicode-written subtitles.
Anyway, would you mind uploading a copy of your subs?
So we could try to work on them.

***

[mriddler]

... Unicode-written subtitles.

Thanks Midzuki for the tip but it didn't work neither

Anyway, would you mind uploading a copy of your subs?

I wouldn't mind at all..

Here is one subtitle and a screen shot to my settings too...
Attached ZIP File:
|__Original SRT File.srt
|__Produced with SubtitleW Workshop.ssa
|__Unicoded SSA file.ssa

sub.zip

After opening the file I set Timing properties (Ctrl + T) In and Out to 25 FPS, then the Rendering properties (Ctrl + R) like this:


And I edit the Style (Ctrl + Y) to be:

[Midzuki]

OK, I think I have figured out how to fix your Unicode .SSA ,
but before going ahead, :

Hi all,
I have an Arabic (right to left language) subtitle, I have it in SRT format, SUB/IDX format and SSA format. I want it in either SON (The Sonic Solutions bitmap-based format) format or SCR (The Daiken-Comtec Laboratories Scenarist bitmap-based format) format. I tried MaestroSBT to convert ssa to son (with TIFF images) but it hangs when I check the "right to left language" box.

could you please explain, why would you need TIFF files especifically ???
and perhaps more importantly, why the 320x240 resolution
Cannot be for SVCD/DVD authoring, AFAIK,
and not-worth-the-effort for a common hardsubbing.

###

[mriddler]

OK, I think I have figured out how to fix your Unicode .SSA ,

Thanks in advance..

why would you need TIFF files especifically ???

Any image-format would be suitable; Bitmap, TIFF, JPG, ... etc

and perhaps more importantly, why the 320x240 resolution

I wanted it to fit my videos, But only one hour ago, I could get the original resolution of the video file: 1024×720
Now I guess I answered all your questions... Waiting for your answers

[Midzuki]

If you intend to convert your video to DVD-compliant MPEG files,
then you'll have to accept the "official" resolution, 720x480 or 720x576.
Besides, not all applications accept "any file format" as a valid input.

Or am I still missing anything relevant
For the time being, I will assume you want subtitles for a 4:3 NTSC DVD,
later you may tweak the modified SSA file as needed.

###

[mriddler]

you'll have to accept the "official" resolution

OK, no problem
I need the subtitles in this format to be inserted into some DVD application that only accepts these formats.
Waiting for your tips

[Midzuki]

So be it :P
First of all, edit the "raw" SSA header generated by Subtitle Workshop:

[Script Info]
ScriptType: v4.00
Collisions: Normal
PlayResX: 640
PlayResY: 480
Timer: 100.0000

[V4 Styles]
Format: Name, Fontname, Fontsize, PrimaryColour, SecondaryColour, TertiaryColour, BackColour, Bold, Italic, BorderStyle, Outline, Shadow, Alignment, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, AlphaLevel, Encoding
Style: Default,Arial Unicode MS,20,16777215,16777215,16777215,12632256,-1,0,1,1,1,6,32,32,312,0,1

Second step, configure MaestroSBT for dealing with Unicode text:




Below is the .son file and its bitmaps:

arabic-subtitles.cab


P.S.: Forget the "R2L Language" checkbox,
it makes MaestroSBT crash.

%%%

[mriddler]

P.S.: Forget the "R2L Language" checkbox, it makes MaestroSBT crash. %%%

Thanks Midzuki for your effort, But here's a little problem you weren't aware of (as you don't know Arabic): Words are reversed.
It's like; instead of writing "I have to do this" the program wrote "this do to have I"!!
That's why I want to check this button.. It tells the program that the language is Right-to-Left (Arabic), but it keeps crashing
Any ideas?

P.S.: letters are reversed too in the BMP you sent!! I think that's because your machine doesn't support Arabic.

I will modify my post now to reflect this:
"Subtitles need to be used in "Final Cut Pro" on Mac, I need them to be provided in a format which we can drop onto a project in final cut"

[Midzuki]

P.S.: letters are reversed too in the BMP you sent!! I think that's because your machine doesn't support Arabic.

No, it's because I assumed (stupid me, of course) the Arabic-written lines
already were Right-To-Left. Gonna try once more. The problem comes from
MaestroSBT itself, not from "my machine".

\ \ \

[Midzuki]

Is this the right way to do it

? ? ?

[Midzuki]

Or maybe this one:

[Midzuki]

Before anything else:

many many thanks to jman98,
for making me know that "Subtitles.exe" exists.

@ mriddler:

the pic on the post above was created from a BlankClip .AVS,
subbed with DirectVobSub. The pic on this post was generated by Subtitles Creator:

[mriddler]

Is this the right way to do it

No, this is wrong.

Or maybe this one:

But this is RIGHT

Before anything else:
the pic on the post above was created from a BlankClip .AVS,
subbed with DirectVobSub. The pic on this post was generated by Subtitles Creator:

So, how to do one like this? or the one above?

[Midzuki]

This way:



OR by opening a custom BlankClip Avisynth script in VirtualDub:

LoadPlugin("C:\CODEXDIR\Gabest\VSFilter.dll")
BlankClip(width=640, height=480, fps=25.000, length=3000, color=$0000cc)
TextSub("4VDub.ssa")

///

[mriddler]

Thanks alot Midzuki, this one worked for me....

This way:

[Sir Doyle]

Hi..

I have .son , .scr and .slt .. but how i can import these files into final cut?