How to do a DVD to SVCD, with Selectable Subtitles Guide

[The VidKid]

HeY Guys, haven't posted here in a looong time, but it was this place that got me started with the DVD/VCD world.
Awesome.

Anyway, I'm back here with questions/problems with the SVCD world.

Ok, I've spent 2hours+ reading all the How To guides (I'm on a 56k, so loading up all those pics took a while), even read the FAQ and searched the forums. I've read about how to use VDub to embed the subtitles into VCD and SVCD, but does the Sub filter allow selectable subtitling? I've searched the forums and read how I-Author can do that, but it isn't in the Tools section, and later read and found out that it's "near impossible to find". Then I read how DVD2SVCD can do the job, but requires Cinemacraft 2.50, which isn't freeware. (Why do you need Cinemacraft? If it's to make use of it's files/drivers and such, then will the demo work?)

Anyway, to get to the main point...

Can anyone give the BEST method; a simple, step-by-step guide (I've look on VCDHelp already), that will show you how to do a DVD to SVCD rip with selectable subtitles?

Is there a particular file on the DVD which is the actual subtitle file? Or is it contained within the vob files?

What I was expecting was to be able to just take that subtitle file and open that up with a program along with the movie, and select VCD (merge the text with video) or SVCD (choosing merge or selectable subtitling). Does such a method/program exist?

Please help me, as well as the many subtitling wonderers out there.

Thank you.




_________________
-= The VidKid =-

www.NSSgamers.com
www.TheVidKid.com


If you want my ICQ#, MSN or Yahoo Messenger ID, just ask.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: The VidKid on 2001-10-24 00:41:39 ]</font>

[Taipei King]

Try DVDx instead of DVD2SVCD, it's very simple but full functional.

[The VidKid]

Ok, I checked out the web site, and it doesn't state whether or not the subtitles have the option of being embedded with the video or can be a selectable option for the SVCD conversion. ??

[Vejita-sama]

DVD2SVCD can't do it either. It's just a frontend program that also requires I-Author. Even if you have I-Author most DVD players don't actually support selectable subtitles and they don't work on the PC

So basically you're screwed, unless you've got lots of money. And if you've got the money...

[The VidKid]

Ok, so where can I get I-Author??
Does anyone here know where?

And.. if I have the money.............. ???

[AngelHito]

Like Vejita-sama, I had the same subtitles problem which I solved without I-Author by using DVD2SVCD and simply selecting "permanent subtitles". Doing this you will not be able to take subtitles out of the mpeg2, nor will you have the menus that I-author offers. If you can live with permanent subtitles on your SVCD try that.

You must use CCE ver 2.5 and with the demo version you
will see a CinemaCraft logo through out the movie.

There is a link to download CEE 2.5 demo on DVD2SVCD's guide.

Quality is excellent.

[The VidKid]

Ok, let's step into "permanent subtitles" for a bit.
If I were to do that, in either VCD or SVCD, is there a way to extract the subtitling "file" (if there is such a thing) and use, let's say Sub Station Alpha, to edit/alter the subtitles and then merge it with the final video to create permanent subtitled VCD/SVCDs? If such a method exists, I would also like to know how.

(I've read the How To's here, but none really pass through that type of process.)

Thanks

[Taipei King]

Why bother? DVDx has all the subtitle functions (select, color, position...) you're looking for and it's done in just one step. I do this all the time. Just go download DVDx and then refer to the user guide in the zip.

[The VidKid]

I don't know exactly, but let's say if you would want to alter or edit the text...?



_________________
-= The VidKid =-

www.NSSgamers.com
www.TheVidKid.com


If you want my ICQ#, MSN or Yahoo Messenger ID, just ask.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: The VidKid on 2001-10-24 03:20:43 ]</font>

[AngelHito]

I dont think there is a specific file for subtitles on a DVD, I think they are enclosed within the vob files.
When ripped, subtitles are stored in *.bmp format.
I guess you could manually change/edit them, but there
are over 1,000 (one thousand) of them on an average movie.

There must be an esier way than doing one by one, but I
dont know of heard of any program doing such.

I have seen your website http://www.thevidkid.com
If what you are trying to do is include the lyrics
on your music videos would be not be as tedious as
doing a whole movie, but nonetheless.... a lot of work.

When using DVD2SVCD mark "dont delete any files" and
all your *.bmp (subtitles) will remain on your default directory for you to play with them.

and yes, I would like your ICQ #

[The VidKid]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-10-24 03:25:49, AngelHito wrote:
I dont think there is a specific file for subtitles on a DVD, I think they are enclosed within the vob files.
When ripped, subtitles are stored in *.bmp format.
I guess you could manually change/edit them, but there
are over 1,000 (one thousand) of them on an average movie.

There must be an esier way than doing one by one, but I
dont know of heard of any program doing such.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Have you heard of "Sub Station Alpha" and VirtualDub's Subtitler? You can create subtitles as easy as setting the start and end time, as well as the text to be displayed. With that said, I was wondering if there was an exact subtitle file that can be opened and edited using Sub Station Alpha.

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
I have seen your website www.thevidkid.com
If what you are trying to do is include the lyrics
on your music videos would be not be as tedious as
doing a whole movie, but nonetheless.... a lot of work.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

The cool thing about VirtualDub's Subtitler (and possibly Sub Station Alpha), is how you can do scrolling text, and even karaoke text. LoL. But I wasn't intending on using subtitling for the lyrics in my music videos.. but however, this way would be way easier than using the logo filter, in reference to putting my name on the video (i.e., my music video CLASH OF THE SUPER SAIYA-JINS).

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
and yes, I would like your ICQ #
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Ah yes, I shall e-mail you immediately.

[The VidKid]

Ok, I just checked out DVD2SVCD's fucntions (haven't done anything with VOB files yet) and so far it looks like it can do SVCD and embedded subtitling (but as vejita-sama stated, I-Author is still needed. Does anyone HAVE this program??). But it still requires Cinematograph. Question: Will the Demo of Cinematograph work? Or will that produce a logo or something..?

_________________
-= The VidKid =-

www.NSSgamers.com
www.TheVidKid.com


If you want my ICQ#, MSN or Yahoo Messenger ID, just ask.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: The VidKid on 2001-10-24 03:58:59 ]</font>

[AngelHito]

I stand corrected, there are in fact several programs
that deal with subtitles. Getting some myself.

Using demo CinemaCraft WILL show a blue logo throught
the mpeg.
Better than paying 3,000 dollars for a program that
I personally do not think is worth a fraction of that
and only slightly better than TMPGEnc which is free.

my 2 cents

[arminio]

Have you heard of "Sub Station Alpha" and VirtualDub's Subtitler? You can create subtitles as easy as setting the start and end time, as well as the text to be displayed. With that said, I was wondering if there was an exact subtitle file that can be opened and edited using Sub Station Alpha.

The cool thing about VirtualDub's Subtitler (and possibly Sub Station Alpha), is how you can do scrolling text, and even karaoke text. LoL. But I wasn't intending on using subtitling for the lyrics in my music videos.. but however, this way would be way easier than using the logo filter, in reference to putting my name on the video (i.e., my music video CLASH OF THE SUPER SAIYA-JINS).

I know this is an old post but I am just in to burning subtitles with SSA and I must say I am pretty much satisfied ! It work with VCD or SVCD and looks nice ! I mean, I can use DivX with any subtitle I have for it and burn (S)VCD, XVCD with subs within picture !

Also, I am writing tool which will convert any SRT subttile file (SubRip format) into SSA script ...

Let me know If someone is interrested !

[Truman]

http://www.vcdhelp.com/srtsubsvirtual.htm

[arminio]

I was on that link ... conversion tool is OK but it does not satisfy all my needs

So, I made new - my tool create v4 scripts with possibility to select encoding (for Greek, Croatian and simmilar languages with special letters in subtitles), you can use auto sizing (when change font, converter can adjust size so text will fit the same space as previous font), it can find the longest line in subtitle (based on current style settings) and allow you to check will it fit on screen in current settings, it is possile to have relative size depending on playing resolution (same settings will produce proportional sizing on different movies), some predefined styles are included (for NTSC and PAL in differnet formats - from 4:3 to 2.35:1) etc. ...

Not much but have what existing tool missing (and I badly need )...

Also, I am planning to add reading from MicroDVD formats too (without need for converting to SRT before useag) but I am pretty busy with other things lately ...