How to combined .ssa with a video?

[Tetsuya]

Hi! I'm new here.
May i know, how to combined a ready sub script that is using sub station alpha and a video that have no subtitle.

[manono]

Hi-

The answer is yes, it can be done. However, do you want the subtitle to be selectable, to be able to be turned on and off, or do you want to "burn" the sub into the video? And in what format is the video? Is it, for example, some sort of AVI, or is it some sort of MPG, such as a DVD?

[Tetsuya]

The video format is in avi but i want to add the subtitle in it.
The subtitle for the video is ready and have been save in .ssa format.
Currently it's separate, i just want to know how to combine this both and i do not want the subtitle to be turn on and off.

[manono]

Hi-

So you want to "burn" the subs into the video? The easiest way, I guess, is to do it in AutoGK. Open the AVI in AutoGK, hit CTRL-F8 to load the SSA file (in the new window that opens up below "Input File"), set up AutoGK for your same filesize, width and audio, and encode.

[mats.hogberg]

...but you have to reencode, throwing some overall quality out the window.
Why not keep the subs as a separate file (preferrably in .srt format, as that is the most supported format in both software and hardware players)? Preserves both time and quality.

/Mats

[Tetsuya]

If upgrading the quality video. Can't i just re-convert the data to a new data?

[manono]

Sorry, but you lost me. I don't understand.

[kschang]

If upgrading the quality video. Can't i just re-convert the data to a new data?

You can convert, but as we explained before, every time you convert, you LOSE quality. It's like entropy can only INCREASE, and here quality can only decrease. So there's no such thing as "upgrading the quality video".

[Tetsuya]

If like that is the problem. Then how do i preserved the quality of the video in what ways?

[mats.hogberg]

By doing nothing to the video. That's the only way. If you want permanent subtitles, you have to reencode, which means losing some quality.

/Mats

[celtic_druid]

To preserve quality there are only really two possible paths.

1) Leave it.
2) Use a lossless codec.

To have hard encoded subs AND keep quality only 2) is a possiblity and the size will probably increase massively.

Quality loss and perceivable quality loss are two different matters though.

Use AVISynth and textsub, re-encode and see what you think. The fact is that some ssa effects aren't really suitable for realtime playback, especially if talking non PC based playback.

[Tetsuya]

Then, What about the turning the subtitle on and off part.
Since, i also want to know.

[mats.hogberg]

Then, What about the turning the subtitle on and off part.

That can't be accomplished without reencoding.

/Mats

[redwudz]

Tetsuya, Just so this is clear, what mats.hogberg said:

Why not keep the subs as a separate file (preferrably in .srt format, as that is the most supported format in both software and hardware players)? Preserves both time and quality.

If you put the subs and the AVI video into the same folder, you don't need to combine them with the video and most players will show the subtitles when playing. The subs need a similar name to the video, such as 'My video.avi' and 'My video.srt' They will be selectable this way.