Subtitling an AVI in ffMpeg

[iMacG5Usr]

Hi, so I have this AVI-movie and I have an .srt file to go with it.
I want to permanently add this subtitle to the movie and save it on disk.
I have tried and tried, but have been unsuccessful.
Maybe anyone can guide me through the process. I'd be mucho thankful...

iMacG5usr

[Case]

If you want to "burn" the subs onto the video, then you'll have to pick a mencoder preset and encode the video with these subs to a new file, AVI or otherwise.

Open your file. Select a preset that uses the mencoder engine, e.g. XviD mencoder. In the Video tab, check the video size to match the source. In the Audio tab, check the various parameters to match the source. In the Filters tab, set your subtitle file. Set the type to "Burn". Use the Load subs button to select your subtitle file. The Options tab is optional. Encode.

[iMacG5Usr]

Thanks case, trying it now, do you also know why it is that only 35 mins. is being converted.
That's all I get.
Thank you.

iMacG5Usr

[Case]

Do you know why it is that only 35 mins. is being converted?

No, hard to say without examining your source file. One possibility is that there is an error in your file at the 35 min point. Can you notice a glitch at that timecode?

[iMacG5Usr]

I've already succeeded in encoding, thanks for the help, it's perfect.
Only the thing is... sometimes the converted file appears at the moment I press the encode button, and sometimes it doesn't.
Like now for instant, It's at 18 percent... and no converted file in the folder, is that wrong?

iMacG5Usr

[iMacG5Usr]

I am just starting with this program so I don't know it all just yet, but wat am I doing wrong when the encoding is finished in 1 sec.
And when I locate the mencoder and check the box it unchecks the next time I look at it.
Videoguru's Please help...

[Case]

sometimes the converted file appears at the moment I press the encode button, and sometimes it doesn't.
Like now for instant, It's at 18 percent... and no converted file in the folder, is that wrong?

Mac OS X isn't all that responsive in updating folder listings for files being created and made larger, like one would see with encoding files. Maybe Leopard will improve that?

What am I doing wrong when the encoding is finished in 1 sec?

Have a look at the Log, it should list errors, if any. If you can't figure it out, post the content here for us to look at.

And when I locate the mencoder and check the box it unchecks the next time I look at it.

Is this in the components self-installer window? You only have to do that once, if successful. If the components (binaries) are installed okay, then they are in black the next time you look at that window. If they are in red, try again. The binaries are copied to a special OS X location by the installer, so you may delete the downloaded files after a successful installation.

[iMacG5Usr]

Well, this is what's stated in the log, and... I can't figure it out, so here it is:

/bin/sh: -c: line 1: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
/bin/sh: -c: line 2: syntax error: unexpected end of file

Thanks... iMacG5Usr

[iMacG5Usr]

I've captured the window, maybe i's of some help to you.

foto%202007-08-12%2012-58-42.tiff

[Case]

/bin/sh: -c: line 1: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''

Short answer: Try DMGs_and_Movies for a folder name.

Long answer: Remember that ffmpegX is a GUI frontend for many underlying Unix tools. These tools operate by command line, just like using Terminal. One of the consequences of this is that it may be possible to do 'illegal' things (from a computer language POV), unless the developer made provisions for every possible thing that needs special handling to avoid these illegalities.
You seem to have a folder with the name DMG's and Movies. This folder has an apostrophe (') which has a special meaning in the command line language: the command line interpreter is looking for a quoted segment, thinking the first apostrophe is an opening quote, but never finds the end quote, thus fails. The developer has managed to escape many special characters for the ffmpeg engine, but not for the mplayer/mencoder engine and some other tools (yet).
Try to keep your disk name, folder names and file names 'clean': without spaces and special characters. At least the disk/folder/file names that ffmpegX may use.

[iMacG5Usr]

Geez man, how do you know all this stuff... well nevermind, just don't forget it all, it 'd be a shame.
Thanks alot, iMacG5Usr

[iMacG5Usr]

Hey Case, there is one more thing that boggles my mind... the sound... I've kept the sound bitrate at 32 kb/s, but it actually gets worse when I convert the movie.
Any idea?

iMacUsr

[Case]

32 kbps is quite low. I imagine even the source doesn't sound very clear. You could try a higher bitrate (say 128 kbps) or -even better- Passthrough (AVI output only) for a direct audio copy.

Alternatively, you could skip encoding and extract the audio from the source and multiplex it with the extracted new video. Not as simple, but faster on most systems, as video encoding takes the most time. Use D-Vision > Tools > Re-encoding avi/mpg for stream extraction from AVIs. The Mux tool in ffmpegX can multiplex the video and audio stream to a new AVI again. And if needed, run it through an AVI Fixer.