Already converted to mpeg 2

[nathy85]

Hello,
I have already converted the avi file to mpeg 2 using tmpegnc and would like to add permenant subtitles before I compile and burn it to dvd. All the guides I have seen so far only show how to add subtitles to avi with xvid codec. Is there a guide that shows how to insert subtitles into mpeg 2 without having to convert back to avi?
cheers

[mats.hogberg]

You should have added the permanent subs during the AVI to MPG reencode.
Load the AVI in VirtualDub, add the subtitles using subtitler or textsub filter, frameserve to TMPGEnc.
You can do the same now, by substituting "Load the AVI in VirtualDub" with "Load the mpg in VirtualDubMod" but it requires yet a reencoding pass (and quality loss). But why insist on permanent subs, as Video DVD supports the superior selectable subtitle option, which also won't have you reencode your mpg once again?

/Mats

[nathy85]

Thanks for the advice...I'll try it out and see what happens. To be honest I thought permanent subs were just subtitles that would be able to play on any standalone dvd player.

[nathy85]

what do you mean by reencoding pass

[manono]

He means that if you want hard-coded (embedded or "burned in") permanent subs, you'll have to reencode - you'll have to start all over. You can do it using the original AVI, or you can do it (much worse) using your already once encoded MPG.

Much better would be to make your subtitles selectable, like on regular DVDs.

[mats.hogberg]

what do you mean by reencoding pass

To make permanent subs, the video has to be reencoded. And each (re)encoding drops the quality some. A good rule is to use as few encoding passes as possible when going from format A to format B.

/Mats

[nathy85]

I get what you mean now. I have just started from the beginning again anyway, as it is wiser as you have said, to sort out the subtitles before encoding the file to MPEG-2.
Thanks for the help and knowledge

[guns1inger]

If I already had encoded the mpeg-2, I would just add subtitles during authoring, and make them on by default. If I wanted to be a real bastard, I would use PUOs to stop the subtitle button being used to turn them off again.