After burning in Toast: subs: no and yes.

[Levina]

Let me explain. I have a VIDEO_TS file, 4,3 GB, subtitles present. I don't need the menu since most options (like bonus features and the like) are excluded. Also, I would like to get rid of the warning messages at the beginning that can't be skipped. So, in stead of burning it as a data file, I burn it in the VIDEO_TS tab, choosing custom and excluding the extra's, keeping only the main film and the English subs. But when I play the DVD in my stand-alone dvd player, it won't display the subtitles. I use my player's menu to turn them on, but they just won't show (although they are there, since the subs are listed). However, when I burn that same VIDEO_TS file as-is in the Data tab, I turn on the subs in my dvd player and there they are. So I'm wondering why they won't show using the first method?

[Levina]

Is there really no one that knows why I can't get any subs on my stand-alone dvd player when I burn my VIDEO_TS file customized in Toast? It's kind of important to me as I have checked and there are more dvd's burned like that, not showing the subs (while others do). Thing is that I prefer to burn the main feature without all the hoopla, but with the subs intact, and as long as I don't know why in a costumized burn, the subs will sometimes fail, I basically can't use this option. Please, anyone?

[terryj]

just a guess, but your going to have to find a way to
embed the subs into your main feature movie
if you want them there 100% of the time.

which means that after you rip to Main Feature from MTR,
you'll need either iShow U or another hijacker ( like VLC's export)
to create a .mov file with the subs burned in, then re-author that movie file
to DVD via Toast.

[Levina]

Thanks terryj for replying, but alas, I really want my subs to be selectable, so your suggestion would be a no go for me. Which means that I will burn my VIDEO_TS files as-is in Toast's Data tab (and sit through the hoopla). However, what I don't understand is why, in the VIDEO_TS Tab and customized, the subs sometimes fail to appear, when clearly they are there. It is as if without the menu, the subs can't be gotten to for some reason. Very odd.

[terryj]

that's simple: Subtitle commands are UOPs,
so they are hidden from extraction,
and in the Menu IFO, the subtitle commands exist
to access this hidden content.

No IFO data can be transferred in the Video TAB, only
VOB information. The Video Tab will only read some types of
info, IFO's, not being one of those file types, doesn't get read.

if you want IFO info, it has to be burned in the DATA tab
as a UDF DVD-ROm. That way, the DVD Player reads the IFo, which then
allows access to the hidden content.

read more here:
UOP
IFO

Unfortuantely, you are wanting to not burn the IFOs, because you
don't want menus. But you can't seperate the baby out with the
bathwater; not burning the IFOs means you don't get access to
the hidden subs.

So your choices are simple:
Burn the discs with the IFO data, but yes also get stuck with Menus, but you get the subs 100%
or
Burn files in the Video Tab, but the files will have to have the subs
BURNED in, as otherwise the content will remain hidden,
and without an IFO to tell the DVD Player where they are,
you will get iffy playback like you have been getting.

[Case]

It may not be impossible, if you're prepared to do it the hard way, and edit your Toast-generated VIDEO_TS folder with MyDVDEdit to customize subtitle behavior. That is, if MyDVDEdit is able to detect the presence of the subs at all.
Use of MyDVDEdit requires a fair bit of knowledge of the workings and structure of the DVD format, so some may find the learning curve a bit steep...

[Levina]

I think it's clear that I don't know enough about 'the workings and structure of the DVD format', so I will begin there. Thank you both very much for the links, suggestions, advice. You're great!

[terryj]

u r always welcome!