help combining 2 xvid avis and 2 subtitles (srt) to 1 xvid avi

[hibbs]

I am a little lost as to how subtitles are handled in AVIs. I have used AVIAddXSubs to merge the subtitles into the AVI. This results in switchable subs in my standalone divx player. When I join the two such AVIs using VirtualDub in direct video stream copy mode the subtitles are not available in my stand alone player, WMP, MPC or Nero Show Time.

A little further checking reveals that none of the PC software players will show subtitles for the separate AVIs made by AVIAddXSubs but they are switchable on the Oppo DV-970HD. Very pleased that the Oppo has USB input, a flash drive has saved many CD/DVDs.

AHha! MediaInfo shows DivX subtitles in the AVIAddXSubs built files but they are absent from the VirtualDub built file.

What am I doing wrong or is there a better way. The subtitles don't have to be switchable but it would be nice.

Any help appreciated, John.

[jagabo]

I would use SubtitleWorkshop to append and adjust the timing of the two SRT files, append the AVI files without subs, then mux the appended subs into the AVI.

Actually I would just leave the video as two AVI files with separate SRT files but you seem averse to that.

[hibbs]

My player will not (afaik) pick up the SRT files, I did try that, therein lies the problem. It also turns out that the audio sample rates are different in the AVIs, VitualDub does not object but VitualDubMod does (?).

[jagabo]

My player will not (afaik) pick up the SRT files

Most players support external SRT subs. Try using short 8.3 filenames, all caps, only alphanumeric characters. Like:

VIDEO.AVI
VIDEO.SRT

It also turns out that the audio sample rates are different in the AVIs, VitualDub does not object but VitualDubMod does (?).

I suspect there will be playback problems even if VirtualDub does allow different audio sample rates. I would convert one to make it identical to the other.

[hibbs]

Thanks for your help. After a few trials I've found that XviD4PSP hard merges sub titles if the SRT has the same name as the AVI and I can also shrink the AVI. The AVIs were then joined with VirtualDub. Merging sutitles before appending the AVIs avoids sync problems in the second AVI.