Playing MKVs through TV and/or WD Media Player

[theproman23]

I just purchased a Samsung CN55N6500 LED TV and it has the ability to play MKVs directly through my TV through the USB connection.

I also use my WD HD Media Player as well for my other TV.

The problem I am having is with sub titles. For example, when watching a movie that's mostly in English but has some dialogue in another language most movies must have (I am assuming) some coding to show subtitles automatically and then turn off once the English dialogue restarts. The problem I am having with both my TV and Media Player is that these sub titles are not automatically coming up. I have turn on the sub titles and then turn them off again if I want to understand the non English dialogue.

Any thoughts on this?

[True Colors]

Do you know if these videos have srt files associated with them?

TC

[theproman23]

Hmm you know I was sure I screwed something up. I have the MKVs all in one folder with no associated files. But I thought that since the subtitles were there for me to turn on and off they should automatically come on when the movie calls for it, the parts with foreign dialogue, but I am assuming these SRT files are those files that the movie is looking for during the foreign parts?

So if that's the case is there anywhere I can find these SRT files and I am assuming I would have to create a folder each of the MKV's and throw the downloaded SRT files in there?

[guns1inger]

From what I can see, the WDTV doesn't automatically turn on subs.

[theproman23]

Even for parts where there should be subs? That's just strange....

[davexnet]

How does it work on DVD ? Are the subs you mention in a separate stream or are they hard-coded into the movie?
Perhaps you could create a custom SRT file only containing the dialog you need.

I don't think there is any provision within the MKV to automatically turn on/off subs at various points? Or is there?
If there isn't provision within the file, how would the player know when to do it?

[theproman23]

Well I would have to assume there is some sort of an automation? no? To be truthful these are just MKV files and that's it and they are not from a Blu ray if you know what I mean. If I were actually watching the Blu Ray I can guarantee you the subtitles would turn on automatically when there is foreign dialogue.

[davexnet]

Yes that's true, same for DVD. But those formats have indicators of some sort within the disk
to signify that the subtitle should be turned on and off. Either that, or those subs are hardcoded
into the video itself.

Why not demux the subs out of the MKV, and edit it to only contain the subs you need?
Then create a new MKV using the new SRT .

It will be interesting to see if anybody has any further insight on this.

[guns1inger]

I don't see the hassle in turning subs on as required, but then I don't expect the world to always work my way

[jman98]

The problem I am having is with sub titles. For example, when watching a movie that's mostly in English but has some dialogue in another language most movies must have (I am assuming) some coding to show subtitles automatically and then turn off once the English dialogue restarts.

DVD format has something called (I think) a "force subtitles on" flag that causes this to happen. As far as I know there is nothing analogous in MKV to do that.

[Captain315]

Actually, there is a way to do this. After ripping the dvd, use HandBrake to encode it to an mkv. Under the subtitle tab, check all three boxes so that it will use English (if it is setup as the default language) and will burn in the "forced" subtitles. This is all I use as I don't need subtitles if the movie is in English. The only subtitles shown are automatically placed on the bottom of the screen when a foreign language is spoken and a translation has been provided by the movie producer. HandBrake does a great job.

[theproman23]

Thanks I'll give that a try!