A swede in trouble :( Convert to DVD with hard subs

[alexxx78]

Hi guys!

I´m real new to this and in serious need of help.
I wanna burn some DVD of "Boardwalk empire" (really good show!) for my father but I´m stuck!
I also want hard subs to make it as simple as possible for him...



first off what´s the difference between "DVD mpeg2enc" and "DVD ffmpeg"? Which one should I use? (encoding and previewing with "DVD mpeg2enc" I only get a white screen and no sound, encoding and previewing with "DVD ffmpeg" seems to work fine.

I´m from Sweden (and a noob), should I encode in PAL?

I successfully encoded and previewed with "DVD ffmpeg" + subs (srt.) and burnt a DVD but when playing it on a DVD player the picture freezes almost instantly, playing a DVD with the same procedure but without subs works just fine. So what´s wong?!



Anybody....?

[Case]

If you want hardcoded subs on a DVD, then you shouldn't use the DVD ffmpeg preset, as that preset only allows for soft subs.
When you use the DVD mpeg2enc preset, and want hardcoded subs, then you should also set the "Decode with mplayer" checkbox in the Options tab. (ffmpegX needs mplayer decoding to get subtitles that are permanent part of the video.)

mpeg2enc is a different encoder than ffmpeg, with its own features and options. If you want/need a certain feature, then that could help you decide which to choose. The ffmpeg encoder can use QuickTime or ffmpeg for decoding (reading the source file). The mpeg2enc encoder can use mplayer, QuickTime or ffmpeg for decoding.

All swedish DVD players and tv sets support PAL. Many modern equipment will also support NTSC, but you will have to test to be sure. The important difference between NTSC and PAL is framerate. PAL is 25 fps (fps = frames per second); NTSC is 23.976 fps (progressive) or 29.97 fps (interlaced). If you set the output framerate to be the same as the source, then you will get the most smooth motion. By default, ffmpegX sets the output framerate to match the source file.
The chosen framerate has consequences for the video size: PAL DVD is 720x576; NTSC DVD is 720x480. These resolutions are used for both 4:3 and for 16:9. If you set a different framerate than default, then you should follow that by setting Autosize (DVD or DVD 16:9) again, to re-calculate a matching video size.

Only if you output is 23.976 fps (NTSC FILM (progressive)) DVD, then you should make one extra setting: Check the "Set 3:2" checkbox in the Options tab. This will add a "3:2 pulldown" flag to the video, which is needed for 23.976 fps DVD.

[Soixante]

Edit.This guide is for Windows OS...OOpssss my bad...i should pay more attention Mac OSX.....ill leave this as someone may find it helpful!


I know you asked about ffmpeg.. but Use FAVC its noob easy and friendly

Add your files..set the project up the way you want by ticking the appropriate boxes..if you tick "iso creation" and open "img burn" if you place a blank DVD in your drive after the project is done it will burn it to dvd for you....choose your output directory for files!





Then on the "DVD OPTIONS" tab add your Srt files(making sure they are the same name as the avi file and tick the hardcode subtitles box




i always use HC options for my needs



Audio set up




These are just the settings i use...you may want to try something else...

Also this is the set up without a menu...when you have felt your way about and feel ok ...You can have a basic menu with a picture background and up to 8 titles by checking the menu box on the first picture and then on the second pic importing a background menu image..Any way not to confuse

[alexxx78]

OK, thanks guys! I´ll try again when I get home this time: DVD ffmpeg + decode with mplayer.


THX

[Case]

OK, thanks guys! I´ll try again when I get home this time: DVD ffmpeg + decode with mplayer.

Make that the DVD mpeg2enc preset with Decode with mplayer option.

[alexxx78]

Hi again!

OK, I´m getting close, one problem though: The video and audio is out of sync after encoding
Could it be because I encode to PAL (I have to, my DVD player only plays PAL)
Besides that I get a VIDEO TS and AUDIO TS folder and everything seems to be right.

Settings:

-from AVI to DVD mpeg2enc
-mplayer option (for hardcoded srt.)

What should I do? Have to encode in PAL right? Any settings wrong?

Help is really appreciated!

[Case]

OK, I´m getting close, one problem though: The video and audio is out of sync after encoding.

If the sync shift is constant, then it is somewhat easy to fix, by setting a time offset. If the sync shift is progressive (gets worse over time), then you may have to look at another solution.

One easy way of finding the exact offset to use, is playback of the converted file in VLC. Next, use the 'f' and 'g' keys to shift audio one way or the other. VLC should give on screen display of the total value. When video and audio are in sync, then you know the offset value to use.

[alexxx78]

Hi Case and thanks for the support!!

I´v encoded with the same preferences both in NTSC and PAL and my conclusion is that everything works fine in both cases except bad sync in PAL but, as you know, I need it in PAL.

I played the PAL file in VLC and to my disappointment found that the sync shift is progressive , looks like the audio lags more and more the further i get in the file.

Do you think it can be solved if I don´t use hard subs? In that case I can give it a try (maybe decoding with quicktime instead of mplayer )?


Any suggestions? I can´t believe it has to be so hard!!!!

[Case]

Do you think it can be solved if I don´t use hard subs? In that case I can give it a try (maybe decoding with quicktime instead of mplayer)?

There is a good chance that that may work. I have done some framerate conversions with Decode with QuickTime activated that kept perfect sync. No guarantees for every possible conversion, though.

When the conversion is done, and you have your VIDEO_TS folder, then there are ways to turn the soft subs "on" by default, so the viewer doesn't have to select anything. But first thing is to get a good PAL output.

[alexxx78]

Grrrr!!! What da...two steps back now!

All I get when decoding with quicktime is a MPEG2 ikon named [moviename].m2v, nothing else at all...

Can´t even play it with VLC or quicktimeplayer.

Suggestions?!

[Case]

Can you play the source AVI in QuickTime Player? (If you tell ffmpegX to Decode with QuickTime, then that will only work if QuickTime can in fact decode this file.)
If it doesn't play, try installing Perian, then try QuickTime playback again.

[alexxx78]

OK Case, your´re the man gotta hand it to you!



I installed Perian and encoded with quicktime and got a synced VIDEO_TS file.
Couple of questions, if you still feel like helping a brother out:

-Is there anyway to get hard subs with this type of encoding?
-The frame is now smaller with black around it, can I change that to full frame? My father has an old 4:3 TV (not flatscreen), which setting should I use?

Well that´s about it I guess...Big thanks!

[Case]

Is there anyway to get hard subs with this type of encoding?

Actually, there is. Perian has subtitle support, and as Perian is used in the video encoding, it should provide hardcoded subtitles. A couple of things to make that work: (1) the subtitle file has to be in the same folder as the source file. (2) The subtitle file and the source file need to have the same base name, like "some-show-s01e12-blah-blah.avi" and "some-show-s01e12-blah-blah.srt". (3) The is no need to tell ffmpegX to use subtitles, as that is handled by Perian and QuickTime. (4) The Perian prefPane (System Preferences > Perian) needs to have its subtitle support activated (checkbox).

The look is quite different from mplayer subs (a bit large, and outlined and shadowed), but it works.

The frame is now smaller with black around it, can I change that to full frame? My father has an old 4:3 TV (not flatscreen), which setting should I use?

Do you mean the letterbox bars above and below, or actually on all four sides? If it is all four sides, then your output resolution wasn't set correctly (720x576, DVD 16:9).
If you want to enlarge a 16:9 frame to 4:3 full frame (without letterbox bars), then you will have to cut off the sides to make it fit. Do you really want to do that? (Just checking...)

[alexxx78]

Hi again!


OK, I used DVD 16:9 and got the frame I want, perfect!

For the subtitling issue I don´t get it.
I didn´t tell ffmpegX to use subtitles so the merging will take place during burning of the disc?
In the VIDEO_TS folder the show is split up in 2 parts (is that correct, I mean the show is only 50 minutes), but the srt. file is only 1 part. Will there be problems merging them together?
Should I, at this point, be able to play the file in quicktime player and add subtitles (like with VLC)? If so, how?

[Case]

I didn´t tell ffmpegX to use subtitles so the merging will take place during burning of the disc?

When Decode with QuickTime is selected, and Perian takes care of the subtitles, then it works something like this: ffmpegX asks QuickTime for the video, frame by frame. QuickTime reads the source file. Perian looks for a matching subtitle file. If Perian finds applicable subtitles, then it will project a subtitle line on a frame if the time code matches, without any user interaction. This video frame with subtitle is handed over to ffmpegX. ffmpegX encodes it as if the subtitles were already hardcoded. ffmpegX never sees a separate subtitle, as that part is handled by QuickTime and Perian.

foofoo.avi and foofoo.srt ---> Perian successfully finds a subtitle file to process.
foofoo.avi and uvwxyz.srt ---> Perian doesn't find a subtitle file to process.
foofoo.avi and x.foofoo.srt ---> Perian doesn't find a subtitle file to process.
foofoo.avi and foofoo.swedish.iso8859-1.srt ---> Perian successfully finds a subtitle file to process.

In the VIDEO_TS folder the show is split up in 2 parts (is that correct, I mean the show is only 50 minutes), but the srt. file is only 1 part. Will there be problems merging them together?

The subtitles should already be hardcoded in the intermediate MPG file. When converting that MPG to a VIDEO_TS folder, the DVD authoring part of ffmpegX should split files at the 1 GB mark. VTS_01_2.VOB is the seamless continuation of VTS_01_1.VOB, for sizes over 1 GB. That is how DVDs work.

Should I, at this point, be able to play the file in quicktime player and add subtitles (like with VLC)? If so, how?

If you prepared the subtitle file as outlined in my previous post (naming, location), then Perian finds it automatically. If you play the source AVI file in QuickTime Player, then it should already show subtitles there, without telling QuickTime Player anything about the subs. That's how Perian works.

HTH

[alexxx78]

Hi again! (don´t care how stupid I sound anymore , lost my dignity long time ago).



A couple of posts ago I told you that I could play the encoded file in quicktime player but I´m not sure anymore because I sure as hell can´t do it now!!!!! Maybe I mixed it up with VLC but I really don´t think so but I´m in doubt right now... Quite sure I got a perfect synced VOB file that could be played in quicktime.

The only thing I´ve done different now is naming the files: [name].avi and [name].srt and putting them in an own folder. I now get 3 VOB files in the VIDEO_TS folder (earlier I got 2) after encoding and I can only play them in VLC.

I´m mean what is going on? Just gets worse! In my weakest moments I think of you (Case) being a bit of a psycho just telling me to do things that you know won´t work just to make me go crazy
(sorry! as I said I´ve lost it, I´m going nuts)

[Case]

You should be able to play the AVI (with subtitles) in QuickTime Player, when Perian is installed.
You should be able to play the MPG, VOB or VIDEO_TS folder in VLC.
You should be able to play the VIDEO_TS folder on your hard disk in Apple DVD Player.
A standard QuickTime does NOT play MPEG-2 video. Playback of MPEG-2 video in QuickTime Player requires purchasing the MPEG-2 Playback Component from Apple (also bundled with Final Cut Studio). Even with this component, QuickTime Player will not decode AC3 audio in MPEG streams. I think you don't need this component now.