Extracting subtitles from m4v/mp4.

[protoX]

Howdy,

I have a m4v file with English Closed Caption and French + Spanish Subtitle.

I have managed to extract the CC with CCextractor.

However I have no idea how to extract the other two tracks.

Text #1
ID                                       : 4
Format                                   : Timed text
Muxing mode                              : sbtl
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 1s 0ms
Bit rate                                 : 88 bps
Delay relative to video                  : -42ms
Stream size                              : 11.0 Bytes (0%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-06-06 17:19:30
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-06-06 17:22:00

Text #2
ID                                       : 6
Format                                   : Timed text
Muxing mode                              : sbtl
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 1h 42mn
Source duration                          : 1h 42mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 0 bps
Delay relative to video                  : -42ms
Stream size                              : 212 Bytes (0%)
Source stream size                       : 212 Bytes (0%)
Language                                 : Spanish
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-06-06 17:19:30
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-06-06 17:22:00

Text #3
ID                                       : 7
Format                                   : Timed text
Muxing mode                              : sbtl
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 1h 42mn
Source duration                          : 1h 42mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 85 bps
Delay relative to video                  : -42ms
Stream size                              : 63.5 KiB (0%)
Source stream size                       : 63.5 KiB (0%)
Language                                 : Spanish
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-06-06 17:19:30
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-06-06 17:22:00

Text #4
ID                                       : 8
Format                                   : Timed text
Muxing mode                              : sbtl
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 1h 42mn
Source duration                          : 1h 42mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 93 bps
Delay relative to video                  : -42ms
Stream size                              : 69.8 KiB (0%)
Source stream size                       : 69.8 KiB (0%)
Language                                 : French
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-06-06 17:19:30
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-06-06 17:22:00

Text #5
ID                                       : 10
Format                                   : Timed text
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 1h 42mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-06-06 17:19:30
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-06-06 17:22:00

Anything on the extraction of the French and spanish subs would be greatly appreciated.

[Baldrick]

Have you tried mp4box? or a gui/frontend it for it like MyMp4boxgui.

[protoX]

Have you tried mp4box? or a gui/frontend it for it like MyMp4boxgui.

Thanks. That worked.

[pmshah]

I came across the same situation and your suggestion worked perfectly. Thanks.

I just want to make a comment. I tried using mkvmerge hoping that I would then be able to extract the subtitle file. For what ever reason the subtitles were not recognised and did not show up in the list of contents. Only the video and audio portions were recognised / visible. Then as per your suggestion I downloaded mp4boxgui and used it to demux the files. It did a perfect job and gave me an srt subtitle file. I am surprised that mkvmerge did not recognise the subtitles.


I have come across something similar in the past with some mkv files. The subtitles were visible in mkvextractgui but could simply not be extracted. What I then had to do was first convert the file to a lower bit rate mkv file using handbrake (as was the original intent). Then opened the newly created mkv file in mkvmegegui. Added the original source file to the list and unchecked the video and audio portions from the added original source file. When I merged the new compilation the subtitles were properly included and worked flawlessly. Strange in deed !

[pmshah]

I use a newer a nifty little free GPL software called Video Updater Tools can extract subtitles from virtually all container formats into a SRT file.
It uses other tools behind the scene but packaged nicely into a GUI and CLI (your choice) and the part I love is that it work on directories recursively so I don't need to keep doing it for each file. It just completely automates the entire process.

It can also embed subtitles and chapters in MP4/M4V/MKV containers from EDL and SRT files.

https://videoupdatertools.codeplex.com

Thanks for the suggestion. Will most certainly give it a go.

[Selur]

@hunnypuppy: since videoupdatertools is hosted over at codeplex, will there be source code?

[mazinz]

I use a newer a nifty little free GPL software called Video Updater Tools can extract subtitles from virtually all container formats into a SRT file.
It uses other tools behind the scene but packaged nicely into a GUI and CLI (your choice) and the part I love is that it work on directories recursively so I don't need to keep doing it for each file. It just completely automates the entire process.

It can also embed subtitles and chapters in MP4/M4V/MKV containers from EDL and SRT files.

https://videoupdatertools.codeplex.com

Sorry for the thread bump, but I just came across a similar issue to the original thread poster and this small program mentioned above worked like a charm- thanks again

[Baldrick]

Added a mirror to the Video updater tools. The subtitleextractor looks handy.

[djrecor]

I'm trying to demux subtitles from mp4 file (itunes, no DRM). MP4box demuxes audio, but not the subtitles and this is all that is in the log:

Begin: 14.3.2015 13:50:49, End: 14.3.2015 13:50:50, Difference: 00:00:00, STATUS: Complete

Anyone?

[pmshah]

I suggest you run the file through mkvmerge. When the file is loaded you should see 3 streams - video, audio and sub-titles. Once the process is complete you should be able to extract the srt file using mkvextractgui.

[Selur]

What command line do you use to extract the subtitle using MP4Box?

[djrecor]

This is what mkvmerge shows up. I apologize, its the GUI version of mp4box. Now it doesn't demux even audio anymore (all of a sudden). I also tried with Mp4multiplexer and I had no luck there either (sound get's demuxed, subtitles not).

Screenshot of Mp4multiplexer error:

[Selur]

You might want to update your mp4box version iirc that error happened on some valid files a few years ago,..

[djrecor]

I downloaded the latest version (0.6.0.6).

This is the error I got on another computer.

[Selur]

MP4Box is the program the GUI is using! Latest MP4box is 0.5.2 rev128,....

[djrecor]

I installed that too, but i have no idea how to use it.. Sorry if my questions sound stupid, but three months ago I had no problems with this..

[Selur]

Try with this MP4Box binary.

[djrecor]

No luck.

[Selur]

What happens? Are you getting the same error?

[djrecor]

Nothing. For a second there is "Proccesing" in the title of the window, and that's it.

And this is what log is saying:
*** Begin Demux Job 14.3.2015 18:07:47 ***
Begin: 14.3.2015 18:07:47, End: 14.3.2015 18:07:48, Difference: 00:00:00, STATUS: Complete
*** End Demux Job 14.3.2015 18:07:48 ***

No errors or anything anywhere.

[Selur]

Try the following:
1. Download&Install Hybrid
2. Start Hybrid
3. load your file into Hybrid
4. set a output file (in example: h:\test.mp4) <- this is only necessary so Hybrid has an output folde
5. enable 'Main->Handling->Subtitle->All subtitles'
6. press 'Main->Handling->Subtitle->Extract Subtitle'
This should extract all the subtitles from your file using Mp4Box.
If that also fails, enable: Config->Internals->Create debug, file level 9
and again press 'Main->Handling->Subtitle->Extract Subtitle' this will at least create a HybridDebugOutput.txt file which should contain the used MP4Box call.
Try what happens if you call that call inside a Windows command prompt.

[djrecor]

Thanks. This worked for one movie, but not for the one I need subs from. All i get is: Couldn't extract... .srt
There must be some sort of extra protection for the subtitles or something.

[Selur]

Probably, like I told you if you create a debug output file, you can see the MP4Box call which is used to extract the subtitles, which you could then call in a terminal to exactly see why MP4box doesn't extract the subtitles,...

[djrecor]

http://pastebin.com/Frm99tP0

Here is the debug file.

[Selur]

-> what happens if you call:

"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\MP4Box.exe" "E:\Exodus Gods and Kings.m4v" -srt 3 -out "C:\Users\Niko\Desktop\Exodus Gods and Kings_lang_en.srt"

inside a Windows command prompt?

[djrecor]

Not sure what this means.

[Selur]

Truncated file = file is incomplete
incomplete box mov + "tx3g" size invalid -> file either broken or truncated
-> either the file is broken one way or the other or it is encrypted.

[pmshah]

I am asking out of curiosity. When you play back the file can you turn the subtitles on and off ? If you can do they generally appear around the person who is speaking ? If the answer is yes you might want to try ClosedCaptionExtractor. It just might do the job. I have had to deal with a couple of BD rips with similar problems. At times m2Ts Muxer also has been helpful.

[djrecor]

Yes, you can switch them on and off just like on a bluray. I only tried in VLC and MPC, but it probably work's on other's too. They showed normally though, at the midle of the screen just like normal subs.

[Selur]

If you can reproduce the issue with a small file you could post it here so people can have a look at it.