Adding hardsubs to MP4

[calinskiii]

Hi guys

So I have an MP4 video and SRT sub file. I want to put them together, but I can't for my life figure out how.

My video file MediaInfo is this:

Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 393 MiB
Duration : 16mn 22s
Overall bit rate : 3 351 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2014-06-29 05:18:43
Tagged date : UTC 2014-06-29 05:18:43
Writing library : AVS

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Baseline@L4.0
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Format settings, GOP : M=1, N=15
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 16mn 22s
Bit rate : 3 153 Kbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.051
Stream size : 369 MiB (94%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2014-06-29 05:18:43
Tagged date : UTC 2014-06-29 05:18:43

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 16mn 22s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 22.2 MiB (6%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2014-06-29 05:18:43
Tagged date : UTC 2014-06-29 05:18:43
mdhd_Duration : 982720






Help me figure out what's wrong? I've tried Handbrake, Xvid4PSP5, avidmeux(sp?) and some other programs, but it either ends up with no sub, no audio, or no video.

Can anyone tell me what program to use and stuff?

Thanks in advance!

[jman98]

Handbrake is probably the worst choice for this. Xvid4PSP should be able to do it. What problem did you have exactly with it? Are your subtitles in a language that does not use the Latin alphabet, such as Chinese? If so, you need to convert it to UTF-8 format text and feed that into Xvid4PSP for best results. I have hardcoded Chinese subs into Xvid using Xvid4PSP so it's definitely possible to hard code your subtitles with it.

[calinskiii]

Handbrake is probably the worst choice for this. Xvid4PSP should be able to do it. What problem did you have exactly with it? Are your subtitles in a language that does not use the Latin alphabet, such as Chinese? If so, you need to convert it to UTF-8 format text and feed that into Xvid4PSP for best results. I have hardcoded Chinese subs into Xvid using Xvid4PSP so it's definitely possible to hard code your subtitles with it.

Ahhh thanks so much for replying :') I was about to pull out my hair.

When I use Xvid4PSP, there's no subtitle. It's like the subtitle isn't encoded at all? Maybe I'm doing something wrong. How do you usually do it?

My subtitles are in english!

[poisondeathray]

Did you try subtitles => add ?

[calinskiii]

Did you try subtitles => add ?

Yeap. In the Xvid4PSP window, the video shows up fine. But the output video just lacks the subtitles.

[poisondeathray]

Look for a log file and post it

[calinskiii]

Look for a log file and post it

Sorry but could you tell me how to get a log file?

I'm not really good with this

Oh and in case you need to know what ver i'm using, it's 5.10.330.3

[poisondeathray]

Sorry, I haven't used it in a few years and don't have it installed - I going by memory here .... The log file is a report of the processes used and any errors. I don't know where it is, dig around

Or try something like ripbot, megui

[jman98]

To be honest with you, I admit to having issues with Xvid4PSP when not encoding to Xvid with it, so I only use it for encoding to Xvid. I was hoping maybe you had non-Latin character sets for subtitles in which case converting to UTF-8 should fix things.

Since your encoding to MP4 is failing to give you the subs, I have to ask you this. Which is MOST important to you?
1) I can live without MP4 format if I can get the subs to be hardcoded.
2) I simply must have MP4 and no other format will work for me and if I have to have the file without subs, that's just how it is.

If #1 fits you, then try encoding to Xvid. I know that works. Worst case, it's ugly but you could encode to Xvid with a high bit rate (4000 Kbps or more) to get the subs into the video and then re-encode that to MP4.

[Selur]

btw. hardcoding subs should also work fine with Hybrid

[calinskiii]

Sorry, I haven't used it in a few years and don't have it installed - I going by memory here .... The log file is a report of the processes used and any errors. I don't know where it is, dig around

Or try something like ripbot, megui

I can't seem to find one D: But it's okay, I'll keep your suggestion in mind if Xvid4PSP really fails me. Thanks a lot!

To be honest with you, I admit to having issues with Xvid4PSP when not encoding to Xvid with it, so I only use it for encoding to Xvid. I was hoping maybe you had non-Latin character sets for subtitles in which case converting to UTF-8 should fix things.

Since your encoding to MP4 is failing to give you the subs, I have to ask you this. Which is MOST important to you?
1) I can live without MP4 format if I can get the subs to be hardcoded.
2) I simply must have MP4 and no other format will work for me and if I have to have the file without subs, that's just how it is.

If #1 fits you, then try encoding to Xvid. I know that works. Worst case, it's ugly but you could encode to Xvid with a high bit rate (4000 Kbps or more) to get the subs into the video and then re-encode that to MP4.

Thanks, I'll try and update you in a bit (Y)

btw. hardcoding subs should also work fine with Hybrid

I'll keep your suggestion in mind if Xvid4PSP really doesn't work for me. Thanks a lot bro!

[morenz]

Hello,
Maybe this image will be useful
http://www.erightsoft.com/snaps/images/AddSubtitles.gif

[calinskiii]

To be honest with you, I admit to having issues with Xvid4PSP when not encoding to Xvid with it, so I only use it for encoding to Xvid. I was hoping maybe you had non-Latin character sets for subtitles in which case converting to UTF-8 should fix things.

Since your encoding to MP4 is failing to give you the subs, I have to ask you this. Which is MOST important to you?
1) I can live without MP4 format if I can get the subs to be hardcoded.
2) I simply must have MP4 and no other format will work for me and if I have to have the file without subs, that's just how it is.

If #1 fits you, then try encoding to Xvid. I know that works. Worst case, it's ugly but you could encode to Xvid with a high bit rate (4000 Kbps or more) to get the subs into the video and then re-encode that to MP4.

Thanks, I'll try and update you in a bit (Y)

Now the audio and subtitles show up, but the video is just gray. Actually, in the preview in Xvid4PSP the video's also gray when I open it now. D:

Hello,
Maybe this image will be useful
http://www.erightsoft.com/snaps/images/AddSubtitles.gif

Thanks! It does look pretty easy to use. I'll keep you suggestion in mind

[Baldrick]

VidCoder! https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/364372-How-to-easily-burn-in-hardcode-srt-subtitles...-with-VidCoder

[calinskiii]

VidCoder! https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/364372-How-to-easily-burn-in-hardcode-srt-subtitles...-with-VidCoder

I've tried VidCoder! But the issue was that the output had no sound.

[Baldrick]

In Vidcoder under Settings and the Audio tab try choose Codec: Passthrough. It should then just copy the audio stream.

[calinskiii]

In Vidcoder under Settings and the Audio tab try choose Codec: Passthrough. It should then just copy the audio stream.

I'm not sure what went wrong but now there's no audio or subtitles.

[Baldrick]

Give up. .

[CyberOtter]

As long as we're making a list : It's worth noting that Tencoder can also hardcode subs.
(Make sure Video & sub File have the same name.)



Also, you could, if you know a bit about ffmpeg, try a direct CLI approach, with a .bat file that you'd put in the folder with your 2 files.
Something like :
"ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vf subtitles=subtitle.srt out.mp4"
(although that requires to add the encoding parameters, but still...)

See -> https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/HowToBurnSubtitlesIntoVideo

That would give you (almost) complete control of what you're doing.

[julitomg]

Freemake Video Converter is easy to use and will also hardcode subs

[calinskiii]

As long as we're making a list : It's worth noting that Tencoder can also hardcode subs.
(Make sure Video & sub File have the same name.)



Also, you could, if you know a bit about ffmpeg, try a direct CLI approach, with a .bat file that you'd put in the folder with your 2 files.
Something like :
"ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vf subtitles=subtitle.srt out.mp4"
(although that requires to add the encoding parameters, but still...)

See -> https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/HowToBurnSubtitlesIntoVideo

That would give you (almost) complete control of what you're doing.

Trying Tencoder now! I don't really know what ffmpeg is though. Isn't it some kind of codec thing? But i'll keep that suggestion in mind!

Freemake Video Converter is easy to use and will also hardcode subs

There's no video when I use Freemake, although there are subs and audio. The video is just a still from the video.

[barleysinger]

btw. hardcoding subs should also work fine with Hybrid

Well your right it SHOULD work with HYBRID. In fact there settings there that can;t have any other real purpose ... but it doesn't work.

I've beaten it to death and beyond and just like VLC (which has settings that OUGHT to let you hardsubs easily)... and a few dozen other tools I've used - the encoded file just doesn't yield hard subs after the conversion no matter what you do.

Frankly one of my biggest annoyances with all these tools is that they have no (or absolutely terrible) documentation. Anyone who isn't going to bother documenting their tools, ought to take up another hobby. Lack of docs makes very hard to do anything beyond the most vanilla operation.

This goes ULTRA BIG for the powerful command line tools....many of which also sit behind various GUI front end tools we use (command line tools that can do far more - especially with some scripting).

HANDBREAK (for instance) has a command line tool (the log files show the commands) which can do a lot more than their GUI lets you do - and no docs to explain what the command line options are or how to use them.

Same with VLC. And although the main VLC web site has forums that quite literally have thousands of requests for the very same simple information ... and the folks who make the software spend massive time answering those questions (again and again) - - those very same people (who spend that much time answering those questions repeatedly) will *NOT* take a fraction of that time to make any real documentation - answering the questions *ONCE*, and properly.

I was a senior I.T. contractor for a long time. My code was even bonded not to fail. Even so, it would have been pretty useless software without good documentation (same with database design and other stuff).

No matter how intuitive the interface is, the more complex the situation the more you will need good documentation. My rule of thumb was if I could not take an almost computer illiterate person (they know how to use WORD a little and handle their email) and then put them in front of the machine with my software and my docs, and have them get it to work *easily* - then my docs still sucked. I also kept being asked back to the same job sites (even 3 years after they knew I was too disabled to work).

[Selur]

Well your right it SHOULD work with HYBRID. In fact there settings there that can;t have any other real purpose ... but it doesn't work.

This outlines how to embed subtitles.
If your subtitles do not come inside the input file container, but are separate, step 3&4 can be skipped.

Frankly one of my biggest annoyances with all these tools is that they have no (or absolutely terrible) documentation. Anyone who isn't going to bother documenting their tools, ought to take up another hobby. Lack of docs makes very hard to do anything beyond the most vanilla operation.

A Strong opinion I don't really share, but nobody is forcing you to use a tool I write in my free time. Personally I have a family which also likes me to spend my free time with them. The free time I'm willing to spend normally is spend:
1. trying to keep up with the changes to the tools Hybrid is using
2. refactoring the source code to keep it maintainable (~150k lines of code; not counting ui layout files and any generated code)
3. extending Hybrid (adding options, writing tool tips,..)
4. fixing bugs users report (hardest part most of the time is to understand all that google auto-translated stuff folks send you by email or post in forums)

If I wanted to write about how 'an almost computer illiterate person' could use Hybrid to it's full potential I would need to write a book (or more).
Back when I didn't write (much) code and was more of a normal user, I used to write manuals&Co. For example I wrote a 173 page essential manual for MeGUI in German ('MeGui Essentials') and even that is far from being easy enough to understand that any 'almost computer illiterate person' would have been able to use and understand MeGui. Since Hybrid has way more options&co, writing a manual for Hybrid for 'an almost computer illiterate person' seems to be a pipe dream which is why I always wrote that Hybrid is not really a tool for beginners and probably never will be since it's whole development isn't meant to please such users. It's aiming more for folks who like tons of screws to turn and at least basically know what they are doing and are not afraid to read tool-tips and ask if some general handling problems exist.

Cu Selur

Ps.: If I could afford to drop my normal work I would probably try to write a documentation which would make it for novice users more easier to understand how Hybrid is working, but even then I doubt I would have the motivation to try to write a document which would be as plainly understandable as you would like.