How to convert Chinese AVI to DVD ISO with (permanent!) English subtitles?

[Saltine]

I don't believe IFOEdit can edit IFO files in an ISO. AVStoDVD uses ImgBurn to generate an ISO. You can export DVD files and folders and afterwards run ImgBurn to generate an ISO and burn your DVDs

Thanks for answering that lingering question of whether IFOedit can edit the ISO files.

Given that I need to edit the IFO to force the subtitles, I must create a VIDEO_TS folder structure BEFORE burning.

Hence, my approach for the fourth (and hopefully final) test will be these two steps:
1. I will use AVStoDVD to create a new VIDEO_TS folder structure, and, then,
2. I will burn that (as a DVD format disc) using ImgBurn on my Pioneer model DVR-S706 (using Firewire, if I can find the cable).

You can correct the language and specify forced subs within AVStoDVD prior to authoring. AVStoDVD has excellent documentation in its help files. You might consider trying to find an answer there by opening the Search tab withing Help, and typing "forced subtitles" and "audio language" into the search box.

I think I found where the audio language setting is in AVStoDVD, as shown below.
Would you bother setting the SECOND language?

[theewizard]

Well... It's the subs language
So yes I would set it

[usually_quiet]

Would you bother setting the SECOND language?

Don't worry about that. The secondary language is used if there are multiple audio and subtitle tracks. You won't have more than one of each on this DVD.

The AVStoDVD preferences window is for creating default/automatic settings for your project, or the default settings for all projects, if you so choose. There are also ways to override those if necessary. Look at some of the other search results.

[Saltine]

Well... It's the subs language
So yes I would set it

I think you may have misunderstood my question, but that's OK because I see that usually_quiet answered the question right after you did, which was that it doesn't matter since I only have one audio channel and one subtitle file, so only the first set matters.

I think I found a bug in AVStoDVD though.

I am absolutely positive that I set the audio channel language to Chinese, which also shows up as set to Chinese in the AVStoDVD log file, yet, IFOEditor sees the audio channel language still set to English, so I think AVStoDVD screwed up there.

Here is an excerpt of the log file showing that AVStoDVD "thinks" it set the audio channel to Chinese.

DVD Audio Language (Primary): ZH - Chinese
DVD Audio Language (Secondary): ZH - Chinese
DVD Subs Language (Primary): EN - English
DVD Subs Language (Secondary): EN - English
DVD Subs Font: Tahoma 16pt (255,255,255)
Chapters Interval: 5

Here's the entire log file, in case that's useful to define where the AVStoDVD bug lies.

<3/23/2016 12:57:28 PM>
START PROCESS
<>

<3/23/2016 12:57:28 PM>
PROJECT SETTINGS

DVD Video Standard: NTSC
DVD Titles number: 1
DVD Size: 4450/4450 MB (100%)
DVD Output Setup: DVD Folder
DVD Label: DVD
DVD Menu: No Menu
Output Folder: C:\data\video\movie\avstodvd2
Delete Temp Assets Files: Yes
Delete Temp Working Files: Yes
Edit Command Parameters: No
Post Process Task: Show Progress Status window

PREFERENCES

MultiThread: 1
AVS Video Source Filter: A2DSource
AVS Audio Source Filter: A2DSource
AVS UpSize/DownSize Filter: Lanczos4Resize/Spline16Resize
Frame Adjust Strategy: 0
FPS Hard Conversion: 0
PAL SpeedUp: 0
NTSC SlowDown: 0
Video Resolution: 0
Video Encoder: 0
Video BitRate Min: 2500
Video BitRate Max: 8500
Keep DVD Compliant Video: 1
AC3 Audio Encoder: 0
Force FFmpeg for Long Audio: 1
DVD Audio Format: 0
DVD Audio BitRate: 192
Keep DVD Compliant Audio: 1
Normalize Audio: 0
Auto Delay Audio: 1
DVD Audio Language (Primary): ZH - Chinese
DVD Audio Language (Secondary): ZH - Chinese
DVD Subs Language (Primary): EN - English
DVD Subs Language (Secondary): EN - English
DVD Subs Font: Tahoma 16pt (255,255,255)
Chapters Interval: 5
Use Source Chapters: 1
DVD Burning Drive: D: PBDS DVD+-RW DS-8W1P BD1B
DVD Burning Speed: 4x
Auto Erase DVD RW: 1
Unload ActiveMovie library: 1
Adjust DirectShow Filters at runtime: 1
Save General Settings: 0

SYSTEM INFO

Processor Name: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU X9000  @ 2.80GHz
Operating System: Windows XP Service Pack 3 (32 bit)
Current user is Admin: YES
Available Output Disc Space: 38.8 GB
AviSynth is installed: YES (release 2.6.0)
LAV Filters is installed: YES (release 0.58.2)
ffdshow is installed: YES (release 1.3.4523)
<>

<3/23/2016 12:57:28 PM>
TITLE 1 SOURCE FILES
Video: C:\data\video\movie\movie.avi
Info: XviD - 1267 kbps - 720x320 - DAR 2.25 - 23.976 fps - Progressive - 2:14:51 hours - 193996 frames
Audio 1: C:\data\video\movie\movie.avi
Info: AC3 - 192 kbps - CBR - 6 ch - 48000 Hz - 2:14:51 hours (0 ms delay)
Subs 1: C:\data\video\movie\movie.srt
Info: SubRip (SRT) - C:\data\video\movie\movie.srt
[MediaInfoLib - v0.7.74]
<>

<3/23/2016 12:57:28 PM>
AVISYNTH SCRIPT
Import("C:\app\hardware\brcddvd\AVStoDVD\Lib\A2DSource.avsi")

Video = A2DVideoSource("C:\data\video\movie\movie.avi", CacheFolder="C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp", FrameRateNum=2997, FrameRateDen=125, FrameRate=23.976)
# Audio is frameserved by AviSynth just for Preview and Edit purposes.
Audio = A2DAudioSource("C:\data\video\movie\movie.avi", CacheFolder="C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp")

Video = Video.ConvertToYV12()
Video = Video.AddBorders(0,42,0,44)
Video = Video.Lanczos4Resize(720,480)
#PullDown: using DGPulldown/HCenc to upsize FPS

AudioDub(Video, Audio)
<>

<3/23/2016 12:57:28 PM>
DIRECTSHOW AUDIO MIXER OPERATIONS:
No ffdshow mixer ON/OFF adjustment required at runtime
No ffdshow mixer SETTING adjustment required at runtime
No LAV Filters mixer ON/OFF adjustment required at runtime
<>

<3/23/2016 12:57:28 PM>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Video Encoding Profile: HCenc VBR 2-pass
Target Video FileSize: 4138.8 MB
Encoding Parameters: -ini "C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_movie.HCenc.ini"
HCenc ini file:
*INFILE C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_movie_1.avs
*AVSRELOAD
*OUTFILE C:\data\video\DVD_movie.m2v
*LOGFILE C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_movie.HCenc.log
*MAXBITRATE 9000
*BITRATE 4291
*PROFILE BEST
*ASPECT 16:9
*PROGRESSIVE
*TFF
*PULLDOWN
*BIAS 40
*DC_PREC 9
*MATRIX MPEG
*AQ 1
*LUMGAIN 1
*SMP
*PRIORITY IDLE
*DBPATH  C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp
*WAIT 2
<>

<3/23/2016 2:33:52 PM>
END VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Video Source Filter: A2DSource (AVISource)
Created File: C:\data\video\DVD_movie.m2v (4140.7 MB)
OUTPUT VIDEO INFO: MPEG-2 Video - 4292 kbps - 720x480 - DAR 16:9 - 23.976 fps - Progressive (2:3 Pulldown) - 2:14:51 hours - 242494 frames
<>

<3/23/2016 2:33:54 PM>
START AUDIO DEMUXING OPERATIONS (Track 1)
FFmpeg Parameters: -i "C:\data\video\movie\movie.avi" -c:a copy -vn -sn -y "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_1.ToFix.ac3"
<>

<3/23/2016 2:38:03 PM>
START AC3 FIXING OPERATIONS (Track 1)
ac3fix Parameters: "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_1.ToFix.ac3" "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_1.ac3"
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<3/23/2016 2:38:47 PM>
END AUDIO DEMUXING OPERATIONS (Track 1)
Created File: C:\data\video\DVD_movie_1.ac3 (185.2 MB)
OUTPUT AUDIO INFO: AC3 - 192 kbps - CBR - 6 ch - 48000 Hz - 2:14:51 hours (0 ms delay)
<>

<3/23/2016 2:38:49 PM>
START SUBS ENCODING OPERATIONS (Track 1)
SRT errors fixing routine applied (0 lines fixed)
SubtitleCreator Parameters: "C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_movie.srt" -p4 -i"C:\app\hardware\brcddvd\AVStoDVD\SubtitleCreator\Examples\VTS_01_1.IFO"
<>

<3/23/2016 2:38:59 PM>
END SUBS ENCODING OPERATIONS (Track 1)
Created File: C:\data\video\DVD_movie_1.sup (733.7 KB)
<>

<3/23/2016 2:38:59 PM>
DVD CHAPTERS CREATION OPERATIONS
Title 1 Input Chapters List: 7193 14386 21578 28771 35964 43157 50350 57542 64735 71928 79121 86314 93506 100699 107892 115085 122278 129470 136663 143856 151049 158242 165434 172627 179820 187013
Title 1 Output Chapters List: 8991 17982 26972 35963 44954 53946 62937 71927 80918 89909 98901 107892 116882 125873 134864 143856 152847 161837 170828 179819 188811 197802 206792 215783 224774 233766 
Created File: C:\data\video\DVD_movie_Chapters.txt (198 Byte)
<>

<3/23/2016 2:38:59 PM>
START DVD AUTHORING OPERATIONS
BatchMux Parameters: -arglist "C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_BatchMux.ini"
BatchMux ini file:
-d "C:\data\video\movie\avstodvd2\DVD\VIDEO_TS"
-mxp "C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_MuxMan.mxp"
-l "C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_MuxMan.log"
-muxman "C:\app\hardware\brcddvd\AVStoDVD\MuxMan"
-prio LOW
-palette "C:\DOCUME~1\saltine\LOCALS~1\Temp\DVD_Palette.txt"
-v "C:\data\video\DVD_movie.m2v"
-vidmode LB
-a1 "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_1.ac3"
-a1lang en
-s1 "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_1.sup"
-s1lang en
-s1ext 1
-cellfr "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_Chapters.txt"
-progfr "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_Chapters.txt"
-chapfr "C:\data\video\DVD_movie_Chapters.txt"

<>

<3/23/2016 3:21:54 PM>
END DVD AUTHORING OPERATIONS
Created Folder: C:\data\video\movie\avstodvd2\DVD (4425.1 MB)

CHECK DVD SIZE
DVD Folder (actual) Size: 4425.1 MB
vs Assets Size: 4326.6 MB -> OK
vs Estimated Size: 4450 MB -> 0.6% undersize
<>

<3/23/2016 3:21:56 PM>
AVStoDVD Project ended successfully.
<>

<3/23/2016 3:21:56 PM>
Log file created by AVStoDVD Release 2.8.3
<>

Even with the bug in AVStoDVD where it can't set the audio channel to Chinese, it's not a big deal because IFOedit has no problem setting the audio channel to Chinese.

[Saltine]

Don't worry about that. The secondary language is used if there are multiple audio and subtitle tracks. You won't have more than one of each on this DVD.

Thanks for that answer.

I set both audio fields to Chinese, but, I realize only the first one matters.
Likewise with the subtitle fields set to English.

The AVStoDVD preferences window is for creating default/automatic settings for your project, or the default settings for all projects, if you so choose. There are also ways to override those if necessary. Look at some of the other search results.

Maybe it wasn't a bug after all, that AVStoDVD didn't create the language setting of Chinese for the audio file.
Maybe all I did was set the "PREFERENCE" (but not the creation).

Anyway, I guess this problem is resolved.
My main problem now is that I burned yet another coaster.

One question I have is whether it's "safer" to burn the VIDEO_TS or the IFO?
It seems to me the IFO would be safer, since all the hard work is already done.

So, what I'm doing now is I'm using ImgBurn to create an ISO.
Then I'll try to burn the ISO instead of burning the VIDEO_TS folder as a DVD.

Do you think a DVD ISO is "safer" to burn than a DVD VIDEO_TS folder?

[usually_quiet]

Anyway, I guess this problem is resolved.
My main problem now is that I burned yet another coaster.

One question I have is whether it's "safer" to burn the VIDEO_TS or the IFO?
It seems to me the IFO would be safer, since all the hard work is already done.

So, what I'm doing now is I'm using ImgBurn to create an ISO.
Then I'll try to burn the ISO instead of burning the VIDEO_TS folder as a DVD.

Do you think a DVD ISO is "safer" to burn than a DVD VIDEO_TS folder?

Using ImgBurn to create an ISO is supposedly best practice and a good idea if you plan to burn several copies of a DVD, but I agree with manono that not burning from an ISO isn't likely to be the cause for your coasters.

Your burning problems are most likely the result of the media you are using, or the drives. As already mentioned, CMC's media isn't the best. If your burner is an older model, it might not have a good write strategy for newer media. Your burner could also be failing. If it is an old one or has burned many discs, that is more likely to be the case, and laptop drives are not as robust as full-height drives.

If you decide to buy Verbatim media, you need to get Verbatim AZO or Verbatim Data Life Plus to be assured of good quality, and you need to buy those products online. Brick and mortar stores only carry Verbatim's Life Series media, which is no better than what you are using. Verbatim's Life Series media isn't made by Verbatim, and doesn't use Verbatim's dyes or manufacturing process.

[Saltine]

Using ImgBurn to create an ISO is supposedly best practice and a good idea if you plan to burn several copies of a DVD, but I agree with manono that not burning from an ISO isn't likely to be the cause for your coasters.

Your burning problems are most likely the result of the media you are using, or the drives. As already mentioned, CMC's media isn't the best. If your burner is an older model, it might not have a good write strategy for newer media. Your burner could also be failing. If it is an old one or has burned many discs, that is more likely to be the case, and laptop drives are not as robust as full-height drives.

The original problem is resolved, thanks to your help, which is that I needed to ensure subtitles were included and forced.
Luckily, both AVStoDVD and DVDFlick included them, and IFOedit forced them, and that pretty much was my problem.

The hardest part of all these issues is figuring out WHICH software to use, so that's where your greatest help lay!
Thank you very much! (all of you)

If you decide to buy Verbatim media, you need to get Verbatim AZO or Verbatim Data Life Plus to be assured of good quality, and you need to buy those products online. Brick and mortar stores only carry Verbatim's Life Series media, which is no better than what you are using. Verbatim's Life Series media isn't made by Verbatim, and doesn't use Verbatim's dyes or manufacturing process.

I only had 6 Costco blank DVDs left on my stack, and all six were coasters, so, I'm in the market for new DVDs. That foot-tall Costco stack of CMC blanks lasted something like 3 or 4 years, so, it's not something that I buy often. I think I'll do as you said, and find Verbatim AZO or Verbatim Data Life Plus blanks online somewhere. (https://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia)

My kid gave all six of the usable coasters to the history teacher, who was a bit surprised, but, it's what I can do for her.

The huge Pioneer external DVD -R burner is from 2004 or 2005; however, it has been reliable in the past, so, I'm not sure why this one movie caused so many problems. Anyway, I think I pretty much give up on the hardware and those CMC blanks.

What I should also do is buy a new external USB burner.
I guess nowadays do most people just get a blue ray burner, or do they still get just a DVD/CD burner?

[usually_quiet]

I only had 6 Costco blank DVDs left on my stack, and all six were coasters, so, I'm in the market for new DVDs. That foot-tall Costco stack of CMC blanks lasted something like 3 or 4 years, so, it's not something that I buy often. I think I'll do as you said, and find Verbatim AZO or Verbatim Data Life Plus blanks online somewhere. (https://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia)

My kid gave all six of the usable coasters to the history teacher, who was a bit surprised, but, it's what I can do for her.

The huge Pioneer external DVD -R burner is from 2004 or 2005; however, it has been reliable in the past, so, I'm not sure why this one movie caused so many problems. Anyway, I think I pretty much give up on the hardware and those CMC blanks.

What I should also do is buy a new external USB burner.
I guess nowadays do most people just get a blue ray burner, or do they still get just a DVD/CD burner?

Good external Blu-ray burners are not cheap. They are over twice the price of DVD burners. Unless you want to burn BD-R media, you might as well get an external DVD drive. Note that modern DVD drives don't normally last as long as those from 2005.

I only saw one full-height drive external DVD burner: http://www.amazon.com/LG-GE24NU40-Super-External-Rewriter/dp/B00C4401UO Like your big old drive, it has its own power supply and isn't portable.

If you need a slim portable DVD burner, this is the best I could find http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-Portable-External-GP65NS60/dp/B00ODDE7K4/