Markers in a DV-AVI file - alternative containers?

[seanmcnally]

I'm digitizing some old MiniDV tapes and I have no intention of re-encoding. However, I'd like to embed subtitles, and use the datecode to place markers at each different day found on the tape (using the DV datecode). I'm open to suggestions on how to automate the process of adding markers, but I'll probably just wind up writing a Python script and posting it here once I'm done

So, onto my question: I'm aware that the .avi container doesn't support markers, is there any issue with rewrapping DV video in another container? Perhaps MKV or MOV? What's the best practice for doing this? Thanks in advance!

Sean

[_Al_]

That was an topic 15 years+ back. Time flies. I lost all-needed files while migrating to different PC's. The way I was doing it was making mkv files where srt subtitles were muxed in.
Sony Vegas (Magix Vegas today) supports scripting.
-DV avi was captured to scenes (not a long continuous capture) where clips were named from timecode (using scenalyzer Live)
-clips were imported to Sony Vegas, you could edit that video and when done there was a script available for Vegas, that would export srt subtiles were titles were timecodes. That was done in two stages using internal script making markers or regions (not sure what now) at the clips start-end's and then those srt's from those markers.
-using mkvmerge to mux exported Video from Vegas and those subtitles.
I found something here https://github.com/kaszarobert/vegas-regions-to-srt , there is Export srt.cs, that exports those regions so you'd need script to make those regions from clip names.

So you can export same DVavi from Vegas without re-encoding as avi, but timecode would be lost, you'd need to use it with that scripting to get subtitles.

[seanmcnally]

I think what you're describing is an SRT file softcoded in an AVI file that just displays the date. This is made easy with Paul Glagla's DVDate - it has the functionality to read datecodes inside DV-AVI files and simply export out SRT files with titles displaying the date and time at every second.

I do plan on adding those subtitles, but my question is about markers. Since AVI doesn't support markers, I'm wondering what sort of container I should use - if, in fact, I can put DV video inside a different container. Sounds like Vegas was re-encoding in your case?

PS - Vegas regions to SRT is something I wasn't aware of, may be useful for the future! Thanks!

[_Al_]

Vegas is not re-encoding DV project and dv avi loaded in it, but timecode is changed. When exporting, preview screen goes black with something like "compression not needed" or so and it just uses DV data for exported DV avi, so it is very fast.

But if you get that srt that easily and not needing to edit DV avi, why not to use that srt and just mux it with mkvmerge if that mkv is playable in players. Perhaps not haradware or TV players but just in PC.

[seanmcnally]

Vegas is not re-encoding DV project and dv avi loaded in it, but timecode is changed. When exporting, preview screen goes black with something like "compression not needed" or so and it just uses DV data for exported DV avi, so it is very fast.

This is news to me! Vegas was my first NLE, I still have a copy of Vegas 11 Pro installed on my PC (Back from the Sony days). Still has a place in my heart. Had no idea it was capable of just exporting without encoding. I still don't think this is my solution, though, as you're not dealing with actual chapter markers, just subtitles, correct?

I'm pretty sure any potential solution involves rewrapping into a new container, since AVI doesn't support markers, as far as I know.