Problem with video conversion and subtitles.

[JEG41]

Hi
I'm having trouble converting an MKV file to an MP4. The original MKV file contains subtitles that can be turned on or off.
Some conversion apps (e.g., VideoProc, HandBrake, etc.) include the subtitles without any problems (though sometimes you need to configure this).
Other conversion apps (e.g., Video to Video, Any Video Converter) don't work.
My question is, is there a specific setting I can use to get the subtitles in my movie file?

[Selur]

The mvk container supports way more subtitles formats than the mp4 container.
Depending on the subtitle format of those subtitles, they need to be converted to be supported by the mp4 container.
Like you noticed, not all tools support all subtitle conversion.

My question is, is there a specific setting I can use to get the subtitles in my movie file?

Some tools might support hard-subbing the subtitles (burn them into the image, so no turning them off and on), other than that you would need to look at the documentation of the specific tool and the specific subtitle format you encounter to know what to configure.

Cu Selur

[ProWo]

Use clever Ffmpeg-GUI.
Load your mkv, click main page, click multiplex, set mp4 as container, control if all streams are selected (on the left) and click multiplex.
Done.

[videoAI]

you can try LosslessCut as well

[JEG41]

Dear ProWo,
I tested clever ffmpeg-GUI. It's a very good converter. Very fast and has a nice picture.
Unfortunately, the MP4 file has the same problem as the original MKV file: the converted MP4 file also contains subtitles that can be turned on or off.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but it is for me, because I need a file with the subtitles permanently embedded after conversion.
This is necessary because I'm putting the converted MKV to MP4 movie file on a USB stick to play on my TV.
It doesn't work with an option to enable or disable subtitles. It's a shame.

[ProWo]

Dear ProWo,
I tested clever ffmpeg-GUI. It's a very good converter. Very fast and has a nice picture.
Unfortunately, the MP4 file has the same problem as the original MKV file: the converted MP4 file also contains subtitles that can be turned on or off.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but it is for me, because I need a file with the subtitles permanently embedded after conversion.
This is necessary because I'm putting the converted MKV to MP4 movie file on a USB stick to play on my TV.
It doesn't work with an option to enable or disable subtitles. It's a shame.

If you want to burn in the subtitle (ever on), you have to re-encode the videostream.
This can be done too with clever FFmpeg-GUI.
See the tutorial:


[Attachment 87808 - Click to enlarge]

To test it, you could encode a short sample, g.e. 5 minutes.

[JEG41]

I've tried a lot, but I can't seem to get it working. I have the latest version, 3.4.3, and your example is 3.1.8.03. There's a difference in the menu, and that's making it difficult. I select MP4, but the conversion still returns MKV. I'm doing something wrong, but where?

[videoAI]

Clever encodes the video stream separately, and ProWo likes mkv better than mp4.
you still need to re-mux the generated mkv [AVC] video stream and your original audio stream [AAC] into an mp4 container.

I've tried a lot, but I can't seem to get it working. I have the latest version, 3.4.3, and your example is 3.1.8.03. There's a difference in the menu, and that's making it difficult. I select MP4, but the conversion still returns MKV. I'm doing something wrong, but where?

Video encoding is only a partial step and the mkv container can contain most video codecs; it also receives most tags, which other containers cannot. The final video is created during multiplexing, and there you can choose the container.

[netmask56]

Dear ProWo,
I tested clever ffmpeg-GUI. It's a very good converter. Very fast and has a nice picture.
Unfortunately, the MP4 file has the same problem as the original MKV file: the converted MP4 file also contains subtitles that can be turned on or off.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but it is for me, because I need a file with the subtitles permanently embedded after conversion.
This is necessary because I'm putting the converted MKV to MP4 movie file on a USB stick to play on my TV.
It doesn't work with an option to enable or disable subtitles. It's a shame.

You need to use the option to "burn in" the subs in your conversion program you are using if it has that option. Handbrake and VidCoder can do this

[JEG41]

Dear Pro Wo,
I can't convert with clever ffmpeg-GUI, neither to mkv nor to mp4. I'm following the included visual instructions, though.
I must be doing something wrong somewhere, but where and what? I'd really like to use that program.

[ProWo]

Dear Pro Wo,
I can't convert with clever ffmpeg-GUI, neither to mkv nor to mp4. I'm following the included visual instructions, though.
I must be doing something wrong somewhere, but where and what? I'd really like to use that program.

Okay, I'll give you step-by-step instructions.

1) Start the app and drag your video.
2) Click main page.
3) Click encode video stream (you'll change the video stream only, all other streams remains untouched).
4) Select x264 (avc) as encoder, leave all other settings as they are.
5) Click various.
6) Check the Burn in subtitle checkbox; if they are embedded subtitles in your video, source video is selected, but you can also use an extern subtitle.
7) Select the subtitle you want to burn in and click OK. (You'll see a green S before target file).
8) Click encode. Wait until is finished.

9) Click multiplex; all streams are checked on the left. The new encoded video stream is shown in green.
10) Deselect (on the left) the blue video stream and all subtitle streams.
11) Select your container (mkv or mp4 recommended) and click multiplex. Wait until is finished.
12) You will find your new video with hardcoded (burn in) subtitles in your destination folder.

[JEG41]

Dear Pro Wo,
It works perfectly now, both for MP4 and MKV, but I have no sound. Is there something wrong somewhere?

[ProWo]

Dear Pro Wo,
It works perfectly now, both for MP4 and MKV, but I have no sound. Is there something wrong somewhere?

You have deselected the audio stream(s) at point 10).

Do the following:
Start the app, load your new video (with burned-in subtitles and without audio), click main page, click multiplex.
Drag the original video (with audio) into the grid. All its streams are displayed in turquoise color.
Deselect all turquoise streams that are not audio streams.

Click multiplex. Done.

[JEG41]

Now ProWo is perfect. I'm so happy. I'm going to be able to use that program a lot. I had a feeling it was a good program, but I couldn't figure it out. Thanks to your step-by-step plan and your patience with me, I finally managed it. Thank you so much.

[ProWo]

Now ProWo is perfect. I'm so happy. I'm going to be able to use that program a lot. I had a feeling it was a good program, but I couldn't figure it out. Thanks to your step-by-step plan and your patience with me, I finally managed it. Thank you so much.

You are welcome