Force (or trick) PBC to turn On.

[NoMoreNIU]

I use (the wonderful) DVD2SVCD frequently to make SVCD for my cheapo APEX DVD player. The subtitle can be turned on and off because the player always enable PBC. I recently purchased a Sony DAV-C770 and it also plays SVCD and CVD, but the subtitle can't be turned on because the DVD player only turns on PBC *if* the disc is VCD 2.0. It's an automatic thing and I can't manual turn on PBC, weird heh? So I was just wondering if anyone had the same problem with their DVD player. Is there a way to "trick" the player into thinking the disc is a VCD 2.0? I read about the header trick and changing the offset to even # (according to DVD2SVCD). I use CDRWIN to burn, should I try EasyVCD? Any help or recommendation would be great, thank you very much!

[vitualis]

What makes you think that your player isn't playing your SVCD in PBC mode?

Just because it doesn't say so on the OSD doesn't mean it doesn't. Your player may not be playing back SVCD subtitles simply because it doesn't support this feature (many players don't).

Regards.

[NoMoreNIU]

In the manual it says if I insert a VCD2.0 disc the player will automatically play in PBC mode, and on the DVD front display the "PBC light" would turn on. I've seen the light turning on when I put in a VCD2.0 demo.
I assume SVCD disc wasn't playing in PBC mode is because 1)the PBC light did not turn on; 2)I was unable to skip chapter forward/backward on the remote; 3)when I hit the subtitle button on the remote it says, "not usable with this disc;" 4)I can jump chapters only if I go into the OSD and punch in the #, so that leads me to thing the DVD player can read the subindex.
Are you saying PBC and SVCD subtitle are 2 different features? I was not aware that. I always thought if PBC is on, subtitle feature is on. When I use my Apex, OSD shows PBC On and I can play my SVCD chapter forward/backward/subtitle no problem. I've been searching in the forums and you're very knowledgeable and helpful in many topics. Thank you very much for your respond!

[vitualis]

Okay.

How did you make the SVCD exactly? Does it have a menu or something? If you can get a menu to pop up on the SVCD, then PBC is indeed being used.

If the disc has a menu but the player is only playing back the video tracks, then PBC is not being used for the SVCD...

I would probably have to check references myself, but I don't think that SVCD subtitles necessarily require PBC to be on. Exactly how they work do depend on the player though and MANY players don't support SVCD OGT type subtitles.

Regards.

[Cornucopia]

Also,
All discs correctly authored as standard SVCD's do include PBC.

This could be an APEX / SVCD playback anomaly.

Scott

[NoMoreNIU]

I use DVD2SVCD and CCE2.5 to make my SVCDs. I've tried encoding subtitle in SVCD and CVD. I'm new at this and I don't know how to create menu, but I'll try it just to see if PBC is the root cause. I can't believe I spent $600 on a DVD system that can't even do what my $100 Apex can. Arghhh.....

[BJ_M]

the sony's 550 770 and 990 all had bugs (and a recall) relating to subtitles . as in they either would not work , would only stay on or turn off and on by themselves..


"bargin" sony 's of these models often have been repaired and are the old series .. send it back to sony and get them fixed .

[NoMoreNIU]

Nope, the one I got is bug free. Sony had a recall in November because their DAVC770 and 990 have the subtitle problem you described. So all the machines they ship after November are good. I got mine in January and I don't experience the subtitle problem (with DVD).

[NoMoreNIU]

On my final note. I tested it with the header trick and the subtitle still didn't come on. Chapter forward/backward didn't work either. I'm done with this, I guess there's nothing more anyone can do.