Encoding VOB to WMV with hard subs.

[CZroe]

Any way to do this? I've had very "iffy" suport for VOB files in the first place... most crash the encoder or crash at certain resolutions (different behavior with different DVD playback encoders installed I assume).

If I have to process first with some other applications I'd be glad to do it as long as I don't have to encode to another format first (I did this long ago and wasted five times more time than simply watching the movie). I'm trying to get them on a Portable Media Center where the volume is never loud enough and it is likely to be used where headphones are not allowed.

Also, I am a stickler for maintaining aspect ratios so in some movies I'd like to move the subtitles off-screen... perhaps a scroller or something? Yes, I'm aware that I would have to waste space encoding the letterboxing but at 800kbps max bitrate I don't really think it's an issue. Yes, I'm also aware that the original placement of subtitles is sometimes important, but I will actually have some (very low) audio so it will only be to assist in understanding what was said and not identifying who in the scene said it.

[McoreD]

Encoding VOB to WMV with hard subs:

From memory, if you feed an AviSynth script with subtitles ( http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/avi2dvdr.htm ) I believe WME will encode it to WMV as it does normal, but this time you will have subtitles also.

[ilovejedd]

Windows Media Encoder 9 doesn't support .avs input (I tried) so he'll have to convert to an intermediate format (if you're a stickler for quality, Huffyuv AVI w/uncompressed audio will give you a lossless intermediary file).

For Vobsub subtitles (sub/idx), you can change the height and placement of subtitles using Vobsub configure.

Sample script:
video = MPEG2Source("test.d2v")
video = LanczosResize(320,180).AddBorders(0,30,0,30).VobSub("test.sub")
audio = NicAC3Source("test.ac3")
audio = audio.Amplify(10)
AudioDub(video,audio)
Just open the script in VirtualDub or any other conversion program and convert to a format WME will accept.

If you really want a no-hassle one-click conversion, you'll need to shell out some bucks to buy DVD to WMV conversion software (e.g. Xilisoft DVD Ripper, Imtoo).

[McoreD]

Windows Media Encoder 9 doesn't support .avs input (I tried).

I don't want to convince that it does, you but did you at least check my signature? :)

[zambelli]

I don't want to convince that it does, you but did you at least check my signature? :)I swear I must've written at least a dozen times by now that WME does in fact support Avisynth input. :) I wish people would :search:

[CZroe]

Wow. Awesome information here! Perhaps someday soon I'll have the time to try it! That said, I'll be sure to report my success/failure/trials & tribulations/etc.

[some drywall]

Windows Media Encoder 9 doesn't support .avs input (I tried) so he'll have to convert to an intermediate format (if you're a stickler for quality, Huffyuv AVI w/uncompressed audio will give you a lossless intermediary file).

For Vobsub subtitles (sub/idx), you can change the height and placement of subtitles using Vobsub configure.

Sample script:
video = MPEG2Source("test.d2v")
video = LanczosResize(320,180).AddBorders(0,30,0,30).VobSub("test.sub")
audio = NicAC3Source("test.ac3")
audio = audio.Amplify(10)
AudioDub(video,audio)
Just open the script in VirtualDub or any other conversion program and convert to a format WME will accept.

If you really want a no-hassle one-click conversion, you'll need to shell out some bucks to buy DVD to WMV conversion software (e.g. Xilisoft DVD Ripper, Imtoo).

If I remember correctly you have to choose "encode from device" as the source and it works just fine. (if you are using the windows media encoder gui)