Batch retime PAL subs to 23.976?

[Honeyko]

Does any utility exist which will painlessly read the VOB structure of a DVDdecrypted set of files and de-mux and retime them automatically?

[manono]

VOBs aren't subs. Extract the subs and then there are a number of programs that can do what you ask. I usually use SubtitleCreator on extracted SUP files.

I'm fairly sure the answer to your question is 'No' - nothing can both extract and convert to NTSC timing subs from VOBs. It's a 2-step process. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that.

[Honeyko]

OK, how about just the VobSub-extracted .IDX and .SUP conglomeration? (You can drag these into some viewers, such as VLC, while the video is playing)

If even that isn't possible as a one-step, what sequence of utilities would you recommend for keep-it-simple-stupid retiming? (Assume for the moment that I don't need to convert non-western scripts such as Arabic to text/.srt, etc.) Goal is properly-retimed sub which, importantly, is supported by VLC as a drag'n'drop, or can be muxed straight in with x264 by MKVmergeGUI. Ideally all utilities are free.

[manono]

I already told you I use SubtitleCreator for the job. Open the VobSubs, go Synchronize->Convert Frame Rate->25 to 23.976->Apply, followed by File->Save VobSub As.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SubtitleCreator

[Honeyko]

I already told you I use SubtitleCreator for the job. Open the VobSubs, go Synchronize->Convert Frame Rate->25 to 23.976->Apply, followed by File->Save VobSub As. If you could step me though this, I'd appreciate it, because that damn piece of software has me tearing my hair out.

Where I am: I have used DVDdecrypt to extract a PAL DVD, and VobSub to demux the idx and sup file pair. There are 24 language subtitles in the particular bundle.

...onto SubtitleCreator (v2.2, as per link).

* The File menu of the application contains the first annoyance: it tantalizingly lists a "Save Vobsub" command, yet has no apparent ability to open one from the same menu (that, of course, being the Holy Grail of my current quest in the first place).

-- "Open text subtitles" sees my 92mb sub file, but attempting to open it yields a "Error reading subtitle #1 ... Index was outside the bounds of the array" error. The error persists no matter what fps choice is selected on the intervening pop-up menu.

-- "Open palette" doesn't reveal either the idx or sup file in the dialog.

....The only way I am apparently able to open VobSub-generated files is via the Tools menu "Manipulate SUP or VobSub" command. Choosing this command replaces the menubar'd window with a similar appearing window without a menubar and with further options in the lower-right, one of which is "Open Sub", the choosing of which permits selection of the VobSub-generated idx file, and, thereafter, a single language stream. It loads fine and the bmps look correct.

* However, I am unable to retime PAL > NTSC in this particular "manipulate" window absent the main program menubar, and...

* Selecting "Close" on this windows returns the main window -- but does not carry over the loaded subtitle.

* Selecting "Open IFO" does not find the VobSub files (as one might expect), and attempting to open the DVD's pertinent decrypted IFO yields....nothing -- I just the get the window back without anything happening.

* Hitting "Save sub." gives me the opportunity to save a binary sup file....which one cannot, unfortunately, open from the main window because it is not a text sup.


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[-TiLT-]

BDSup2Sub can open & save sub/idx, can retime and is scriptable (see included help).

[Honeyko]

Tilt, that program doesn't work on, at least in my one instance, sub/idx sets from PAL DVDs. See my discussion on page 41 of the BD thread: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=145277&page=41

The author has not posted to Doom9 in eight months, and I am afraid software development is discontinued.

[shroomM]

The IDX file is a simple text file (that you can open in Notepad++ or another text editor) that describes what languages are in the SUB file and which is the current, selected language.

The problem is that an IDX/SUB files can contain multiple languages, but BDSup2Sub shows, processes and saves only the selected one.
A possible solution (that I've tested and is working) is to save as many IDX/SUB files as there are languages, changing only the selected language, then open each one and re-save it using BDSup2Sub.

Lengthy process, but shouldn't be hard to code something up. Unfortunately, I don't have the time.

[manusse]

To Honeyko:
If you use the last version of SubtitleCreator (the 2.3 rc1), just open the sub/idx using the "file->open" menu and you should be able to edit them.
Cheers
Manusse