View Full Version : Guide available: Adding subtitles to DVD
Paddington
23rd December 2003, 13:13
Based on the information that I found in this forum, I have written a short guide (http://geocities.com/erik_vullings/) explaining how you can add subtitles to an existing DVD, or one that you have created yourself. The process requires many steps, so if you have any suggestions that might shorten it, please let me know.
The process is as follows:
1. Rip DVD to disk (DVD Shrink)
2. Synchronize subtitles and convert them to SubRip *.srt format (Subtitle workshop)
3. Convert subtitles to *.sup streams (Srt2Sup)
4. Demultiplex ripped DVD into separate video, audio and subtitle files (VobEdit)
5. Multiplex video, audio and subtitle files (including your own) to a new VOB file (IfoEdit)
6. Test new VOB file and write it to DVD (Nero showview and Nero Express)
More detail can be found at http://geocities.com/erik_vullings/. Comments are welcome!
Points for improvement
In an ideal world :D, it should be possible to perform steps 2...5 in one step. You would need a tool that converts a subtitle text file into a stream, and replaces it for an existing subtitle stream (it could even use the same characters and colors). Theoretically, this is possible, at least if the sup-streams are not compressed. Does anybody know?
A big step forward would also if srt2sup would allow to set the subtitle colors manually to the same ones found with IfoEdit, so we wouldn't have subtitle colors that look completely wrong.
ffroms
24th December 2003, 11:31
That's all OK but I haven't be able to see my new add subs on DVD player even PowerDVD shows them. I tested same DVD on friends DVD player and same problem. When I created DVD with MaestroDVD and ripped my sub with VobEdit and remuxed again with IfoEdit and ReJig and then I had sub. Still looking for right solution 'couse don't know what to blame.
FFS
mornstar
10th January 2004, 10:56
I have the same problem. Aren't there any subs at all, because with my subs, i only see line 1 of the subs. and not sub line 2 (on a multi-lined sub)....
By the way, don't use powerdvd, use windvd, because that problem is much more like a standalone. Subtitles problems like tming and positioning you see only with windvd...
mornstar
10th January 2004, 11:04
The site is down allmost all the time (Geocities :( ) Go to here (http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/userguides/197950.php) to see the same...
Paddington
11th January 2004, 15:42
Thanks Mornstar for adding the new link - I didn't know doom9 had already posted it!
With regard to your problems: I never have any problems with multiple lines, or switching the subs on/off. Especially when I re-author the DVD with DVD shrink, keeping only the movie title, it works smoothly. Only sometimes it is a bitch to get the subtitles synchronized (I have the impression that sometimes the NTSC version also has slightly different movie material, e.g. extra scenes, or removed scenes, causing a non-linear synchronization error, which cannot be solved with subtitle workshop). It would be nice if subtitle workshop would allow us to sync. between multiple points...
However, I sometimes do have problems if I wish to keep the original menu. Although replacing the IFO (BUP) and VOBs looks OK, already NERO complained that the DVD structure isn't correct anymore (e.g. that video_ts is not addressed, in which case I could play it using NERO showview, but not anymore on my Panasonic DVD player). Anybody know how to solve this?
Dinky
21st February 2004, 17:38
Hi i am a newbie, and dontknow what your are using.
I case of IFOedit I made 2 actions, that are not mentioned.
1. in the new ifo:
GOTO VTSI_MAT (in the upper window)
set (in the lower window)
number audiostreams in VTSM to 1
number subpictures streams in VTSM to 1
2. to prevent comment from nero:
Then I closed IfoEdit and opened it again, openend my VTS_01_0.info and did get VTS sectors
(don't know exactly why you have to use this, but I was told to do it in een new started IFOEdit window).
3. To change the colors of added subs, i used subremap.
I wrote down my experience http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71217
violao
8th March 2004, 17:02
Originally posted by Paddington
A big step forward would also if srt2sup would allow to set the subtitle colors manually to the same ones found with IfoEdit, so we wouldn't have subtitle colors that look completely wrong.
There is another tool called DVDSupTools (available in download area) that allows you to enter color map into it's config file so that it's hardcoded into the sup stream. DVDSupEncode is a DOS command that converts MicroDVD format to sup. To find the original color map you need to check one of the original sup streams with DVDSupHTML (part of DVDSupTools). It will list 4 numbers per subpicture (that will likely be the same for all subpictures in original sup) like for example 3320. Then you enter this number in config file and your new subtitles will have the same color map as the original.
odedia
11th March 2004, 22:40
There's something i just don't understand - why would anyone prefer to go through all the hassle of these conversions and color matching when there's such a simple solution such as DVDMaestro's .STL files? all i need to do it convert the .srt file to .stl with Sub2STL, and then load that TEXT file into DVDmaestro. the software will take care of all the headache for placing the subtitles and displaying the colors correctly. I don't need to worry about it.
Just interested in knowing why this approach doesn't seem to be popular, that's all :)
Best regards,
Oded S.
Srt2Sup
13th March 2004, 09:22
Hi,
The answer to your question might be that:
1) DVDMaestro requires Win2K or XP
2) It has a high price tag if you obtain it legally!!!
3) It is not the easiest program to use
Regards
Srt2Sup
pepipocpoc
15th March 2004, 01:11
4) srt2sup and supremap are precious progs.
5) srt2sup is a precious member, and a modest one.
Visit his website ;) .
tedybear
31st March 2004, 10:12
Originally posted by Paddington
Thanks Mornstar for adding the new link - I didn't know doom9 had already posted it!
With regard to your problems: I never have any problems with multiple lines, or switching the subs on/off. Especially when I re-author the DVD with DVD shrink, keeping only the movie title, it works smoothly. Only sometimes it is a bitch to get the subtitles synchronized (I have the impression that sometimes the NTSC version also has slightly different movie material, e.g. extra scenes, or removed scenes, causing a non-linear synchronization error, which cannot be solved with subtitle workshop). It would be nice if subtitle workshop would allow us to sync. between multiple points...
However, I sometimes do have problems if I wish to keep the original menu. Although replacing the IFO (BUP) and VOBs looks OK, already NERO complained that the DVD structure isn't correct anymore (e.g. that video_ts is not addressed, in which case I could play it using NERO showview, but not anymore on my Panasonic DVD player). Anybody know how to solve this?
You mean you added new subtitles and want to keep original menu etc ?
I'm asking myself also how to do that ?
Ash123
31st March 2004, 21:40
I may be naive in saying this, but doesn't DVD Shrink copy all menus/subs ect? Obviously the copy DVD will be less quality than the original, assuming the original is larger than 4.7GB, but to most people the difference in quality is negligable.
Paddington
1st April 2004, 01:52
Hi,
First of all, I am currently working on a new program to convert subtitles to sup (similar to srt2sup, but with additional features, such as:
- IFO reading to obtain the color palette and NTSC/PAL info
- allowing the use of italics, bold, underline
- reading an original sup file, displaying the bitmaps, and allowing you to use multiple synchronization points
The core is finished, but I am trying to resolve some bugs now... and the fact that I have to do everything on my old laptop without a DVD drive doesn't make it any easier.
With respect to keeping menus, that is not as siimple as it sounds. After adding a subtitle to a DVD, the whole navigational structure as contained in the IFO files doesn't work anymore (but don't ask me about details - I didn't dive into it yet). However, there is another link in this forum who explains what to do when adding another audio stream, and I think that might work. Please check out Dave82 (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70675&highlight=dave82)'s message.
Paddington
Piaf
25th April 2004, 21:58
Originally posted by odedia
There's something i just don't understand - why would anyone prefer to go through all the hassle of these conversions and color matching when there's such a simple solution such as DVDMaestro's .STL files? all i need to do it convert the .srt file to .stl with Sub2STL, and then load that TEXT file into DVDmaestro. the software will take care of all the headache for placing the subtitles and displaying the colors correctly. I don't need to worry about it.
Just interested in knowing why this approach doesn't seem to be popular, that's all :)
Best regards,
Oded S.
second that,used al the rest and getting "green subs" every time,sub2stl is the way ;)
Paddington
27th April 2004, 01:21
Maybe because not everybody is willing to buy DVDmaestro, or illegally copy it... The tools discussed are all freeware.
dbasulto
2nd May 2004, 00:46
If adding an extra subtitle stream is kinda difficult, what about replacing one? I think the point on adding subs is that sometimes ppl get dvds that have, in example, english subs, but they want french/spanish/etc subs? so, wouldnt it be kinda easy to just replace the english .sup file with the foreign.sup file, using the sane file name, and remuxing it? and just having to select the "english" subtitle in the menu to get the new sub showing?
Also, is there a quick tut on how to do this with dvd maestro? (adding/replacing subs, and keeping menus, etc?)
LioCraft
19th May 2004, 16:09
This post has been deleted since the very same question was asked here:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76486
Paddington
4th August 2004, 06:34
New TOOL and GUIDE available (http://home.hetnet.nl/~erikvullings/subtitlecreator_v1_0.zip): Just to let you know, I have updated my guide, and you can download it from this website. Additionally, it includes a new tool, SubtitleCreator, which converts SRT files to SUP files (similar to srt2sup, but with additional features, such as synchronization and reading the IFO file to get the color palette).
Comments and questions can be posted to the following THREAD (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80109).
Paddington
4th August 2004, 06:35
New TOOL and GUIDE available (http://home.hetnet.nl/~erikvullings/subtitlecreator_v1_0.zip): Just to let you know, I have updated my guide, and you can download it from this website. Additionally, it includes a new tool, SubtitleCreator, which converts SRT files to SUP files (similar to srt2sup, but with additional features, such as synchronization and reading the IFO file to get the color palette).
Comments and questions can be posted to the following THREAD (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80109).
SAFE_Dives
16th December 2004, 14:49
@ dbasulto
"If adding an extra subtitle stream is kinda difficult, what about replacing one?"
Because not ALL of us are into ripping DVDs - some of us are into creating our own NEW content!
All you guys out ther trying to get a solution using the great freeware that is available - BEST OF LUCK!!
I have managed to produce a home-made DVD with subtitles, using the tools that you guys are using. But I have a couple of problems -
The first is I have not been able to crack the problem of putting the menus back in that I created with Express,
The second is that the subtitles will only display after about 3 to 4 minutes of playtime for each VOB (VOBs split the content, rather than chapters 'cos I haven't cracked that either). BUT the subs do display if you play to 3-4 mins, then rewind to not quite the beginning of the VOB.
BTW I have used different fonts for different people's voices, but want to use different colours. I can see that this could be done, but do not have the skills yet to execute this in a utility program. Maybe someone else does?
Srt2Sup
16th December 2004, 17:47
Hi,
With regards to using different colours for different voices, remember you only have a maximum of 4 colours to play with in each subtitle (and one of these must be background), however this is out of a pallete of 16.
So if you keep background as 1 colour you could have 15 different colours to use across each subtitle or 3 different colours in a single subtitle!
Regards
Srt2Sup
Paddington
20th December 2004, 09:52
Replacing a subtitle is not as easy as it sounds. Essentially, the whole DVD structure is changed, and has to be corrected, something I cannot do. That's why I take the trouble of disassembling and assembling everything.
Wrt keeping the menus, have a look at TheMatrixx's guide (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83566), which uses IfoEdit to put the menus back in again.
baptist
31st March 2005, 20:59
Hi, I'm pretty ignorant about writing subtitles to my DVDs. Is there a step by step way to succeed in writing them? I have Windows XP installed in my PC. Thanks.
smiller667
31st March 2005, 22:45
Hi & welcome to the board,
please read the previous posting in this very thread. It contains a link to a step-by-step guide for adding subs to an existing dvd.
Steve
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