Can't Display Subtitles

[kalorx]

Hi all,

Here's the programs I have installed and other info that may affect this issue:

- VobSub 2.23 with VirtualDub plugin
- Core Media Player with MKV and OGG/Vorbis support, latest version as of 1/12/05
- Sub-Station Alpha 4.08-r4
- Latest Matroska splitter and muxer as of 1/12/05
- ffdshow (don't know version, but got it recently)
- Using Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1
- Bleeding-edge PC

I created an MKV file that includes SSA subs, but they won't display in Media Player Classic 6.4.8.2 or Core Media Player. MPC doesn't even register the stream's existence, while CMP at least registers the existence of the stream but doesn't display it.

I've tried muxing using both MKVtoolnix 1.0 as well as AVI-Mux GUI 1.16.9.

I just don't get it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kalorx

[niamh]

At a guess, update MPC to celtic druid´s build, or disable the internal matroska splitter
Or/and maybe your resolution is wrong and the subtitles are too low to show (PlayRes in the file). Do they play as external subs, as in outside a mkv anyway?
Without wanting to generalize, I can also say that mkv and ogg support in TCMP has consistently and determinedly screwed my system.It could (or couldn´t) be that too.I haven´t tried it anymore on the latest versions, so I´m not in a position to say.

[kalorx]

Ever since Media Player Classic 6.4.8.2 started messing up audio sync in videos I've been afraid to use it. Plus, in my experience the Core Media Player has better support of multiple subtitle and audio streams.

Buuuuut, I'm curious about this "Celtic Druid" build, seeing as I understand MPC isn't being developed anymore.

I'll check this stuff out and get back to you.

Oh, BTW, I'm quite sure resolution isn't an issue. A massive error message actually pops up saying that I'm stupid and there's something wrong with one of the streams in my video... and promptly displays the fact that the stream is there, and even displays its name correctly. TCMP certainly is not without its problems...

[kalorx]

Tried Celtic Druid, got a great new compression program called 7-Zip in the process, and even uninstalled TCMP and reinstalled VobSub 2.23, but to no avail.

MPC simply doesn't even register the subtitle stream exists. At least TCMP did that much.

Just to make sure this wasn't an isolated issue, I tried out some other files with subtitles in them. Dead in them, too. Both OGM and MKV formats.

[niamh]

Actually, I just experienced the problem...ssa and ass will auto-load(not always) as separates, but drag and drop gives an error, and they don´t show in matroska. I´m stumped.

[kalorx]

What exactly do you mean by "drag and drop"? You mean to say you just dragged the SSA/SRT into the video file during playback or something? Or are you referring to the muxing programs?

[kalorx]

[still an issue, posting a reply so the topic will stay at the top of the list]

[kalorx]

[still an issue, posting a reply so the topic will stay at the top of the list]

[niamh]

Have a bit of patience my friend.It´s not like things move down fast in the subtitle forum :D
Read this thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80762&perpage=20&pagenumber=4) , you will some people have had issues. I found a workaround for TCMP at the moment, which is to open directvobsub properties while playing the file, click apply, ok, and close, and the subtitles now appear.C_D´s MPC crashes on me for now. Everything autoloads correctly for srt subtitles.
First things you need to do is a) enable autoload in the matroska splitter´s properties
b) make sure your ssa file has a codec ID of S_TEXT/SSA (which it probably does) and not S_SSA
c) wait for new versions of vsfilter ;)

PS:yes drag and drop a subtitle in the video window always worked for me(Im lazy), then as a rule I only use srt(and I´ll probably keep doing so)

[kalorx]

How do you modify the properties of the splitter?

I also checked my SSA document, but I can't seem to find encoding info anywhere in it. I'll open it up in Sub-Station Alpha and check there.

Also, I can't open up DirectVobSub properties while in CMP (I uninstalled TCMP). That would be under the "Filters" tab, right? I don't see it.

Furthermore, I found a "Matroska Splitter" option under the "Filters" tab, but it's grayed out - I can't open it.

Next to lastly, does this "vsfilter" come with VobSub 2.23? Or is that something that needs to be downloaded and installed seperately?

And lastly, I'm rather weary of using Haali's splitter... it has some strange properties. But I'll keep it in mind.

[niamh]

the splitter's properties come with haali's splitter, and you're not using it, so that's settled.
there is a patched vsfilter, called 2.33b, frankly, I've been trying with all the splitters and filters, it makes no difference which one I have. as no ssa file will show right up.
The easiest way to get to directvobsub properties is to double-click the green arrow in the tray. Just clicking OK gets the subs showing, and no, I've no idea why, or why not :)

[kalorx]

That's just it - there is no green arrow in the tray. I know what you're talking about, too. I keep reinstalling VobSub, but it never shows up.

[niamh]

lol, well it should be set to load in the first place ... start>program files>vobsub>directvobsub configure > general (i think) = always load, or load when needed

EDIT: my ssa won't autoload because they have the old SSA/ASS header that I warned you against.............lol . S_TEXT SSA do autoload with no problem (I do have haali's splitter and the new vsfilter)

2ND EDIT: to get that info on ssa files, I just dump them in mkvmerge, easy and lazy. (re-edit) scratch this too

[niamh]

ok, I will make another post because I'm typing too fast and confusing myself.
A friend sent me some ssa made with subrip, I muxed them in with some file, and they showed properly. I deducted subrip ssa are good, while others are not...the S_TEXT info is written in by mkvmerge itself when one actually muxes a file, so it shouldn't be an issue here, when I thought it was(that was the 2nd edit). I just tested 3 ssa files separately:

1)subrip >> shows

2)subtitle workshop >> does not show

3)substation alpha >> does not show

4)subtitle workshop, ass format >> show

figures. This is a bit clearer post, though, hope that helps someone ;)

[kalorx]

Okay, here's some new info:

My SSA script is indeed S_TEXT, and was created originally by SubRip and then loaded into mkvmerge.exe.

I installed Haali's splitter and set "autoload vsfilter" to "Yes". This didn't make a difference.

Using your directions I managed to get the green arrow to appear but only if I set it to "Appear Always". It won't automatically read that MKVs or OGMs have subtitles.

I figured out how to get subtitles to appear: manually. If manually go into VobSub properties while the video is playing and throw on my SSA manually, it will play.

But still, MPC simply won't acknowledge the fact that there is a subtitle stream! The "subtitle" tab under "Play" is grayed-out during playback. This is obviously why VobSub isn't autoloading.

[niamh]

Set the rendering to one of the two renderless modes in options in MPC(output), you will get the subtitles streams showing then, for your case(and mine as it were). You can also try media player 2 (wmp 6.4) if you have issues with your players, it's kind of sturdy :)
And it does seem to be a vsfilter issue, somehow.

[kalorx]

I just tried all the different renderers. No difference.