DV datecode into Scenarist subtitle

[callstreet]

I found a way to transfer DV date/time code into Scenarist subtitle format, but it's a long winding path. If there are any way to simplify the process, that will save a lot of tedious work. I'll prepare to do some src code modification and recompile if necessary. Here's the details:

DV sub maker doesn't exist anymore in the old link. Also I need NTSC that is not supported.

DV_DateCode - I need to covert my type 1 DV to type 2. For the output files, only the .sub file is usuable. If the time code changes every second, there are 1 subtitle per sec in the .sub file. But there are about 29.97 subtitles per sec in the .ssa file. I could use MaestroSBT to convert .ssa to .sst format for Scenarist. But it's a waste of storage, time and cause certain crash.

I use Subtitle Workshop to convert the .sub file from DV_DateCode. Subtitle Workshop generate almost an .sst file but useless without the bitmaps. So I have to convert .sub file to .ssa file first. This .ssa file is usable with about 1 subtitle per sec, same as the .sub file.

Finally, I use MaestroSBT to convert the usable .ssa file into .sst file complete with the bitmaps.

As you have seen, I have tried quite a number of tools but each have their limitations. Did I missed any tools that will make my life easier in putting DV datecode into Scenarist subtitle format?

The alternative is to use another DVD authoring program. It has to be approx free. The only features I need is that it should be simple to add mpg clips as chapters, support AC3 and of course subtitles. I don't need any fancy menu as this is for the archive of home video clips, lots of them. I want to preserve as much info as practical before throwing the avi files away.

Any suggestions? Is the author of DV_DateCode currently active?

[dannykg]

I do not recommend using Scenarist for doing this. Maestro is a lot faster and efficient!

Please find attached program that might be of use. It can be used to generate DV timestamp text files in 3 different formats, which can then be imported as subtitles into your DVD authoring program. The supported formats are,

1) Generic format (Non-drop frame timecode)
2) SSA format (timecode in milliseconds)
3) DVD Maestro format (Non-drop frame timecode)

In general, all formats consists the following fields,

Starting timecode, ending timecode, subtitle text

If you need to convert to a different format, I suggest you use the "generic" format as input for the conversion.


How to use
==========

1) Select the AVI files. The file order is important because timecodes are generated in sequence for the selected order. To select all files in filename order, click on detail file listing and select the last file first, then shift-click the first file to select all files.

2) Select the format you want, eg. Generic format.

3) Ignore the seconds/minute selection (both are generated).

4) The output are in ../sub/[timestamp] directory. The *_allmin and *_allsec files contain the adjusted timecode from all the files.

5) The whole thing takes about 20 mins for one hour DV.

PS. You need DirectX installed.

[dannykg]

bb,

Is it possible for you to enable the attachment in my last post? It has a small zip file attached.

Thanks

[ShawnFumo]

Callstreet, if you are curious about free dvd authoring programs, you may want to check into DVDAuthor. Since it uses an XML file, pretty easy to batch a long sequence together. The spumux subtitle muxer that comes with it also supports a bunch of different text subtitle formats. There's also GUIs for it like DVDAuthorGUI (which make creating menus a bit easier).

Also, Muxman is another free free program that produces a dvd filesystem (though more geared toward doing muxing and final dvd at the same time, while DVDAuthor uses previously muxed mpgs).

The whole datecode to subtitles is something I'm curious about as well, as I'd like to do the same thing with my own DV. I'll see if I can experiment with this over the weekend and see what method seems easiest...

Shawn

[callstreet]

Scenarist is rather good once you get used to it. The manual could be written a lot better. The software is easier to use than some earlier versions of video editor - Ulead Mediapro.

I used the software dannykg posted for a while now. There are two subtitles files as output, one that changes per sec and one per minute. Just what I needed. Then I convert the ssa file into Scenarist file by Mastro. Saved me a lot of time compared to my original route.

[nnigam]

I just saw this post. I had gotten the datecode to work sometime back, but when I tried it today on a 4x3 video, the datecode appears below the screen level. I am using muxman to author. DV_Datecode to extract the date codes, and then subtitle workshop to convert to sup format.
Any idea on how to control subtitle location. I will try the tool by dannykg.