Convert standalone NTSC *.sub/*.idx to SRT?

[aLu]

How to best rip telecined subtitles (NTSC 29,9 fps) to a text format?

They come in two separate files with IDX ie. SUB extension - the latter is sort of a VOB container, says GSpot, but supposedly all timing info is stored in the IDX file, while the SUB contains the graphics. So they can't be opened like normal VOB files using DVD2AVI and supposedly all VOB-based tools.

SupRip can open them and apparently recognizes a framerate - it says 30 fps in some dialog boxes when you choose a format to convert to, but the setting is grayed out and probably coincidence. It doesn't do Inverse Telecine on the fly, so most images are unreadable because of artefacts.
Unfortunately, the programmer didn't integrate a "Skip all problematic frames" button ;-) anyway, too much information would be lost. I'm using Subrip 1.50b4 and the internal update check says it's still the latest version.

Have any of you tried this before?

[manusse]

Hi,

There are many ways to do that:

SubResynch.
SubRip should work normally.
SubtitleCreator if you also have Office 2003 but there is a timing bug.
DVDSubEdit: You must first convert your sub/idx files to sup using SubtitleCreator (although there is a NTSC timing bug), then you can open the sup file with DVDSubEdit.

Cheers
Manusse

[aLu]

Can you be more specific since i know none of these tools? Why would I need a subtitle creator?

The best idea I've come up with is to
1. create a dummy file,
2. hardcode the subs into it,
3. do IVTC and then
4. feed it to SubRip.

The problem is step 2, since MediaPlayer Classic could play such a file, but is no frameserver... Ha! Found a VOBSUB.DLL for Avisynth.

And found a tutorial for Subresync - seems to be all I need since it's a ripping tool especially for this type of subs (Vobsub).
http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/convert-sub-to-srt-smi-psb-ssa-ass-son-with-subresync-t219201.html

[manusse]

First a couple of SUB/IDX file is not a VOB container but a binary subtitle (like bitmaps). The SUB file holds the bitmaps like on a DVD. The IDX is a text file that holds the timings.

To transform them to a text subtitle, you must OCR them using a specific program. There are several programs that can do that. Some use SUB/IDX file, some use SUP file that are also binary subtitles. You can use SubtitleCreator to convert a SUB/IDX couple to a SUP file.

I advice that you use SubResynch. The tutorial you give a reference to is OK.

Cheers
Manusse

[aLu]

Subresync works perfectly, no need for conversion to anything. Thanks for the tip. I had worked with the Vobsub stuff ages ago but forgotten about it.

Since GSpot recognizes the Vobsub "SUB" container as "VOB", there must be some similarities - also the name "VOBsub" would suggest it.

[manusse]

Since GSpot recognizes the Vobsub "SUB" container as "VOB", there must be some similarities

SUB/IDX (aka VobSub) files are made by extracting SUBtitles from DVD VOBs using VSRip (aka VobSubRip). The binary part of the VobSub subtitle (sub file) is a direct extraction of the VOBs' SUBtitle. But they are not VOB files...

With Subresynch there is a learning phase but if you want to try a fully automatic OCR, use SubtitleCreator to convert your SUB/IDX to SUP and use DVDSubEdit for the OCR.

Cheers
Manusse

[aLu]

With Subresynch there is a learning phase...
Once you get the hang of it it's easy to use, probably easier than a bunch of new software with (quoting you) 'NTSC bugs'.

DVDSubEdit is an interesting tool, quote from their home page:
You can also selectively remove typos in the subtitles, all this without re-authoring!
Nice. How about horizontal resizing for original subs on DVDs that have been converted to half width (DVDRebuilder)? Some players, like MPC, stretch these subtitles so they're halfway off screen. (I'm always nagging, I know)

DVD sub editing seems certainly easier than in the days of WinSubMux.

[manusse]

I was speaking about the OCR learning phase. The OCR used by DVDSubEdit is fully automatic.

How about horizontal resizing for original subs on DVDs that have been converted to half width
I don't think this is possible.

However you can OCR them to SRT (Now you know how!), then recreate a SUP or SUB/IDX file with SubtitleCreator using the font/size you want. :)

Cheers
Manusse
PS: About the NTSC timing bug. It's from me and I plan to fix it before the end of this year.

[aLu]

Yes I could, but I'm a little disappointed there isn't a simple hack :devil: But since not all players over-stretch, it's understandable why it can't be fixed that way.

:thanks: again for your knowledgeable support!