How can I fix these bizarre characters on my subs?

[zarlieck]

Hello, this is my first post as is my first attempt to convert MKV to AVCHD using multiAVCHD.

Hope you guys can help me. I'll try to provide all the info I think is necessary but if you need more (like log file) just let me know.

OK, I set multiAVCHD for my 720p movie (MKV file) to be viewed on my PS3 via DVD disc. Everything went out perfect (video, audio, menus, etc) except for the subtitles (Spanish), they display some strange characters instead of some letters with accents and of course the "ñ" letter.

First of all, I previously used mkvmerge to mux some Spanish subs I downloaded with my MKV file (V: mpeg-4 / A: DTS). Prior to that I edited the SRT subs a little bit (with Aegisub) and saved them as ASS subs. Here is a screenshot from the MKV played on Media Player Classic before I add it to multiAVCHD:
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4282/bastsubs.th.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4282/bastsubs.jpg)

And here's a picture I took with my phone from the AVCHD DVD disc output played on my PS3:
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5950/img0062l.th.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5950/img0062l.jpg)

Believe me when I say I don't know where can I change settings to fix this. That's why I'm here.

Do I have to change something on multiAVCHD settings? Where? Or when I merge the subs with mkvmerge? Is it something with Aegisub I missed? Or is it something with my PS3?

Hope you can help me, this is the last step I need to fix to finally create a nice AVCHD output. Thanks in advanced!

[Ghitulescu]

They're Unicode... try a Unicode-enabled subtitle editor (see also my question there for some examples) or convert them to ANSI (with the corresponding code page for Spanish).

[Groucho2004]

My guess: The subtitles are UTF-8 encoded and you saved them with Aegisub omitting the BOM (byte order mark) for UTF-8. Therefore, multiAVCHD assumes ANSI encoded subs.

I don't know Aegisub but it should have an option to save the file with BOM.

[zarlieck]

Thank you both for the quick response!

But I must confess I know nothing about encoded subtitles, so if you can enlighten me some more I'll be grateful. What is the exact encoding necessary for Spanish subtitles? Is that UTF-8? I'll check it out once I get home (I'm at work haha) But if that is the case, the issue comes form the very moment I save my ASS subtitles, doesn't it? Shouldn't the subs look all messed up as well on the MKV played on my PC? Because they look fine like that... So what's the difference? (I'm asking so I can learn haha)

PS. Ghitulescu, I couldn't find your question :P link please? I'm very interested.

Thank you both again for your feedback!

[Ghitulescu]

a search with my name and unicode would have yielded 6 messages one of them being
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=153768&highlight=unicode

[zarlieck]

Excelent! Thanks!

So if I get this right, all I have to do is using a Unicode font? Just like that?

UPDATE: I just realized one thing: the "Subtitles & Audio" settings on multiAVCHD overwrite the style I chose on Aegisub when saving my subs! On my first attempt I saved my subs on Aegisub with "Arial" font (that's the one you can see on the first screenshot above), but on multiAVCHD I had a font called "Accidental Presidency" set as font of the compilation (that's the font on the second picture above). Clearly none of these are Unicode.

So I'm going to guess a fix before I waste another double-layer DVD disc... and wait for a response. Please tell whether I'm in the right here.

I found this on Aegisub:
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2092/aegisubencoding.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2092/aegisubencoding.jpg)
As you can see now I'm using "Arial Unicode MS" as font on my ASS subs. I found the encoding settings! Do I need to set it in "0- ANSI" and save? Finally, I'm guessing that if I set "Arial Unicode MS" on multiAVCHD like this:
http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/1988/encodemulti.th.jpg (http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/1988/encodemulti.jpg)

should I solve my problem on PS3 playback?

[Chetwood]

Open the file in Notepadd++ and check Encoding from the main toolbar. Select Encoding > Convert to Ansi. Then burn to a RW to test on your PS3.

[Ghitulescu]

Notepad (without ++) would do the job as well (use Save as...)

[zarlieck]

Thank you so much, as soon as I try I'll let you know how it went.

BTW:
...convert them to ANSI (with the corresponding code page for Spanish).

So in notepad when I convert them, It gives me the option to choose the code page for Spanish? How do I know what code is? Is it UTF-8?

I don't know Aegisub but it should have an option to save the file with BOM.

I couldn't find that option on Aegisub :P or at least I don't where it is... anyone knows?

Thank you all again for your time, I'm really learning new things with you guys haha

EDIT: gladly I managed to get a 8GB pendrive, I can save my multiAVCHD proyect as PS3 USB output, so I now can test as much as I want without burning DVDs, great! I'll test within these days and come back with results.

[Ghitulescu]

So in notepad when I convert them, It gives me the option to choose the code page for Spanish? How do I know what code is? Is it UTF-8?

No, UTF-8 is Unicode. Just pick up ANSI (is the default for TXT documents).