Convert SON/SUP subtitles to text based subtitles SRT

[vovo]

Hi,
I have plenty of MPEG2 recordings (UK Freeview) with either SON or SUP subtitles (the only one which are extractable from the feed as bitmaps).
I would like to burn them onto DVD but because of some errors in the video data DVDLabPro and Muxman I cannot use them during the authoring process. These two pieces of software simply do not like my video data.
So the only way is to convert the subtitles into text based subtitles (preferably SRT).

What is the best OCR software to convert SON/SUP into SRT out there (preferably freeware)?

Thank you.

[MilesAhead]

For English language subs I've had very good luck getting .srt from .sup using DVDSubEdit (http://download.videohelp.com/DVDSubEdit/)

Import the .sup and .ifo files then click Automatic OCR. Then export to .srt. In my experience the quickest way to test for lots of errors is to search the .srt with a text editor looking for the underscore character '_'.

If you get an OCR failure the line of text typically looks like
#$*__z_&%

Usually at least one underscore for some reason.

[Ghitulescu]

The subtitles that projectx spits out are DVD compatible. However I don't have access to the British channels (it would require a 1m+ dish) to see if the format changes (unlikely) or you're simply having a bad reception. Try to improve this first (for the next recordings). For the streams you alredy have try to "clean" them up first, eg with pjx in demux mode, or with ts doctor, maybe there are others ...

Reconversion to SRT then back to SUP requires a lot of work, especially with sans-serifs (Arial) fonts, to change I from l, or rn from m, and so on, and/or viceversa.

[manono]

SON files can be converted to VobSubs (IDX/SUB) using Son2VSub.

SUP files can be converted instantly to VobSubs in SubtitleCreator.

VobSubs can be OCR'd in SubRip or SubResynch.

[vovo]

I opened SUP with Subtitle Creator using Tools > Manipulate SUP or VobSub, then Open IFO and Open sub and finally Save Sub in vobsub format.
Is it the correct way?
So now I have two new files: idx and sub
How am I suppose to open them with SubRip and run OCR? SubRip will only accept VOB files....
Thank you.

[Superb]

SubRip accepts the idx file (sub file must be w/ the same name in same directory). Why don't you try instead of asking?

[manono]

I opened SUP with Subtitle Creator using Tools > Manipulate SUP or VobSub, then Open IFO and Open sub and finally Save Sub in vobsub format.
Is it the correct way?
I usually go File->Open Subtitle (open SUP), File->Save VobSub (save as IDX/SUB). But if what you did works for you, then fine.

How am I suppose to open them with SubRip and run OCR? SubRip will only accept VOB files....
Go File->Open VOB(s), followed by 'Open Dir' (Open the SUB portion of the VobSubs). Hit the little jigsaw puzzle-looking piece to choose your output format (SRT, you said), followed by 'Start' to begin the OCR.

I'm using SubRip ver. 1.50b4, so maybe some things have changed with more recent versions.

[vovo]

Hi,
In SC 2.2 in File menu there is no Open Subtitle option, there is only Open Text Subtitles which will not accept SUP.
To be honest I think my way of opening SUP with Tools > Manipulate SUP or VobSub might not work properly because I cannot OCR them in SubRip - I cannot even see clear letters on the file when opened in SubRip.
Which version of SC are you using that you can open SUP subtitles directly?
Thanks.

[manono]

I'm using v2.3rc1 of SubtitleCreator. Maybe opening SUP files in the File menu is a recent addition.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SubtitleCreator

[Ghitulescu]

Hi,
In SC 2.2 in File menu there is no Open Subtitle option, there is only Open Text Subtitles which will not accept SUP.
To be honest I think my way of opening SUP with Tools > Manipulate SUP or VobSub might not work properly because I cannot OCR them in SubRip - I cannot even see clear letters on the file when opened in SubRip.
Which version of SC are you using that you can open SUP subtitles directly?
Thanks.
It's not in the File menu, it's in another menu, Manipulate SUP files. I don't have SC on this PC so I can't tell you by heart where exactly you can find this, just keep searching the menus.

[Nikse555]

SubtitleCreator cannot open Blu-ray sup files - only hd-dvd sup files!

Subtitle Edit can ocr vobsub and blu-ray sup files - try latest 3.2 beta 3: http://code.google.com/p/subtitleedit/downloads/list

File -> Import/OCR Blu-ray
or
File -> Import/OCR VobSub

[manusse]

It's not in the File menu, it's in another menu, Manipulate SUP files
True with v2.2 but actually if you use v2.3RC1, the opening menus have been unified. You can now use Open Subtitle to open srt or sub/idx or sub or sup files. You can also replace some parts of sup files by some text of your choice. At the end you save the result as sup or sub/idx.

Cheers
Manusse

[Ghitulescu]

Does this function or utility redraw the bitmaps? I mean, can one use this function/utility to retime, say from NTSC to PAL, subtitles that are already compiled, ie in PGS form (SUP, IDX/SUB)?

[manono]

Does this function or utility redraw the bitmaps? I mean, can one use this function/utility to retime, say from NTSC to PAL, subtitles that are already compiled, ie in PGS form (SUP, IDX/SUB)?

Yes, convert back and forth between VobSub and SUP, convert framerates, adjust for delays, I use it for all of those things. I don't think recreating BMPs is involved in anything you asked, though. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Ghitulescu]

Excellent, in case I don't have the last version (this is my internet PC) I'll upgrade ASAP.

[gonwk]

For English language subs I've had very good luck getting .srt from .sup using DVDSubEdit (http://download.videohelp.com/DVDSubEdit/)

Import the .sup and .ifo files then click Automatic OCR. Then export to .srt. ...

Hi Miles,

In case of MP4 container where it has IDX embedded ... this works But ... there is no IFO ... so "Timing" gets all wacked.

Q1: Do you or anyone else know how to get around this?

My media player can not see the Subtitle within MP4 but will see it in MKV ... go figure.

I have even tried Extracting Video, Audio, and Suybtitle tracks in Raw Format (video in AVI format though) and Mux them up inot MKV with MKVToolnix ... but my darn Netgear is picky about ZLib subtitles also ... so Iam back to square one.

Q2: Any solution to this?

So, I want to extract the Sub and covert it to SRT ... so I my Netgear EVA9100 can see it and play it back.

Thanks,

G! :)

[manono]

Q1: Do you or anyone else know how to get around this?
Do a full OCR using SubRip. It's not automatic, but only takes 10-15 minutes.

[gonwk]

Hi manono,

Nice seeing you around. Thanks for the reply ... will try that.

G! :)

[Chetwood]

In case of MP4 container where it has IDX embedded ... this works But ... there is no IFO ... so "Timing" gets all wacked.
I thought MP4 wouldn't allow for idx/sub?

[Nikse555]

I thought MP4 wouldn't allow for idx/sub?

With MP4Box/GPAC you can add these (use idx file name in command line).

( Subtitle Edit can naturally import sub/idx from mp4 files;) )