Where are the subtitles?

[Trik]

Hi

I have problems with making permanent subtitles. I'm using GKnot 0.23, VobSub 2.09 and VirtualDub 1.4.7. So far I haven't been able to see subtitles in any preview window or final output. Everything else works just fine, no errore, video and audio looks good but no subtitles.

I can create .idx and .sub files normally, but I can't understand why the subtitles do not show up in any avi-file or preview window, no matter how I set the parameters. I tried also creating .ssa-file just to make sure the subtitles really exist. Then I installed Subtitler filter to VirtualDub and tried with it, but that didn't work either. I've tried with several (PAL) DVD's and several chapters but no luck so far.

[Trik]

Because I'm a complete newbie with these programs, let me add few questions and remarks. I have been trying to follow the DivX5 guide and I'm using the 'lite' version of the codec.

Does it matter which vobsub file I choose when saving the .avs file? I have tried both .idx and .sub but no luck. There is no .ifo because of the new vobsub version. The guide says that I should select .ifo and I'm not quite sure about the situation.

Should I see the subtitles in preview before I save the .avs? Or do I have to wait for the VirtualDub output screen?

I haven't tried with any other codec yet, could someone please verify that subtitles really work with VirtualDub & DivX5 combination?

Could someone please explain the transparency slider functionality in VobSub a bit more? Could it be possible that the subtitles actually are there but they are just completely transparent or black? I have tried several slider and colors settings and I also tried to align and scale the subtitles to make sure they will always stay in cropped area.

Is it possible to rip just one chapter with subtitles or should I do my tests with a complete movie? So far I have done all testing with smaller (50-300MB vobs) files.

[Asmodian]

I have used both vobsub 2.09 and divx 5.0 pro in virtual dub v1.4.9 with good results, it doesn’t mater which file you select (notice that after you select one it doesn’t report the extension). I don't think the subtitles are supposed to show up in the preview window (but do in the output window of vdub - but I am not sure because I only use Gordian Knot to figure out the crop/resolution settings (I do everything else manually) I have had problems with subtitles randomly not showing up when trying to add them in the avs (not in virtual dub). I also recommend not using custom colors and leaving the transparency slider all the way to the right (not transparent), don't use align either (unless you have alignment problems). If you set the small range to test in vdub, not the avs, and are using the vdub vobsub plugin the subs should work.

hope it works

ps. does anyone know why the subs might randomly not appear in the output avi when they looked like they were there in virtual dub (both input and output panes) but were added in the avs with vobsub? This happened using batch processing and fast recompress (if it matters).
Thanks

[Trik]

Ok, I have tested even more and I'm pretty sure I have isolated the problem to VirtualDub external filters. For some reason they are not used at all. Internal filters seem to work. I have put the .vdf files to plugins directory and added them in Video/Filters/Add Filter menu. Is this the right way to use them or should I install the filters somehow?

[Trik]

I finally found the problem and it wasn't with Virtual Dub after all. I made all my tests by ripping short chapters from the middle of the movie. I extracted the subtitles from the ripped vobs with VobSub and I didn't realize that the time stamps for the subtitles were still in sync with original movie position. For example, one minute clip starting 30 minutes from the beginning of the movie had subtitles marked to start exactly 30 minutes from from the start and of course the one minute clip was way too short! SubResync fixed the problem but it might be good idea to mention this somewhere for us newbies. I tested also with a complete movie and when the starting menus and intros were out, the subtitles were more than 6 minutes off the sync.