Taking DVD Subtitle files and converting to editable format

[ArdenDag]

Hi, I have a quick question, and I hope it's easily answered.

I want to be able to take subtitle tracks from a DVD and be able to edit the timing and text inside of them before putting them on my .AVI files.

I am using Sub Station Alpha to edit/time my subtitles, and I would hate to have to do the transcribing from scratch, though if it comes to that I can. I would prefer the file format me something it can open, or atleast be in a format that can be converted to something that SSA can open ;)

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[Schultz]

Well for starters you can read the ripping part of this guide
http://www.doom9.org/dvobsub.htm

and once you have the Subtitles ripped in idx/sub file you can then Load Subresync and save them as ssa for you to edit.

or you can follow the subrip guide at
http://www.doom9.org/subtitle_guide.htm

and using the new Subrip on doom9's page you can change the output to ssa and save it directly as a ssa file.

[ArdenDag]

Yeah, I've already ripped the subtitles... so just need to convert them...

Ah, ok, didn't see that VOBSub could convert it to .SSA format (via SubResynch).

Thanks.

[Schultz]

Cool good luck.. Btw what Anime is your Avatar from?

[ArdenDag]

Laputa: Castle In The Sky
my favorite anime at the moment

Miyazaki is God of Anime :)

[Schultz]

I was wondering why that Charator Design looked so familiar thats from Ghibli studios.. ;o) I have the Ghibli Movies Import Boxset (http://www.import-anime.com/index.php?page=view&id=1229&type=1&list=G) but haven't gotten around to watch all the movies on it. Will have to check out this one. loved Nandesco Valley of the Wind..

[ArdenDag]

Nausicaa? ;)

heh, Watch Laputa, but man, it's a shame you have to watch a horribly subtitled hong kong version and not a fansubbed... The timing is almost always HORRID and some of the translation literally sound like a 5 year old was translating...

Right now I'm in pain over the work I'm going through to sub the version of Kiki's Delivery service off a hong kong bootleg (a different version than the one you have, but they're all basically the same shitty quality)

[Schultz]

Actually not all of them are shitty quality. Some use Fansub scripts.. ;o) But yea i know how Horrible HK can be. I have gotten burned by a few of them.. though i do buy more R1 then i do HK. And also download Digisub. That is why that site is more dedicated to people reviewing the items to see how good the subs and such are. Also if you would want.. I could rip the subs from the version i have and send them to yea if they are better..

[ArdenDag]

I'd love to see the subs for Laputa and Kiki from your set, see how they compare to mine.

I read that link you sent, and someone commented about the Laputa Subs being too fast in certain instances (that happened in mine too) subs just float by, you have no idea who's saying what :D

I just finished ripping the subs from my version of Kiki here, I'm gonna use the timing in the file, but my god, I think how many lines I have to change anyway, it might be better for me to just start from scratch with a READABLE text translation I have ;)

[ArdenDag]

And I think I've said this a few times before, even on these forums, but if Disney would just release the DVDs here, I wouldn't be buying Hong Kong bootlegs!

I'm currently bidding on a Laputa R2 DVD on eBay, just to get a HIGH QUALITY clip on my computer. My DVD player on my computer isn't region protected, it's just that old :D

[Schultz]

Yea i would love to see Disney release them all in the states.. since they have rights to them all. Dang how much is that gonna cost yea for a R2? I would never buy anime if i had to pay the prices they do here in Japan its just incrediable. like $40 for 1-2 episodes per DVD. And yea your subs are probably a little better.. Because one thing you strive for Quality while HK strive for More titles with "Semi-Ok" quality just to sell them.

[ArdenDag]

Well, I'm willing to pay up to about $30 for the copy of Laputa, I don't want to wait a year to have a watchable copy that doesn't BOTHER me each time I see it.

But yeah, importers charge about $35-$45 per DVD, I checked out amazon.co.jp to see how much stuff cost to purchase from amazon, omg some of the movies were 4500-8000 yen ($36-$65), plus the cost of shipping wouldn't make it worth it.

Sigh, waiting a year+ for Disney to get rights to release Totoro (and they won't release it for a long time after they get the rights, too) plus a lot of other movies I'd pay retail in the US for a nice copy of ($20-$30). At least Disney would give it the time it deserves.

[Schultz]

If i knew how to read Japanese i would go and look for it.. ;o) I am stationed here at Kadena AB, Okinawa Japan. So i look At alot of stores for the prices. and yea they are avergage of 5000 Yen. ~ $42. Still its insane compared to R1's and people in America are bitching about having only 3 per DVD. Yea i will admit Disney does really good Jobs at Dubs.. *Looks over at Princess Mononuke* hopefully they do a great job on Spirited Away.

[ArdenDag]

Have you heard about the class action lawsuit against Buena Vista Japan? hehe, it seems that people are saying the Spirited Away DVD released in Japan is 'hued' towards RED, and that it's not the same as the theatrical release color set.

Supposedly the lawsuit is demanding new copies of the DVD + 10000 yen for everyone who bought a copy of Spirited Away ;)

Disney says the film is as intended, and will release an official statement (with Studio Ghibli) at a later date.

I think it's funny :)

[Schultz]

Yea i know i read that just the other day.. My HK copy has the Red Tint issue but really it don't detract from it at all . Well at least to me it didn't. I also wonder if Disney is going to release a Spirited Away in the states with actual subtitles or if its going to be dubbed only...

[ArdenDag]

I doubt Disney will release a DVD in the US without the Japanese Audio Track, and that means they will also have the English Sub, now the question is will they release the English Sub that is literal, or a Dub-title, which is a direct transcribing of the dubbing they did for the movie (which, btw, is not bad, as the dubbing of the movie was incredible).

Yes, I have a HK bootleg of Spirited Away (which, btw, is HORRIBLY burned, too, because it doesn't play correctly on my PS2 at certain points, but plays fine on my computer, I assume this is just burning flaws, as my computer's DVD player probably has a better capability to read burned DVDs than my PS2 has) and it is a direct copy of the R2 release of Spirited Away in Japan (lol, they get away with this so easily...) it even has Buena Vista's logo and English Translated menus (which is common for Disney releases in Japan, as they know a lot of people from the US import these DVDs). The subtitles in this version sounded like transcribing of the dubbing (dub-titles) because I saw this movie first in the theatre, then a fansub online, then this bootleg DVD. The fansub and this has different subtitles. The fansub seemed to be more of a direct translation.

To me with almost all anime, it just seems that the Japanese Audio track sounds more natural. I dunno, I preferred the voice-acting from the Japanese, even if it means I have to read subtitles. It's more soothing, less forced. Some things that American actors can't do is visualize what they're saying (in most instances) when it's something that is VERY common in Japan, but is never seen in America. So the American dubs sounds FORCED often. I'm just a stickler for purity.

[Schultz]

Yes i will agree with you. listening it in the Japanese form sounds alot smoother then when they dub it over in america.. And i am not sure but don't the studio actors in japan work together more in the studio but in america they are seperated more so you also don't have that flow with the other chars. I also generally hate how they Accustom and add stuff to fit the lips.. Like in one instance a dub says That usally only happens when i eat mexican food. talking about some indigestion or something i don't even recall something like this being in the japanese translation which i normally watch.

And yea Ps2's can be a little Picky when it comes to HK dvd's i have heard. That is why i bought a cheap ass dvd player for like $99 that will play anything including R2's

[Accident]

You guys probably know already, but the official DVDs release here in Japan, of Laputa, Kiki, Totoro, Sen To Chihiro no.., all have English subtitles as well. In the best possible quality :) Nausicaa was due to be released this year, not sure whats going on. I could pop into the DVD store and ask.

Accident.

[manono]

Hi-

The Totoro subs are dub subs (not quite "best possible quality", but OK).

There's no release date set for Nausicaa yet, but the speculation is for sometime next year.

[Schultz]

Originally posted by Accident
You guys probably know already, but the official DVDs release here in Japan, of Laputa, Kiki, Totoro, Sen To Chihiro no.., all have English subtitles as well. In the best possible quality :) Nausicaa was due to be released this year, not sure whats going on. I could pop into the DVD store and ask.

Accident.

yea but they are Pretty expensive to import. which sucks. If they are ever released in R1 i will surely have them.

[ArdenDag]

I know, I am currently bidding on a copy of Laputa R2 on ebay at this moment, so ;)

I'm waiting for more Ghibli releases in the US by Disney, I just need to be patient :)

[Accident]

Just send me cash and I'll go into to tsutaya and buy them, but why would you trust me, and so on... ahh fabulous world we are in :)

Accident

[manono]

ArdenDag, check your PM.

[ArdenDag]

Read and responded :)