Using GKnot to burn text-based subtitles formats into a DivX file

[kurdi]

I have a DVD of a German movie called "23" which does not include subtitles and/or any non-German audio tracks. I was able to find and download subtitles for the movie off the net in .sub format, but I cannot figure out how to hard-burn these into the movie file.

My question is: is there any program that can convert this format (or others text formats found on the net) into vobsub format (.idx/.sub)? Or, alternatively, is there any other way to hard-burn subtitles into a DivX file that has already been encoded.

I'd appreciate your help!!

[manono]

Hi-

is there any other way to hard-burn subtitles into a DivX file that has already been encoded.

Yes, but not without reencoding it again, and taking a quality hit.

And you don't have to convert them back to idx/sub. You can convert them to SSA format (for sure), or SRT format (I'm pretty sure), and then put them into your .avs.

But you'll have to have the TextSub utility installed, and it isn't part of the VobSub default installation. So if you're not positive that you have it, reinstall VobSub, and do a Custom install, and make sure you get TextSub.

Then, go to the Subtitle Tab of GKnot and open up your subs in ReSynch. Then Save As->Save as Type, and choose SSA (or SRT?), and you'll have new subs in that format. Then load the VSFilter.dll in the .avs, and put your subs into the .avs using something like this:

TextSub("Path\To\Movie\MovieName.ssa")

[jggimi]

To avoid re-encoding, you could use DirectVobSub with .srt subtitle format files. Or, if you use an AVI player that supports external subtitles (BSPlayer, MPC, etc.), you don't even need to use DirectVobSub at all. These players support a number of different subtitle text file formats, such as .srt and .sub.

[kurdi]

Well I managed to do it and it worked beautifully.

- Installed the Textsub plugin from the Vobsub installer
- Opened my subtitle file with Resync, chose my display settings, and saved as an .srt file
- Went through the normal procedure for converting .vob files into DivX, but did not allow is to start encoding
- Opened the .avs file Gknot created with Notepad and added the following 2 lines under the "Subtitles" section:

LoadPlugin("E:\PROGRA~1\GORDIA~1\VSFilter.dll")
Textsub("E:\23_new.srt")

(the first time I edit an Avisynth script, btw)

- I then saved and opened the .avs file with Media player to test. It worked but I discovered that the subs were not in sync
- Used a prog called "TimeAdjuster" to shift the timing of the subtitles. I had to open the .avs file with Media Player a bunch of times to test syncronization and it was a bit tough to do without sound but ultimately doable. I was surprised to discover that I had to syncronise both at the beginning and end of the subtitle file in order to get it in sync all the way through.
- Finally I let it encode and it worked perfect!!

Thanks guys for your help!
:) :D

[Aqa]

Originally posted by manono

Hi-

Q:is there any other way to hard-burn subtitles into a DivX file that has already been encoded.

Yes, but not without reencoding it again, and taking a quality hit

Not quite sure about this since I haven’t tried it for a while, so correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t it possible to add permanent subtitles (srt) into a DivX file, without reencoding?

As I recall this can be done using Virtualdub loading the textsub filter, and then just add the sub file and mux it using direct stream copy, and save it as old format avi?

Again I haven’t tried this in a while because I don’t use subtitles so I might be wrong! Could somebody confirm this?

[manono]

Hi-

Yes, they'll be muxed, but not burned in. I've never done it myself, but I believe that you'll still need DirectVobSub (or a player, like BS Player, that has its own sub engine) to display them. Any time that you use Direct Stream Copy, the video remains untouched. There is an advantage to doing it that way though, because you then wind up with one file, with no danger of ever losing the separate subs. But like I said, I've never tried it.

[Aqa]

@ manono.

That’s what I thought, that perhaps just like Avimuxgui the subs were added to the Avi container and not directly burnt in to the video, meaning you would still need directvobsub or a player like BS as you mentioned to view them, so I got curious and just tried muxing a srt sub with the Avi with the method I mentioned above, and it does seems like the subs are burned into the video, directvobsub does not load when I playback the Avi, I even tried windows media player, which as far as I know doesn’t have the capability to load subtitles, at last just to make sure I burned the avi on a Cd and tried playing it on my standalone (Yamada 6000 Ess chip) and guess what! The subs played just fine, so I guess the subs are permanently added to the video without reencoding!

Btw, I tried to do this with Vdubmod but for some reason it didn’t work! it didn’t load the srt file, then I tried Nandub, and after choosing direct stream copy, it said that I had to change to full processing mode! So for some reason it seems this only works with virtualdub

[manono]

Hi-

I got curious too, as I also want subs for my MPEG4 player (Sigma Designs chipset). As you said, it doesn't seem to work in VDubMod for some reason. But I can't get it to work using VDub either. It always says that I can't use the VDub filters (The TextSub plugin in this case) unless it's set to Full Processing. It doesn't matter whether I try to save as Avi or as Old Format AVI. Oh well.

[Aqa]

@ Manono.

You’re absolutely right!

I guess I acted hasty yesterday when I tried it, so when I randomly picked a movie from my collection, I picked one that already had burnt in subs (I got over a 100 movies, and I think maybe 5 of them has permanent subs, so talk about coincidence) and then I just downloaded a text sub for the movie and muxed it with vdub, not noticing that the movie already had subs, so of course when I watched the movie it had subs, I of course came to the conclusion that it worked! This morning, I wanted to give it another try, this time I picked another movie, and of course I didn’t work, and come to thing of its quite obvious that it wouldn’t! I mean it does load the subs, and the vdub screen does display the subs but after saving it with direct stream copy, there were no subs to be found in the final Avi!

It’s strange how a coincidence can make something impossible; almost seem possible especially if you combine it with lack of sleep, anyway I’m sorry about the misinformation! I even got you to try it, when your response should have been “are you serious” I guess you guys should ad a new forum rule: Think before you Post!

Btw: My post should be treated as an attempt to misinform people, and therefore deleted.

[Muzocat]

Hi Everyone;

I have a problem with subtitles
for instance; i can convert the movies that i recorded from digital receiver to XVID with Gordian Knot
But in some cases when i try to add subtitles (dutch/turkish srt.ssa) Gordian Knot gives an error.
how can i fix this?
I'd like to add subtitles while i am converting a movie with m2p extension to xvid.
thank you for your time and concern

The error that gordian knot gave is shown below.
xxxx EDIT xxxx

[manono]

Hi Muzocat, and welcome to the forum-

So what's line number 67? Is that the subtitle line? What happens when you comment out that line (put a "#" in front of it)? Can VDubMod then open it? What happens when you put that line (the subs?) in a different location in the .avs? Like maybe before the crop and/or resize lines.

And what is dutch/turkish srt.ssa? Are those SRT subtitles that you converted to SSA format? Is there a file in your movie folder named dutch/turkish srt.ssa? As you know, just renaming them as SSA isn't good enough.

Did you follow my and kurdi's explanations earlier in the thread about how to get the subs into your .avs? Did you make sure to have the TextSub plugin installed? Maybe post the .avs so we can have a look. And you can delete all lines beginning with "#", since they don't do anything.

[Muzocat]

hi @manono
lemme explain it in a different way. if i can do this i can do the subtitle as well.
lets say i have a movie with m2p extension and i recorded this from digital receiver
and while i am making it as an xvid with gordian knot i want to add a subtitle
for example " digital rip by muzocat"
should i make this as an srt extension or ssa extension?
i can convert this any extension with subtitle workshop and inside of .avs:
# PLUGINS <-- i wrote all the things u said right below it
such as:
# PLUGINS
Loadplugin("C:\Program Files\GordianKnot\VSFilter.dll")
Loadplugin("D:\dene\Dreambox cekim\test.srt")

and it gives me the same error.
would you please explain me briefly which extension should i use for my subtitle and how i can add it in .avs
basically i'd like to add this to the second minute


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
1
00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:30,000
Digital Rippen by Muzocat
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

p.s: textsub plugin is installed
and that "dutch/turkish srt.ssa" are examples. sometimes the subtitles i want to add will be dutch or turkish,
so that is why i put it that way.

xxxx EDIT xxxx

[manono]

Hi-

I just used your SRT script exactly, and it works fine. You must have not loaded the VSFilter correctly, or have the TextSub line incorrect, or something.

I see it now. You didn't follow the directions. Instead of:

Loadplugin("D:\dene\Dreambox cekim\test.srt"),

you should have:

TextSub("D:\dene\Dreambox cekim\test.srt")

And put it down below the Resize filter somewhere.

And why am I getting that stupid "Connect to homedrive.home.nl" box every time I open this thread? Make it go away!

[Muzocat]

ok guys, thx for your help i got it all done.
it is working properly now. thanks alot take care