Problems with merging and syncronizing subs

[CoNS]

I have a retail DVD where I want to add subtitles in my native language. The DVD doesn't have any subs originally. I found some text subtitles in srt (SubRip) format on eXTratitles.to for the movie, BUT they are supposingly for a DivX or XviD version of the movie on 2 cds.

I don't have the 2 cd DivX or XviD version. What is the easiest way for me to merge the two text files and syncronize the subs with my DVD version of the movie? (as soon as I have the merged and synced file, I know how to put the subs on the DVD, so that's no problem in this case)

As I don't have the playback time of cd 1 of the DivX/XviD version, the only way to do it must be to somehow play the DVD files and make a realtime syncronization of the subs? If this is the way to do it, which tool(s) can I use for this?


I already tried to do it somewhat manually in my software player (Media Player Classic by Gabest, latest version), but I can't get it to work right.

When I play the movie in MPC and match the playback time from MPC with the time codes in the .srt file, the subs seem to be in sync in the beginning of the movie, but not later? When I fast forward to sometime later in the movie, the time codes from the text file are a couple of seconds out of sync with the movie...? The text subs are in srt format, i.e. no frame codes, only time codes. So why don't all of the subs from the first text file match the movie right away?

[smiller667]

Two possible explanations for progressive runtime differences: PAL vs. NTSC runtimes (PAL "runs faster" due to the 24->25 fps speedup), or you might have two differerent cuts of the movie.

Try to convert your srt to the proper frame rate (you didn't say if your subs come too late or too early) and then try to find the right start time for the 1st sub in your 2nd file ...

Subtitle workshop is nice for doing the framerate conversions and many other things ...

[CoNS]

Thanks for the reply, smiller667.

I use Subtitle Workshop already, great proggy BTW. The subs I found are in srt format, so there are no frame codes in the subs, only time stamps. And so it shouldn't matter if it's PAL or NTSC, right?

I mean, if a subtitle is set to be displayed at the time 00:45:36,200 to 00:45:38,800 in the movie, it should be displayed at the exact same time in both PAL and NTSC versions of the movie?

Also, in my case, the DivX/XviD version, which the subs were made for, is in NTSC, as is my DVD version of the movie... :confused:

[ppera2]

PAL and NTSC have different playback speed, about 4%, so time based subtitles made for one standard will not be synced at other standard.

Framebased formats like Micro DVD will fit both for NTSC and PAL, but only when NTSC is 23.976 and not 30 or 29.97 fps.

Anyway, it's not garanteed that subtitle, what you download will be synced if standard is same. There is lot of reasons for that, no need for going in details.

You must in case of desync using Adjust Subtitles feature of Subtitle Workshop, or some other proggy as Time Adjuster.

Joining is simplest by Micro DVD format, just copy paste second part onto first parts end with Notepad (or other text editor). So, it's best if you save synced and converted titles in Micro DVD format.