MKVs and subtitles

[pjpjpjpj]

I'm a newb in the world of various video/audio wrappers, compression formats, etc., etc. Recently I converted my DVD collection (fairly small) to MKVs with Handbrake. I did not keep the subtitle/CC track because I figured (maybe incorrectly) that if I did, there would be "closed captioning" on the entire movie.

This past weekend we watched a ripped DVD that is mostly in English but has a few scenes where people speak in foreign languages, and those scenes are supposed to be subtitled, but they weren't. I realized that this is because I didn't copy the subtitling.

So my question is, is there a way - and if so, what is it - to keep the track that handles "occasional" subtitles, and have them show up when played in Sage, but not have full "closed captioning" of the entire movie dialogue? What files do I keep and what settings/options do I choose?

[MattHelm]

Normally on DVDs these are burned into the video. (like on a scifi flick, "vulcan's" language is always shown in english, on screen.) On BluRays they aren't burned in, but always displayed (forget the name for these), but you can, not "copy" them, when making the MKV.

BTW, you could extract them and add them back in with the merge tool, instead of re-ripping them.

(At work, sites blocked, if someone else doesn't chip in, I'll try and remember to look up the correct terms when I get home.)

BTW, these don't add much to size, and you may wish you had then when you get older and can't hear well. ;-)

[KryptoNyte]

If you are compressing your bluray collection with Handbrake, then you can just add the subtitles in when setting up your Handbrake encode job. What you thought *might* happen (subs on all the time) is what Handbrake refers to as "Burn in" which means they are encoded directly over the video frames, and can't be removed in that scenario - shown all the time.

You want to add in the subs, just pick the correct one in the drop-down, and don't select "burn-in." You would have to re-encode your media using this method.

The difference with the subs in Handbrake encodes, best I can tell, is that they don't automagically appear on the screen when you need them, like they do in a TV show, you must turn the subs on and off for foreign language. I have never been able to figure out a way to just burn-in the subs when they are normally que'd up when watched via the original bluray - there must be something that flags specific subs for specific language playing configurations.

I have experienced a problem on a Sage extender where the subs seem to get out of sync with the media over the watching period - maybe you can post up your experiences after you get it going.

[214b1]

I use HandBrake for all my transcode needs. The subtitle "burn in" option works real good. The German language movie Das Boot is a good example for burning in the subtitles.

[pjpjpjpj]

I'm ripping DVDs, not BDs, if that matters.

The particular movie I watched this past weekend was "Thor: The Dark World". The scenes with the "Dark Elves" are supposed to be subtitled and weren't. I need to know what choice to make in Handbrake so they will be included. For those subtitles, they can be "burned in" - because they are supposed to be part of the movie, regardless of whether you have closed-captioning turned on for the rest of the movie. I don't want closed-captioning for the rest of the movie at all, so I wouldn't need that track kept.

That was the heart of my question above - how do I get the subtitles of those "occasional" scenes (which I would want) without getting CC for the entire movie?

Also, people above suggested keeping the CC track, but turning CC on and off on a DVD is something you typically do from the disc menu. When you convert the DVD into just the main title as a single file, you lose all the menus and such. How do you turn CC on and off in Sage? I didn't even know that was possible. I have never had a reason to need CC or even look into it. I guess I just figured that the only way to get CC was to "burn in" the entire movie with it and always have it.

[graywolf]

Use the Options button while playing the movie in Sage.
You will have a menu and if subtitles are available, you will see a checkbox for it

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by graywolf

Use the Options button while playing the movie in Sage.
You will have a menu and if subtitles are available, you will see a checkbox for it

Thanks. I never noticed that.

So, the other part of my question.... will the subtitles of "occasional" need be the same track as the dialogue for the whole movie? I assume they'd have to be separate - if so, what should I keep when converting the DVD and what should I not (I don't want the entire movie dialogue)?

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

.... "Thor: The Dark World". ....

I have that one. I'll look at the Handbrake settings if I have a free minute at home, and let you know what to set. (Sorry was in a meeting until 8pm last night, and forgot when I got home)

[Fuzzy]

The 'occasional' subtitles you are referring to are called 'forced' subtitles. Depending on subtitle format/container, it is not necessarily a different track, but may just be a special 'property' on any given subtitle to force it or not. In HandBrake, when adding a subtitle track, next to the 'Burn-In' option is a 'Forced-Only' option. This is likely what you are looking for.

[MattHelm]

Thanks for helping Fuzzy, RL has been busy, this is the first time I've logged in from home in over a week.

You might look at this page from the HandBrake wiki:
https://trac.handbrake.fr/wiki/Subtitles

I also just ran into this issue, in that I had 2 "English" subtitle tracks. Come to find out, one should have been the "forced" one and and the other should have been the default.

Currently I'm playing with the setting, to see weather I like the burned in one or if it will work with the "forced" setting only.