How would one subtitle a DVD?

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:52 pm

I'm asking how to subtitle a DVD. That is, take your unsubtitled R2 release, a copy of the script from a fansub and make a new DVD with all structure and menus intact, but an english subtitle track added.

Obvoiusly this new subtitled DVD will have to be ripped and put to DVD-R but I'd like to keep everything else intact so the DVD itself is identical to the original.

Suggestions? I know how to subtitle DVDs and such when working from scratch, but to manipulate the DVDs like this, I'm drawing a blank.

This isn't a piracy project (For once. Yeah, I know, I barely believe me! ^_^; ) A friend is ordering Japanese R2 of an untranslated (and likely never to be lisenced) series and she asked me if I could rip and burn her new copies of her DVDs with subtitles from the fansub so she can have a DVD that's watchable and understandable. ^^;;;

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:11 am

There is probably a simpler way if you don't need the original menus, but if you do: http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t275603.html

With some of the same programs you can even modify/add another menu to select the subitles.

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:15 am

Yeah, if I just wanted to copy the DVD, I could just dump out the video streams and toss them into a DVD authoring program along with the subtitle script. No problem. But I'd like to see if I can keep everything intact.

There's some reported flaws in that guide, relating to a difference between 29.97fps and 30fps and chapter markers falling out of sync, but I think I'll try this out once I have the media and translation in my hands.

Zero1 · Post by **Zero1** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:45 pm

You would have to create subpicture and mux them to the VOB. You might have to join them first before you do that. You would also have to time them (the biggest pain in the ass), unless there is some magical ASS>subpicture program.

You might need to modify the DVD menus somehow, put in an invisible button (you know, like the easter eggs) so you can enable/disable the subtitles.

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:47 pm

Zero1 wrote:You might need to modify the DVD menus somehow, put in an invisible button (you know, like the easter eggs) so you can enable/disable the subtitles.

It's called the 'Subtitle' button on the DVD player remote control.

There is a program that does SRT->subpicture. But there will be the issue of getting the IFO updated correctly to have the information for the new subtitle track. Even the subtitle tracks colors are controlled by the IFO and not the subtitle stream itself.