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zoran

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 30, 2005
4,761
129
Is it possible to embed the subtitles of my choice to a video file? Lets say that i have 2 separate files, one mkv (video file) and one srt (subtitle file) can i embed the subtitles to the mkv file using handbrake, or any other application?
 

Toltepeceno

Suspended
Jul 17, 2012
1,807
554
SMT, Edo MX, MX
Is it possible to embed the subtitles of my choice to a video file? Lets say that i have 2 separate files, one mkv (video file) and one srt (subtitle file) can i embed the subtitles to the mkv file using handbrake, or any other application?

Mp4Tools is quick and easy if you don't mind ending up with an mp4 file. It takes about 30 seconds to convert the container to mp4 and mux in the subtitles on my mac mini.
 
Last edited:

zoran

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 30, 2005
4,761
129
Mp4Tools is quick and easy if you don't mind ending up with an mp4 file. It takes about 30 seconds to convert the container to mpf and mux in the subtitles on my mac mini.
How large is the file that takes just 30sec to convert?
 

mic j

macrumors 68030
Mar 15, 2012
2,669
156
How large is the file that takes just 30sec to convert?

The "quick" conversion, only applies to repackaging and mkv to mp4. Not an actual transcode. Only mkv's using h.264 codec can be done this way. If you are coming from anything else, e.g. a BR using VC-1 codec or dvd, a full transcode is required which is much much much slower.

You might also want to consider that by just changing the container, you will be retaining the higher bitrate of the original source. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your wifi speed/quality. Just something to consider.
 

Toltepeceno

Suspended
Jul 17, 2012
1,807
554
SMT, Edo MX, MX
How large is the file that takes just 30sec to convert?

About 800 or so mb.

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The "quick" conversion, only applies to repackaging and mkv to mp4. Not an actual transcode. Only mkv's using h.264 codec can be done this way.

Correct and I stated in my post it's converting the container. He stated mkv's in his post, not br's, and it's by far the best and fastest way to do mkv's. I have done all mkv's this way for years and never one problem, great for itunes.
 

mic j

macrumors 68030
Mar 15, 2012
2,669
156
About 800 or so mb.

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Correct and I stated in my post it's converting the container. He stated mkv's in his post, not br's, and it's by far the best and fastest way to do mkv's. I have done all mkv's this way for years and never one problem, great for itunes.
You are right, you did state "container". I just wanted to clarify what exactly that meant.

MKV's can contain the VC-1 codec. I will admit it is much less common to run across these days, but still it's a possibility. And, I will stand by my statement that how well a full bitrate file will work with the aTV can be dependent on the quality of the wifi. So your miles may vary. If you are using ethernet, no problem.

Another aspect to consider is if you want to view your media on anything but a mac or aTV. Full size mkv's for movies (10-20GB) rapidly eat up iPad and iPhone space. I see your mkv was very small at 800MB.

Just saying...
 

mic j

macrumors 68030
Mar 15, 2012
2,669
156
Is it possible to embed the subtitles of my choice to a video file? Lets say that i have 2 separate files, one mkv (video file) and one srt (subtitle file) can i embed the subtitles to the mkv file using handbrake, or any other application?
To get back to your original question...Are you ok with burned-in subtitles or do you need them to be able to be turned on/off?
 

Toltepeceno

Suspended
Jul 17, 2012
1,807
554
SMT, Edo MX, MX
Ah, ok. just clarifying.

I use wifi, itunes, and have never had a problem. I also have not ran into mkv's that mp4tools could not convert in years.

Since he is doing mkv's they will take up space no matter what.
A 2 gig mkv only takes a couple of minutes at best, I have done hundreds of mkv's (started with windows mp4tools) and 800 mb was an example of 30 seconds. That's on my 2012 2 core i5 without discreet graphics. Conversion uses more space than mp4tools changing the container.

I started off doing conversion, no way would I go back when going mkv to mp4 (or m4v).



You are right, you did state "container". I just wanted to clarify what exactly that meant.

MKV's can contain the VC-1 codec. I will admit it is much less common to run across these days, but still it's a possibility. And, I will stand by my statement that how well a full bitrate file will work with the aTV can be dependent on the quality of the wifi. So your miles may vary. If you are using ethernet, no problem.

Another aspect to consider is if you want to view your media on anything but a mac or aTV. Full size mkv's for movies (10-20GB) rapidly eat up iPad and iPhone space. I see your mkv was very small at 800MB.

Just saying...


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To get back to your original question...Are you ok with burned-in subtitles or do you need them to be able to be turned on/off?

Mp4tools will do it either way.
 

zoran

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 30, 2005
4,761
129
To get back to your original question...Are you ok with burned-in subtitles or do you need them to be able to be turned on/off?
I believe the optimal would be to have 2 types of subs, one ENG and another to my native language. Both embed in the video, so that there are no srt files to accompany the video file. Just one video containing 2 subs! One more important issue i think would be to find the optimum resolution so that handbrake produces same quality with smallest file size!
 

mic j

macrumors 68030
Mar 15, 2012
2,669
156
I believe the optimal would be to have 2 types of subs, one ENG and another to my native language. Both embed in the video, so that there are no srt files to accompany the video file. Just one video containing 2 subs! One more important issue i think would be to find the optimum resolution so that handbrake produces same quality with smallest file size!

Smallest file size would be in a compressed mp4 format. Most people, me included, have found that using the aTV3 preset in HB gives the best quality/file size combination. However, you cannot discard information (compression) and produce the same quality. The quality loss may be noticeable or not. It all depends on your personal sensitivity and viewing conditions. For me, the small quality decrease using the aTV3 preset is not noticeable.

As for subtitles, the subs have to be VOPSUB format, not srt, to accomplish what you want. I used HB to transcode the file. Then I used Subler to convert the srt to a VOBSUB and mux it in the mp4. There are lots of threads in this forum on doing that. Subler is free and a really great program to have on hand. I recommend adding it to your arsenal as it can do a lot of things.
 
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