Softsubbing for iPod!

Eltargrim · 01-26-2010, 09:57 PM

So hey, I have an iPod touch, and I have gigabytes upon gigabytes of softsubbed anime to watch. I would like to render my .mkv's as something the iPod can handle.

This isn't the problem.

Here is my procedure:

1) Extract subs using mkvextract
2) Convert .ass to .srt using Subtitle Workshop
3) Convert ANSI .srt to UTF-8 .srt using Notepad
4) Encode video to the required specifications using Handbrake.

Steps 1 and 3 are the tedious ones, and I'd like to be able to automate them. 3 more so than 1. What I'm doing is opening them in Notepad, saving them as UTF-8 through the save dialogue. Is there a way to do this using a batch file given that the subtitle files have wildly different names?

All I need help with is getting the subs to a usable form faster. Why Handbrake only accepts them as UTF-8, I do not know, but it's by far the most space-efficient option I've found for properly encoding the video, and it has a great queue option.

If anyone has mastery of automation, I'd love your help. Otherwise, I'll deal :p

PyrosNine · 01-27-2010, 12:13 AM

Format Factory (google it, too lazy to link) has a subtitle mixer in it. Select Ipod and Iphone from the video format in "mobile device" , then scroll down in settings then load the subtitle you want and it should add the subtitles to the video.

I dunno about extracting subs from mkv, but it seems Format Factory accepts .ass subtitle format.

It may also be able to convert .mkv to ipod compatible with the subtitles intact, but I'm currently lacking one to test it.

bluestarultor · 01-27-2010, 12:28 AM

Who comes up with these file extensions? "Yeah, I've got it subtitled!" "Wow, man, that looks like .ASS!"

At any rate, I second Format Factory. It does everything.

Eltargrim · 01-27-2010, 02:12 AM

Well, FF hardsubs them on.

But it hardsubs them on in a single step with batch processing!

Thanks guys

I know what my computer is doing tonight

Here's a hint: it's work.

EDIT: Downside! Handbrake can get files to about 1/2 the size of what FF spits out. Oh well, I'll Handbrake my hardsubbed stuff, and FF my softsubbed stuff. And maybe do one and then the other! Who knows?

01-26-2010, 09:57 PM	#1
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	Softsubbing for iPod! So hey, I have an iPod touch, and I have gigabytes upon gigabytes of softsubbed anime to watch. I would like to render my .mkv's as something the iPod can handle. This isn't the problem. Here is my procedure: 1) Extract subs using mkvextract 2) Convert .ass to .srt using Subtitle Workshop 3) Convert ANSI .srt to UTF-8 .srt using Notepad 4) Encode video to the required specifications using Handbrake. Steps 1 and 3 are the tedious ones, and I'd like to be able to automate them. 3 more so than 1. What I'm doing is opening them in Notepad, saving them as UTF-8 through the save dialogue. Is there a way to do this using a batch file given that the subtitle files have wildly different names? All I need help with is getting the subs to a usable form faster. Why Handbrake only accepts them as UTF-8, I do not know, but it's by far the most space-efficient option I've found for properly encoding the video, and it has a great queue option. If anyone has mastery of automation, I'd love your help. Otherwise, I'll deal :p __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!>

01-27-2010, 12:13 AM	#2
PyrosNine Zettai Hero Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A figment of my own imagination Posts: 6,103	Format Factory (google it, too lazy to link) has a subtitle mixer in it. Select Ipod and Iphone from the video format in "mobile device" , then scroll down in settings then load the subtitle you want and it should add the subtitles to the video. I dunno about extracting subs from mkv, but it seems Format Factory accepts .ass subtitle format. It may also be able to convert .mkv to ipod compatible with the subtitles intact, but I'm currently lacking one to test it. __________________ Pyrosnine.blogspot.com: An experimental blog of writing. Updated possibly daily. Possibly. A fair chance. Current Works for reading: War Between them, Karma Police. PyrosNine: Weirdo Magnet Extraordinaire!

01-27-2010, 02:12 AM	#4
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	Well, FF hardsubs them on. But it hardsubs them on in a single step with batch processing! Thanks guys I know what my computer is doing tonight Here's a hint: it's work. EDIT: Downside! Handbrake can get files to about 1/2 the size of what FF spits out. Oh well, I'll Handbrake my hardsubbed stuff, and FF my softsubbed stuff. And maybe do one and then the other! Who knows? __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!> Last edited by Eltargrim; 01-27-2010 at 11:10 AM.