Hebrew Subtitles without re-encoding... at DVinfo.net

Jonathan Bufkin · March 25th, 2009, 02:28 AM

I have an encoded DVD handed to me that my client wants to add Hebrew subtitles to. Any suggestions for the best way to do this and maintain the most quality possible. Those that are tempted to write comments about how this is a bad idea please refrain. I have already commented to myself about the negatives of this. Helpful information would be workflow.

The tools at my disposal are:
Macbook Pro
Final Cut Studio
Adobe After Effects
Handbrake
Mpeg Streamclip
Quicktime Pro
Toast Titanium

David Knaggs · March 25th, 2009, 04:10 AM

Hello Jonathan.

I had an idea of how to solve this and just tested it out and it works.

The most important thing is not re-encoding the movie on the DVD. You want to keep it at exactly the same quality.

You already have the tools: MPEG Streamclip and DVD Studio Pro (part of FCS).

1/ Copy the DVD (it's the VIDEO_TS folder that you'll want) to your hard drive.
2/ Open MPEG Streamclip and select File>Open Files...
3/ In the pop-up menu, navigate to the VIDEO_TS folder. Inside that folder will be your .VOB files. These contain your "original" .m2v and .ac3 files which have been muxed together and then split up into smaller .VOB files of 1 GB or less.
4/ Hold down the Command key and select every .VOB file at once and then click Open.
5/ MPEG Streamclip will then assemble the .VOB files one after the other in a single timeline. Scroll through and verify that you have all parts of the movie in your timeline and in the proper order.
6/ Select File>Demux>Demux to M2V and AC3 (I'm assuming that they encoded the sound to .ac3 in your original DVD).
7/ In the pop-up window, select the name and destination of your demuxed .m2v file and click Save.
8/ A new pop-up window will then appear. Select the name and destination of your demuxed .ac3 file (make it exactly the same name as your .m2v) and click Save.
9/ MPEG Streamclip will then deliver your .m2v and .ac3 files - at the original quality!
10/ Now import your .m2v and .ac3 files into DVD Studio Pro and author your new DVD with a Hebrew subtitles track, add your chapter markers, new menu, etc., etc.

Jonathan Bufkin · March 26th, 2009, 07:30 AM

Thanks David! What a detailed response. I will be trying this out very soon and will report back.

March 25th, 2009, 02:28 AM	#1
Jonathan Bufkin Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 253	Hebrew Subtitles without re-encoding... I have an encoded DVD handed to me that my client wants to add Hebrew subtitles to. Any suggestions for the best way to do this and maintain the most quality possible. Those that are tempted to write comments about how this is a bad idea please refrain. I have already commented to myself about the negatives of this. Helpful information would be workflow. The tools at my disposal are: Macbook Pro Final Cut Studio Adobe After Effects Handbrake Mpeg Streamclip Quicktime Pro Toast Titanium __________________ Jon Bufkin focalpointcinematic.com

March 26th, 2009, 07:30 AM	#3
Jonathan Bufkin Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 253	Thanks David! What a detailed response. I will be trying this out very soon and will report back. __________________ Jon Bufkin focalpointcinematic.com

March 25th, 2009, 04:10 AM	#2
David Knaggs Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 826	Hello Jonathan. I had an idea of how to solve this and just tested it out and it works. The most important thing is not re-encoding the movie on the DVD. You want to keep it at exactly the same quality. You already have the tools: MPEG Streamclip and DVD Studio Pro (part of FCS). 1/ Copy the DVD (it's the VIDEO_TS folder that you'll want) to your hard drive. 2/ Open MPEG Streamclip and select File>Open Files... 3/ In the pop-up menu, navigate to the VIDEO_TS folder. Inside that folder will be your .VOB files. These contain your "original" .m2v and .ac3 files which have been muxed together and then split up into smaller .VOB files of 1 GB or less. 4/ Hold down the Command key and select every .VOB file at once and then click Open. 5/ MPEG Streamclip will then assemble the .VOB files one after the other in a single timeline. Scroll through and verify that you have all parts of the movie in your timeline and in the proper order. 6/ Select File>Demux>Demux to M2V and AC3 (I'm assuming that they encoded the sound to .ac3 in your original DVD). 7/ In the pop-up window, select the name and destination of your demuxed .m2v file and click Save. 8/ A new pop-up window will then appear. Select the name and destination of your demuxed .ac3 file (make it exactly the same name as your .m2v) and click Save. 9/ MPEG Streamclip will then deliver your .m2v and .ac3 files - at the original quality! 10/ Now import your .m2v and .ac3 files into DVD Studio Pro and author your new DVD with a Hebrew subtitles track, add your chapter markers, new menu, etc., etc.