Getting Subtitles To Play With XviD Movie

Sigh! Couldn't find the Chinese subtitles for the POC movie from your mentioned site. If anyone knows where I can download it, kindly let me know the link. Thanks.

There are other sites of subtitles on the Internet, like www.subtitles.net. But, I think that you'll find what you want if you use the chinese title of the movie on google. Try it!

I do not know how to input chinese characters on google. If anyone able to do so and manage to find the chinese subtitles for this particular movie, appreciate the link to download the sub file.

I see now that you want to see the sub file. Download and install vobsub from here:

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/subtitle_tools/vobsub.cfm

To load the subtitle automatically, it must have the same name as the video file.

I have installed DirectVobSub 2.33 according to the instructions at http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=589
<quote>
Other info:
Installation:
Download the zip-file, extract and copy the dll-file to your windows system32 folder. Select Run under the Windows Start menu and type
regsvr32.exe vsfilter.dll
and hit Enter. Done.
</quote>

How do I run DirectVobSub so that I can set the settings? I can't seems to find the program. I only registered the dll file by running "regsvr32.exe vsfilter.dll" as in the instructions from the videohelp site.

There is a group in Start/Programs that contains Direct vobsub configure item. Or, if you run a movie, a green arrow we'll appear in system tray where you can right click and choose direct vobsub.

I couldn't find Direct vobsub from the Start/Programs on my Win XP Pro. Also, there is no green arrow on the system tray when I run a movie.

The .sub file has the same name as the .avi video file and both are located in the same folder.

Are the simple installation instructions correct as mentioned in my previous post:

I have installed DirectVobSub 2.33 according to the instructions at http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=589
<quote>
Other info:
Installation:
Download the zip-file, extract and copy the dll-file to your windows system32 folder. Select Run under the Windows Start menu and type
regsvr32.exe vsfilter.dll
and hit Enter. Done.
</quote>

If not correct, how do I unregister the dll and install it again from a correct installation instructions which you can provide me?

Earlier, I have configured files with .sub extension to always open with WinDVD6. How do I reverse the process back so that .sub file is open with unknown program?

I have had that program myself. For some reason, directvobsub is'n't working with the comercial players, I know about Powerdvd and Ati Multimedia Center. Try windows media player, or better media player classic. You don't need to reinstall since everything it's ok. Media player classic is also a project of guliverkli, download it from:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/guliverkli/

I can't get the Windows Media Player 8 to see the subtitles too. Is there a mistake in the way I install DirectVobSub 2.33?

Rather than installing another additional player like Media Player Classic, I would rather get the below 3 issues addressed/resolved first as mentioned in my earlier posts:

1) I can't find Direct vobsub from the Start/Programs. There must be a way to invoke the program and configure the settings? Are the below instructions correct:

I have installed DirectVobSub 2.33 according to the instructions at http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=589
<quote>
Other info:
Installation:
Download the zip-file, extract and copy the dll-file to your windows system32 folder. Select Run under the Windows Start menu and type
regsvr32.exe vsfilter.dll
and hit Enter. Done.
</quote>

2) how do I unregister the dll?

3) Earlier, I have configured files with .sub extension to always open with WinDVD6. How do I reverse the process back so that .sub file is open with unknown program?

1. The 2.33 version does'n't have a control panel. Download and install vobsub 2.23, which has an installation program, and after that you can replace the dll.
2. with the same command as registration but with the /u parametter.
regsvr32.exe /u vsfilter.dll
3. Start/Settings/Control Panel/Folder Options/File Types and delete the sub registration.

The reason for what you cannot see the subtitle is that it can be errors in it.

OK, issues 2) and 3) resolved.

I downloaded the VobSub 2.23 from http://www.doom9.org/Soft21/Subtitles/VobSub_2.23.exe

I did a full installation by selecting all the plugins. During the installation, I received the following error msg:

VovSub 2.23 Setup

Error C:\Program Files\Gabest\VobSub is not valid path for VirtualDub, not installling VobSub VirtualDub plugin.

How come I couldn't install the plugins VirtualDub and AviUtil by pointing to the C:\Program Files\Gabest\VobSub folder when the installation prompt for a plugin folder? Should I be pointing the folder to somewhere else for the plugins?

Instead of the full installation, I have to do the typical installation without the plugins for a successful installation. Now I can see the VobSub program folder from the start menu.

However, I still cannot play the sub file with Windows Media Player 8. Both the avi and sub files have the same file name and they are both located in the same folder. Is there a configuration I need to set?

You don't need the pugins if you don't use it. Can you see now the vobsub's green arrow in system tray? If the subtitle contains errors, vobsub refuse to play it. And now another important question: the sub file is text, or binary? If it's binary then is a succesion of bitmaps (caption) and it's necessary to put in the same folder the idx associated file.

The sub file is binary. So I need to create the idx associated file.

There are 2 issues:

1) I can't find the green arrow in system tray when the XP Pro PC is idle and the green arrow is also non-existent when I play the avi file with WMP 8.

2) The VobSub Guide at http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/dvobsub.htm
[quote]
Step 1: Installation

Run the installation program to install both VobSub (required for subtitle extraction) and DVobSub (required for playback).

Step 2: Rip the subtitles

Start a command prompt (start - run - command/cmd), change to the directory where you have vobsub.dll and type "rundll32 vobsub.dll,Configure"

Press open and specify the IFO from your movie. Then you'll be asked for a directory where it can save the index file. Don't worry, that file is less than 1MB. Then you'll be presented this screen:
[/quote]

So far I only install VobSub 2.23. Do I also need to install DVobSub? I can't find DVobSub in one of the plugin options during the installation of VobSub 2.23. Where can I download DVobSub? I can't seems to find it at doom9 site

I can't find any IFO file from the extracted POC movie file. I will not be able to proceed with "Press open and specify the IFO from your movie".....

Issue 1) "green arrow" need to be resolved first, otherwise I will not be able to proceed with the instructions in the VobSub Guide in issue 2).

DirectVobSub is allready installed, from the vobsub package. After installing vobsub2.23 you must have a VobSub Item in program file. Launch Direct VobSub Configure and use the option allways load. You cannot create an index file from the caption file. You must get the idx file from the same source like the sub file, because they are related.

The ifo file is in the dvd image, but I guess you don't have the dvd rip on your harddisk, 'cause you said you have only the xvid and the sub. Are you sure the idx file is not somewhere?

Right. Now I have "use the option always load" set in Direct VobSub Configure, the green arrow appears whenever a movie file is played with WMP 8. I guess it works with WMP 9 if I decide to upgrade the player later (included in XP SP2?). The green arrow does not appear when I use WinDVD6 or PowerDVD5 to play the movie though.

The idx files are located in the rar archives. I have extracted them. Now I have the following 3 files in the same folder:
medusa-tpotc.cd1.avi
medusa-tpotc.cd1.idx
medusa-tpotc.cd1.sub

While playing the avi file with WMP 8, right clicking on the green arrow brings up:

Show Subtitles
English
English (not sure why English appears twice)
Espanol
Hide Subtiltles
....
....
....

I have tried ticking one of the above 3 languages one at a time, but no subtitles appears in the POC movie.

I do not have dvd rip installed. I can't seems to find ifo file from the dvd image which comes in multiple rar files. Do I need to have all four avi, idx, sub and ifo files in the same folder in order to see the subtitles?

I will not be able to proceed with "Press open and specify the IFO from your movie...." as in the instructions in the VobSub Guide. Please advise.

As mentioned in my earlier post, I was not able to install the plugins:
VobSub for VirtualDub
VobSub for AviUtil
TextSub for VirtualDub and Avisynth

I was able to succeed with a typical install and not the full install.

Please also advise on how to successfully install the above plugins so that I can have the complete package.

Probably English and English Hearing impaired. Don't try to ripp the subtitles with vobsub. Try to use the directvobsub interface, that is shown as vobsub in the green's arrow right click menu, and to place the subtitles on the screen. I have to warn you that the captioned subtitles does'n't show well on every video card. Can't you find text subtitles on http://extratitles.to?

I downloaded PassionoftheChristThe2004-English[Xsubt[1].com].zip and PassionoftheChristThe2004-EnglishHearingImpaired[Xsubt[1].com].rar from the http://extratitles.to

One of them is srt and the other is sub. I can see both are text files and not captioned binary files.

I tried using either of the downloaded subtitle files. I have renamed the subtitle file name to be the same as the avi file. Right click the green arrow, I tried selecting the available languages and I still not able to see the subtitles.

The srt file (Subrip format) and the sub file (microdvd format) are bothe supported by vobsub. If there are in the same directory as the movie and with the same name they'll be loaded automatically, ther is no nedd to select language. But that does not implies that the subtitles are synchronized with the movie. Try to jump in the move to see if subtitles are shown. If the subtitle is loaded yuu'll see it in the right click menu of the vobsub icon in system tray.

I tried using either of the srt and sub text files, right click menu of the vobsub icon in system tray, I see

Show Subtitles (ticked)
cd1 (ticked)
Hide Subtiltles (not ticked)
....
....
....

I tried jumping to other scenes in the movie using with the slide bar in WMP 8 and I still not able to see any subtitles.

Rename the movie and the subtitle like this

From

medusa-tpotc.cd1.avi
medusa-tpotc.cd1.srt

to

medusa-tpotccd1.avi
medusa-tpotccd1.srt

Maybe the second dot is confusind vobsub. I don't remember using subtile file names with two dots. And you may  try another player, I recommend media player classic, download from

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Media_Player_Classic.htm

Renamed the files as in your instructions without the second dot and also downloaded and installed the media player classic, no subtitles problem still persists.

Do you have directx7 or better installed? What os?

Yes, I have DirectX 9.0B installed on the XP Pro SP1.

What is your installed language? English? And another important question: Other movies with subtitles works?

I tried a SVCD format POC movie on Media Player Classic, it is able to view the subtitles.

I downloaded and installed BSPlayer, it is able to view the subtitles for the XviD AVI POC movie. I reckon the BS player works with DivX movie with subtiles as well. What are the differences between DivX and XviD formats? The spelling is backwards between these 2 formats. Are they somewhat related?

The downloaded srt file is synchonized with the XviD POC movie but the other sub text file is out of syn with the movie. How do I syn the sub text file subtitles with the movie?

If I am to burn the movie to a CDR disc to play on a consumer DVD Player, how do I include the subtitles in the movie?

Excellent links.

Post back if you come across the Chinese subtitles for the POC movie.

Great follow through. Thank you.

the most complete place for Chinese subtitles is bt.shooter.cn

Great. I downloaded the Chinese subtitles from this link http://bt.shooter.cn/?subid=12022&downpage=1

I use BS Player which has no problem viewing English subtitles but when it comes to the Chinese subtitles, it shows garbage. The time synchonization is correct though.

Anyone willing to download the Chinese subtitles and tried it out? Let me know if you are able to resolve this issue.

I may have to post a new thread and award you the points. Let me know.

Sorry for the delay.  But if you rename your Cchinese subtitle file to exactly the same name as your Xvid file, it should work.

Another option is to view the movie with Media Player Classic.  Select View->Options->Subtitles->Default Style, change the font to the Chinese font your subtitle is in.  I use SimHei or SimSun for subtitles in simplified Chinese .

In BSPlayer, I have already renamed the Chinese subtitles file to exactly the same name as the Xvid file, the Chinese subtitles shows garbage. I have no problem with English subtitles files though.

In Media Player Classic 6.4.8.2, I have changed from DEFAULT(1) to CHINESEBIG5(136). No Chinese subtitles is shown when I played the POC movie. I have already renamed the Chinese subtitles file to be the same name as the POC Xvid file.

In Media Player Classic, select Play->Filters->DirectVobSub (AutoLoading Version)->Properties->Launch Config Dialog, change the default font Arial to whatever Chinese font format corresponding to your subtitle file.  

This is a DirectVobSub setting.  When you get this to work, you automatically get Chinese subtitles in Windows Media Player, BS Player and many others.

You can also reach this setting using the link "directvobsub configure" in the folder where you installed directvobsub

The problem is I do not know what is the Chinese font format of the subtitles file I downloaded from this link http://bt.shooter.cn/?subid=12022&downpage=1

It's simplified Chinese.  (I checked using Subtitle Workshop, a nice utility to have :-)   You can use for SimHei or SimSun fonts that come from the Windows XP cd.  

You can install the fonts through Control Panel->Regional and Language Options->Languages->Install files for East Asian Languages.  

I see that I could get Subtitle Workshop from http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Subtitle_Workshop.htm

I have installed the files for East Asian Languages according to your instructions. In Media Player Classic under the Launch Config Dialog, I changed the default font Arial to either SimHei or SimSun fonts but no Chinese subtitles appears whenever the POC movie is played. FYI, I am also not able to view English subtitles with Media Player Classic, BSPlayer works though.

Perhaps Media Player Classic is not able to work with Xvid movies, you may like to give me the instructions for BSplayer to play the Chinese subtitles. In BSplayer, under options ->language, I have set the default English to Simplified_Chinese but the Chinese subtitles still turned out to be garbage characters.

By itself, Bsplayer does not support unicode subtitles like Chinese.  It is actually Dvobsub (if you have this installed) that is displaying the Chinese subtitles.  When I run BSPlayer on either XVID or DIVX videos with subtitles having the same name and in the same folder, I get 2 subtitles on screen. I actually have to turn off BSPlayer's own subtitle (which shows gibberish for Chinese subs).  

Your problem lies in dVobSub.  Since dVobsub is the one supplying the Chinese subs to all the other players. Media Players Classic happens to be written by the same author of dVobsub.   I solved my problems by tweaking the settings in MPC, and voila, all other players now play Ch subs properly.

1) In MPC, when you changed the default subtitle font to "SimHei", did the sample characters on screen appear in correct Chinese?  

2) Confirm if you have dvobsub 2.23 installed.  Re-install just in case.

3) Review other settings in Media Player Classic.  
a) Under Play->Filters->Dvobsub, check "Show subtitles", and check the filename of your Chinese subs (this must appear otherwise MPC was unable to find your subtitle file)
b) Under Play->Filters->Dvobsub->Properties->Main tab
First box must show your xvid movie.  General Settings->Language must show your subtitle filename.  Override Placement not checked.  Text Settings show "SimHei", Vobsub Settings check only Read .sub into memory.

Try the above and see what happens.  

Also check the video codec used by your MPC Player / BSPlayer to play Xvid files.  Use the native XVID codec.  The xvid-capable Intervideo codec of Windvd doesn't seem to work with dVobsub when playing XVid files (tested this on my other computer).

How can it be possible to put 2 identical sub file name in the same folder to view 2 subtitles as the OS will reject identical file names? How do I turn off BSPlayer's own subtitle?

I have verified 1) to 3) in your previous response, and still no Chinese subtitles appeared in POC movie.

When the POC movie is playing, under MPC ->Filters, I can see InterVideo MPEG4 Video Decoder, so xvid-capable Intervideo codec of Windvd is used to play the POC movie. I did not see any other xvid codec under filters so I reckon I do not have other xvid codecs installed on my Win XP SP2 PC.

I then proceeded to download and install Koepi's XviD Codec 1.0.2 Final Build 29082004 from http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Koepi_XviD.htm -

During the installation, I used the default checked decoding option:

Decode all supported FourCCS (DivX, DX50, MP4V)

Does it mean that Koepi's XviD Codec can also play DivX movies too? What are DX50, MP4V?

Again I played the POC movie with MPC, under MPC ->Filters, I can still see InterVideo MPEG4 Video Decoder but I can't see Koepi's XviD Codec 1.0.2. In MPC, where can I select this newly installed XviD codec instead of InterVideo MPEG4 Video Decoder? What is the native XviD codec you were mentioning about? Is it comes installed with XP? I have just upgraded my XP Pro from SP1 to SP2.

Presently, I use BSPlayer v1.00.810. This player shows garbage for the Chinese characters but it is able to play English subtitles while MPC v6.4.8.2 could not show the Chinese characters as well as English subtitles.

How do I check the video codec used by MPC Player / BSPlayer to play Xvid files?

I've noticed that dvobsub doesn't work with Intervideo's mpeg4 decoder. Xvid codec does.  Which video codec gets used by which player seems to be a hit and miss affair.  BSPlayer and MPC both use XVid on my computers, even though I also have InterVideo Windvd installed.  While yours insist on using intervideo's codec.   You could try to remove WinDVD, just to make sure it really is the cause of Chinese subs not showing up.  

Or, you could try Vcswap at http://members.ams.chello.nl/p.bekke/
it allows you to hotswap codecs in and out without uninstalling.  Haven't tried it but sounds like the answer to your problem.

Xvid codecs do play DivX and MPeg4.  Xvid and Divx's various incarnations are all derived from microsoft's mpeg4. They're usually backward compatible, but not vice-versa.

I would really like to get my hands on a DivX / Xvid / MPeg4 standalone dvd player capable of reading Chinese subs.  Please post if you can find one.  Converting can be a real pain.  And watching them on a PC's even worse!  :-)

btw, I discovered that there is a naming convention that one is supposed to use for switching subtitles in BS player and/or MPC.  For example:  name of movie is POC.avi.  English subs could be named POC.eng.srt, and chinese subs POC.chn.srt.  The player uses the name between the two dots as your subtitle name.  So it shows up in the player's menu as a choice of "eng" or "chn".   Neato, isn't it.  

I just downloaded Vcswap from your given link. On running this application, I see that in Active Codecs section:

Under Fourcc heading, I have XviD. Under Short name heading, I have XVID. Under Description heading, I have XviD MPEG 4 codec. There are also under codecs present in the Active Codecs section but I can't see Intervideo codecs listed here.

There is no codecs listed under Inactive Codecs section.

Why not you try this nifty little useful program. There is no installation needed, just run the downloaded application. You may be able to advise me later.

Why do you say converting is a real pain? You mean converting DivX / Xvid / MPeg4 files to DVD compliant format to burn onto disc to play on normal DVD player? BTW, have you tried incorporating subs onto movies so that the movies with subs can be burned onto disc that can be played on consumer DVD player? Let me know how it is done. Perhaps, you can point me to a webpage that explains how this is done. Otherwise, I have to rely on PC applications like BSplayer to play movies with subs.

Your naming convention works great, I can now swap between english and chinese subs with BSplayer. The Chinese subs appear garbage though. As discussed, no subs can be seen with MPC.

I tried Vcswap.  Intervideo's MPeg4 decoder is not one of the "regular" video codecs but rather a Directshow Filter (same class as dvobsub).  Unfortunately, Vcswap can't seem to do anything about those.  But I've fiured out a neat workaround.  If you're at home with renaming files and folders, just rename the Intervideo folder (usually this would be in the Program Files) to something convenient, like "Intervideotemp"  and voila, all your video players will use the xvid codec!  

You can always rename it back if you need Intervideo Windvd to watch dvds on pc.  If not, you can just permanently uninstall it.

Converting AVIs to DVDR isn't a real pain.  Its all automated if you use the right tools.  It's getting weird subtitles like chinese on the dvdr and making it sync that is!  It hurts even more when you've got original dvds (like I do) but no downloadable chinese subs sync with it, and you have to make do with a teeny-weeny avi that looks awful when stretched to dvd format through conversion.   I'm told that xvid/divx players are the answer to my prayers but I can't find any that support chinese subs.

If you wanna try converting the xvid/divx avi's to dvdr with switchable subs, use this guide http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=220351.  You'll need lots of free disk space, (about 10-14 gb for a 2 hour video)

If the video is a relatively low-motion one, it will look acceptable, but not great.  On high-motion scenes,  pixelation and blockiness will be clearly visible.  

I'm doing both, actually.  Converting the avi's so I can watch it now.  And saving the avi's on cds together with their subs, for the day when my standalone xvid/divx player arrives.

btw, even if you never get to see the chinese subs on your pc, it will show up right when you've converted the video to any Video format (VCD / SVCD / DVDR) because it would've been converted to bitmaps...and fortunately, the converter supports unicode subtitles.

If we solve the subtitle problem, could you start another thread and award me the points. I could use some points thanks!

Renaming the Intervideo folder does the trick and now I am able to view Chinese subs on both BSPlayer and MPC. Your neat workaround works!

I have started a new topic titled "Getting Chinese subtitles to play with BSPlayer and MPC" at http://www.experts-exchange.com/Applications/MultiMedia_Applications/Q_21137421.html

Post a response to the above link so that I can close the thread and award you the points.

In your earlier post "It's simplified Chinese.  (I checked using Subtitle Workshop, a nice utility to have :-)   You can use for SimHei or SimSun fonts that come from the Windows XP cd.":

I have just installed Subtitle Workshop 2.51. I opened the chinese srt file with it. How do you check that it is simplified Chinese as I can't seems to find it listed as "simplified chinese" in any of the options on the menu. I see garbage chinese characters played with the POC movie using this utility.

Some subs come in pairs with .idx and .sub extension while others come singly as srt file just like the chinese POC subs file which you manage to resolve.

What are the comparisons between these 2 kinds of sub formats? Are there advantages and disadvantages between these 2 sub formats? Can BSPlayer and MPC play subs that comes with .idx and .sub extensions? From what I see, srt is plain ascii text when comes to english subtitles but for the chinese subtitles, notepad shows garbage characters. Is this what you meant when you mentioned "unicode subtitles" for chinese subs?

There are actually lots of subtitle formats.  But the most commonly found on the internet are .SRT and .SUB/.IDX formats.  .SRT subtitles are generated by the program SUBRIP.  It scans your dvd using OCR technology for images that it thinks are subtitles.  It then save the subtitles in a variety of formats, most common of which is .SRT which is human readable text and editable with notepad.

.SUB/.IDX subtitles are generated by VOBSUB, another subtitle extractor that scans your dvd for subs.  The only difference is this program just saves the subtitles in a bitmaps (a kind of graphics format not human readable and therefore not editable).  

Both kinds are easily viewable through the usual media players.  But when you try to integrate these external substitles into a movie, .SRT are better used for switchable DVD subs, while .SUB/.IDX are better used for permanent subtitles.  

"Better" means easier.  It's possible to convert subtitles from one format to another but its a lot of pain to do so.

In subtitle workshop, after loading the subtitle, you choose what you think is the language corresponding to the subtitle.  Try to read it. If it makes sense, you've got the correct format.   Try to select Big5 or Traditional CHinese on simplified chinese .subs and you'll see Chinese characters all right, but they don't make any sense.  The unicode name for simplified chinese is GB232 something.

With your concise instructions, I now know how to use subtitle workshop to determine what language the subs is in.

I have learnt much in this discussion with you. Do keep your email notification as subscribe on this thread so that I can keep you inform if I am to start a new thread on movie/sub issues I may face in future.

Thank you very much for an excellent follow through and resolving the Chinese subs issue. Well done!

You're welcome, and thank you for the points.  I picked up  a few things myself from this discussion.

Hi spycemoon,

I just posted a Qn "DivX Pro 5.2.1 recorded programmes have no sound after installing ac3codec" at http://www.experts-exchange.com/Applications/MultiMedia_Applications/Q_21449066.html

Perhaps you may be able to offer a solution.