Converting MKV with Subtitles

[Kauai]

I just got my Apple TV today and I love it! I've already watched a movie and a few youtube videos on it and it's great. I have to say it's pretty small too, I was surprised to see how small the box was! Though that's a good thing of course.

Any way. Could anyone here lay out in simple terms the best way to convert MKV files to a ATV format with subtitles intact? I'd like to watch some anime on my TV but sadly enough ATV doesn't support MKV or even subtitles if you don't convert it in some special way. Thanks.

 

[kuwisdelu]

Any way. Could anyone here lay out in simple terms the best way to convert MKV files to a ATV format with subtitles intact? I'd like to watch some anime on my TV but sadly enough ATV doesn't support MKV or even subtitles if you don't convert it in some special way. Thanks.

You've got two choices:

1. Re-encode the video and hardsub it.
2. Change the subtitles to srt to keep softsubs (but lose any styles) without touching the video and remux it.

To do (1), just open the mkv in Handbrake, select the .ass subtitles, choose "burn-in", and convert to mp4. Some here have had trouble with Handbrake messing up the subtitles this way. It's worked fine for me when they're reasonably simple styles, though. You'll get an mp4 with hardsubs that (hopefully) retains most of the styles.

To do (2), use MKVTools to extract the .ass subtitles. Open them with Jubler and re-save as .srt. Use Subler to remux the H.264 and AAC audio from the MKV and the new .srt subtitles into an mp4. You'll get an mp4 with softsubs, but you'll lose any styles or formatting.

Personally, I prefer (2), since it's faster, and I retain the ability to easily edit the subtitles later if I want to change something. It's a major pain when you have a lot of complicated non-spoken translated text on the screen, though. Again, you'll lose all the styles and fonts with (2) though.

 

[Sedulous]

The above post offers two excellent options. I use (2) all the time.

 

[evonietzsche]

With the second method how long it takes with 1gb file?
I'm really interested cause i've been dealing with Plex(awesome!!) but not support external srt subtitles.So, i tryied with handbrake but it takes soooooooo much.

There's any way to do it without encoding? Just burning it?or merge?

Thx to everyone!

 

[skottichan]

Anyone else having problems with vobsubs? When I extract the .sub file, I put it into Jubler and text is garbled with strange fonts, rendering it unusable. I know that vobsub ≠ SSA/ASS so I'm assuming I need another step?

 

[Sedulous]

With the second method how long it takes with 1gb file?
I'm really interested cause i've been dealing with Plex(awesome!!) but not support external srt subtitles.So, i tryied with handbrake but it takes soooooooo much.

There's any way to do it without encoding? Just burning it?or merge?

Thx to everyone!

Muxing in srt files using subler would take no more than 30 seconds. No re-encoding needed.

Anyone else having problems with vobsubs? When I extract the .sub file, I put it into Jubler and text is garbled with strange fonts, rendering it unusable. I know that vobsub ≠ SSA/ASS so I'm assuming I need another step?

I usually skip anything that needs jubler if I can get the srt from another source (i.e. download). Have you tried this approach?

 

[evonietzsche]

Ok thx!
Now its not needed cause my dad can see shows in mkv with external srt thx to the great new about XBMC!!

Thayt friggin device only for $99,awesome¡!