Newbye in danger of going mad over trying to mux AVI and SRT

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

Hello everybody, and thank you for having me, especially in this nearly-maddened state lol
Newbie here, and I have an AVI file, a movie spoken in a language not of my country, and being a translator, I had tons of fun making great subtitles for it in Subtitles Workshop, which I then saved in SRT format (I also have an SSA version of he same file, should that matter).
My OS is XP.
I wanted to mux my AVI file with my subtitles file.
I tried AviSub1.8; VirtualDub; VobSub; and AviMux-Gui. Nothing would work. The first 3 wouldn't even produce anything, either because they wouldn't accept one of the files - usually the SRT and the SSA *rolls eyes* - or because, in the end, there would just be an empty file. Then AviMux would do one of two: either it would produce a very faaaaaast movie file with a clicking sound and no subtitles that could be seen at that speed, or a normal speed video file with no sound or subtitles.
Yes, I read the "Fake Files" thread. I'm not very knowledgeable in technical details, but I learn fast, and in any case, having burnt the AVI file after converting it into DVD format with WinAVI Video Converter and watching it on my DVD Player, I'm pretty sure it's a good file. I cannot see why the subs file isn't good either... If you think it helps I can attach it to a later post.
I read through the Subtitles section, and I know the matter of adding subtitles to AVI files has been addressed more than once, so I apologize for bugging you all with this yet again, but the truth is, I have not found anything that would answer my problem.
What am I missing? What am I doing wrong?
And please... when you tell me... ye gods, I can't believe I'm saying this... pretend I'm slightly retarded, ok?
A very confused
Morgaine

[celtic_druid]

AVI-Mux GUI is about the best. The only benifit to muxing subs to avi though is that you get 1 file. With an external sub, you have two files, but greater compatibility. For instance I can't think of a single standalone AVI/MPEG-4 player that supports muxed subs (other than xsubs in a divx file), but there are heaps that will play external srt's.

Not sure about AviSub. Think it creates DivX files with xsubs doesn't it? If so, odd name. Should be DivXSub.

VirtualDub, can't do subs other than hard encoding. VirtualDubMod can mux subs, just not to an avi container.

So why exactly are you trying to mux subs anyway?

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

Ok... you didn't exactly remember the part "please pretend I'm slightly retarded", did you... so let me rephrase that: please pretend I'm really retarded - no offense meant for anyone, retarded or not, it's just the way I'm feeling right now...
I'd like to burn a DVD that could be read in any DVD Player (not computer ones) and that had the subtitles in it. Basically, as you can imagine, I don't need the little buggers, since I made them, which means I actually know the original idiom. But I'd like to give that pleasure to a few relatives and friends who can't get it in our region code, with subtitles. Please don't ask why it is an AVI file. Sufice to say that is the only way it is available at the moment.
So, are you telling me (probably not... bear with me...) that I should burn into a disc my AVI file and my SRT file and that a DVD Player that can read AVI files will read it with subtitles?
A still highly confused
Morgaine

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

I should add that I have now tried a fifth program, VSO - ConvertXToDVD, where it should be possible to add your AVI file, your SRT file, and it would convert both into one DVD folder, with two sub-folders, Audio_TS (always empty, a mystery of technology) and Video_TS, where the real video files, VOB, BUP and IFO are. Then you burn those into a disc and voilá, you have your DVD with subbies.
If only...
Conversion went fine, speed was fine, so was sound... but no subtitles.
Alas...
A frustrated
Morgaine

[paglamon]

So, are you telling me (probably not... bear with me...) that I should burn into a disc my AVI file and my SRT file and that a DVD Player that can read AVI files will read it with subtitles?

Exactly!But u will have to name ur files exactly same e.g. myfilm.avi and myfilm.srt. Most standalones nowadays will play Divx(or Xvid) encoded avi.
Before burning into a DVD try to get these two files in the same folder on ur hard disc and play the avi from there and see whether the subs are playing or not.

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

Thank you to both celtic_druid and paglamon, I will now try what you told me to, and will let you know what happens!
A much more hopeful
Morgaine

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

Ok, I tried what you said to - play the AVI file in my pooter and see if the subbies showed up (both AVI and SRT in the same folder). They didn't. Now I'm really at a loss. I have no idea what is wrong. If you have any (idea, that is) it is welcome in advance.
I re-opened my SRT file in Subtitle Workshop, seemed fine, showed on the movie preview window, and I saved it again... just in case. Still didn't work.
In a sort of last attempt, I checked your page on "Essential Tools" and downloaded Subtitles Creator, that I couldn't get to work, and then DVDSubEdit 1.33, which User Manual I intend to read in the morning - it is now almost 1:30 AM - and I'll try to work on the subtitles from there... see if they work. But as far as I've seen it will work with VOB files, so I'll have to convert the AVI file into DVD - not a problem, but I'm not sure if I'll have the expertise to then match my subbies to the VOBs. *sigh*
Oh well... I'll let you know.
Meanwhile, any ideas will be a goddess-sent!
Thank you for all your patience and help so far.
Morgaine

[paglamon]

Play ur avi in Media Player Classic and let us know what happens.
BTW,when u open the srt file in Subtitle Workshop, does the movie start in the preview window?

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

Still nothing in Media Player Classic.
Yes, in Subtitle Workshop the movie starts in the preview window, with the subtitles.
Anything else you want to know or would have me try, you're most welcome.
Thank you for your patience and interest in this!
Morgaine

[paglamon]

R u sure u have Directvobsub installed?

[celtic_druid]

For MPC's internal subtitle render to be active, you need the output set to VMR7/9 renderless or Haali's renderer.

If this is for relatives and friends. Then I would definatly assume that not all of them have DivX/AVI/MPEG-4 enabled SAP's. Therefor converting and authoring as DVD Video is probably your best bet.

Not used ConvertXToDVD myself. But as I understood it. It should be able to do the job. Is the srt ANSI? Because not all apps will support unicode/UTF-8.

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

To paglamon: this what you mean?


To celtic_druid: yes the subbies are ANSI. So I believe that you're telling me that I should go with the last program I found and work with the VOB files, if I understood correctly. Ok. If I can figure it out lol

I'll have to go to town until Friday, but I'll keep going from there, and certainly keep you posted - can't promise it will be good news though lol
Thank you for your time and interest - and patience!
Morgaine

[paglamon]

Directvobsub(or VS filter) is a directshow filter to display subtitles.Click on the link I gave above.
BTW, I write my video files as XVid avi and srt subs on a cd or dvd(data cd or data-dvd) and they play fine in my standalone(which is Divx certified).If u hav a similar player there is no reason why ur's shouldn't.We will just hav 2 figure out what u r doing wrong.I have the patience to try and help u.But do u?

[Morgaine-Le-Fey]

Hey Paglamon
I'm sorry I took so long to reply, I was detained in town a week longer than I expected!
Of course I have the patience... I'm very stubborn, I won't leave this until it works lol so thank you in advance for YOUR patience... I'm sorry the picture isn't showing (at least to me it isn't), but I believe I have instaled exactly what can be found in the link you provided. Please click here and you'll see it - I hope lol
I still don't get it why it is that my subtitles aren't showing, not even on my computer, when both files have exactly the same name, are on the same folder, and work fine in Subtitle Workshop.
If you have any ideas, they are more than welcome.
Thank you for your help.
Regards
Morgaine

[paglamon]

U do not have it there,MLF.U need VSFilter.dll.Please download and install this.