Subtitles Getting Cut Off Screen

[tenceriker]

Everytime I try to make a DVD of a fansubbed show I'm backing up for a friend since some of his DVDs are scratched and some episodes won't play, I can't help but get the subtitles at the bottom cut off. I've tried using Roxio Easy CD/DVD Creator, Pro Coder 2, and Nero 6. Am I doing something wrong or is it I'm using the programs ?

[setarip]

Are you playing them back as 16:9 or 4:3?

[Clio Cat]

I'm having the same problem. I've burned 2 or 3 DVDs that are now coasters. ;p
Nero was set to automatic for the first one for aspect ratio (but I may have set it to 16:9 when I burned the second one, before I read any FAQs). A friend suggested I reencode the file with Dr. DivX, seeing if I can add some sort of border filter, since the DVD seems to stretch the files to fit the screen (to an extent). However, the friend freely admitted that he knew nothing about it (my problem) and was just guessing. Now, I have no idea if that would even work to make the picture smaller (so the subtitles weren't cut off) or not, or even how one would go about doing that. Any suggestions or tips or hints would be most welcome. Thank you very much.

[tenceriker]

I know the answer now. I think all fansubs are in PAL. I used VirtualDub to resize the subs to about 640 width/530 height adding letter box to the normal 480. If you do that It should work regardless of 4:3 or 16:9 ratio aspects.

[Clio Cat]

I'll certainly give it a try. Thanks for the advice. I'll keep you posted on how it's going.

[tenceriker]

Yea, tell me if it works. I know how hard it is when the subs don't work. It took me forever and countless playing with option/ reading over 10-20 fourms.

[Clio Cat]

Just wanted to post an update. So far I've converted a few files... resizing them to 640/550 and then recompressing... mainly using "Nicky Pages' Digital Solutions" site (link here: http://nickyguides.digital-digest.com/vdub-filters.htm ) as a guide. The files look and sound like they should, I think. But the real test will come after I've burned them to DVD, which will have to wait until I can convert more of the files (it takes forever because my computer's so slow). I'll make sure to post the final result.

[Clio Cat]

Success!

I tried your suggestions and they worked like a charm. I can't even express how pleased I am. Thank you, tenceriker, for the advice!

[tenceriker]

Great. I hope you enjoy whatever you watch.

[Ardwark]

Hi.

Im using Nerovision Express 2 to put Fansubbed AVI files onto VCD. When I play it on my PC it's fine but then on my DVD player the subs go off the edges of the screen. I've tried switching aspect ratios on both DVD player and TV and neither work. When using the above guide I find that my AVIs have a stretched look to them vertically. Is there any way to stop this from happening? Im from Europe so PAL is the format of my TV.

Thanks
Ardwark

[tenceriker]

Originally posted by Ardwark
Hi.

Im using Nerovision Express 2 to put Fansubbed AVI files onto VCD. When I play it on my PC it's fine but then on my DVD player the subs go off the edges of the screen. I've tried switching aspect ratios on both DVD player and TV and neither work. When using the above guide I find that my AVIs have a stretched look to them vertically. Is there any way to stop this from happening? Im from Europe so PAL is the format of my TV.

Thanks
Ardwark

I'd have to play around with it. If someone would sticky this I can work on it during the weekend. I have plenty of Cds to play with.

[Clio Cat]

Also, when using the above tips like I did (are you using VirtualDub to edit the files? I just downloaded the latest stable version), the exact order of commands in VirtualDub I used was: File> Open video file (and then browse to file location), Edit> Select all (which selects the file so you can edit it), Video> Filters> add> resize [(which should open a box to change the video size)
Here my videos always start off in 320 by 240(?), but I checked the properties of the video file itself (by browsing to the video file, rightclicking and going to properties> summary) to get the correct video ratio, typed those numbers in, selected precise bicubic (the first bicubic on the list), checked the lower box to add a border (I think it's called frame size in the program), and changed the numbers to the same horizontally, but about 80 pixels larger vertically. (On every tv I've tried this on since, it's a *small* black line at the top and bottom of the screen)] You can check the preview if you like, then hit okay.
Now select Video> Compression, scroll all the way down the list on the left side to select Xvid Mpeg-4 something. Then hit okay. I'll be honest, I have no idea what any of those settings are, but the guide I looked at said to use that one. And it worked.
The go to Audio> Full processing mode, then Audio> Compression, here I selected Lame MP3 from the list on the left and 48000 128 CBS (? I have no idea if those are the initials, I just look for the C instead of the A.).
Then go back to File> Save as AVI, and decide where you want to save it and name it.
The file will begin converting...on my computer it takes about an hour and 45 minutes to finish, but my computer is old and slow.
Anyway, I can fit about 4 of these files on a DVD without having Nero compress them more, and these are the options that worked for me. I'm a total newbie, so I have no idea if they'll work for you.
Good luck.
=)

[Ardwark]

Thanks Clio Cat... Knew it'd be something simple like the borders that I was missing.

[Clio Cat]

My pleasure. ;p
Hope it works out for you.

[tenceriker]

I don't even do all that....lol. I fit about 8 of them on a DVD using Nero or 10-11 using VSO DiVx to DVD.