Unfortunately most capture boards seem to be going that way these days.

I prefer to capture with a firewire bus device since it is independent of the processor and uses its own power source. I have an ADVC-100 which has S-Video and Composite inputs and outputs. This device is external and connects to the PC with a firewire cable. The only disadvantage is that it only captures in DV which has its limitations with color compression. I never really notice it, but I've heard others complain. This device would be perfect if it could also capture raw AVI and MPEG-2.

Patrick

I didn't manage to understad from the previous posts the decision Zion made on the issue of "Encoded on image or not" subtitles. Hoping that I'm not too late, I make this post to plea Zion not to encode the subtitles on the image. I don't have any technical knowledge about the palacement of subtitle images on anamorphic images that has been mentioned, but my reasons for not wanting the subtitles burned on the image (whether they are to be burned on the image, or the black space beneath) are of a more practical nature: As I come from a non-English speaking country, my family and friends (not to mention my 6year old cousin) are not so fluent English speakers as to understand the exact content of what is being spoken (especially when C3PO is talking). So, I intent to add manually other language subtitles -including my language of course- on that set when I get it.
So you see, the problem is that by having on-image encoded english subtitles, they would blend with the selected ones.
I quess that since not all people in this forum come from the US or the UK, some other may have the same anticipation.
And another suggestion: Zion, since I see that you are trying to create an all-in-one set (a very admirable cause) I'd like to sugest that you also put various language subtiltes in you set (including english for the hearing impaired). I'd be glad to provide you with any subtitle you may need, should you consider my suggestion.

Edit: spelling check

"Palacement" and "quess" passed a spelling check?? Wow. I might also point out that there are plenty of native, pretty-much-unilingual English speakers in non-US, non-UK countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand...

But seriously, Metallaxis, I don't know what country you're from, nor what language is your native tongue, but there are native speakers of English who could take a few pointers. I'd kill to be able to be that fluent in a second language!

I really don't know for sure, Metallaxis. I think I'd like to make the Greedo subtitles a subpicture so to keep it the same familiar font. That's my goal at this point at least.

Thank you for your kind words. Actually, I am from Greece, but I'm fluent in over 6 milion forms of communication

Zion, the subtitles in a DVD are not in a txt format, they are images. By that I mean you could transfer the exact same picture used in Greedo's subtiltles. Heck, you could even insert your own handwritting if you wanted to... I'm sure whatever you decide to to will be great. Keep on the good work...

"Zion, the subtitles in a DVD are not in a txt format, they are images. By that I mean you could transfer the exact same picture used in Greedo's subtiltles."

But they are images created from a txt file. I've not seen a program that can create non-text subtitle-like images, such as the "rabbit" from the Matrix DVD, or the familiar "MST2000" outlines (I forget what DVD that was on.) If such a program exists, that would be great!

My dream scenario would be to have Greedo's english (basic? ) subtitles burned in, and foreign subtitles that overlay the english when selected (I've recall making some subtitles that were white-on-black.)

MeBeJedi Sez:


You're probably thinking about the Ghostbusters DVD. Good commentary.
Though even better and more over the top was Brother Bear. Bad movie, great commentary. Tuke and Rut (animated moose silhouettes anyway) with Rick Moranis & Dave Thomas commenting throughout the film like MST3k meets the McKenzie brothers.

Guess that was off subject, but software that does that sort of think WOULD be awesome.

Subrip can extract any DVD subtitles into a bmp file sequence, from which sequence every image can be prossesed using an image editor. I assumed that the bmp sequence could then easily be imported in a DVD compiler. I wasn't sure though, so I did a little search. I found these 2 intresting links:
In a miniDVD article notice the line
"Pensize - This parameters defines the pen size which only applies if graphic sub titles are being used. If text sub titles are being used, the normal case, then pen size has not application."
Also, A ReelDVD manual refers to the prosess of importing the bmp sequence.

Unfortunately, my whole bandwidth is being "occupied" in d'loading every single OT torrent I can find, so I can't d'load and test these programs by myself.
I hope this was helpfull...

I'll have to check out those links...

In other news, I just ordered my NEC ND-3520A from NewEgg. I'm looking forward to burning more DVDs much faster (and DLs as well. )

[EDIT]

http://www.u-m-l.com/basicfea.htm



Curiouser and curiouser...

Sonic Scenarist can do both text subtitles as well as the image-style subpictures. This is my dvd author of choice, and I just assumed that all the other programs could do this as well. I guess I was wrong.

zion,

the smart sharpen filter has been revamped in case you weren't aware, I've tried it and it's about 6 times faster than before. I've gone from 1 - 2 fps to 10 fps

so this is a big big bonus, plus they've rewired it so it now works in avisynth script. worth trying.

That is awesome news tellan! I'll check it out.

maestro can also import bmp files as subs.

You can make them yourself in Photoshop, just make a 720x480 24-bit BMP using only red, blue, white and black.
You can then arrange them easily in the timeline.

I have done the exact thing you are talking about, I matched a dvd subtitle file to the original text and aligned it perfectly for both widescreen and 4:3 tvs.

"I have done the exact thing you are talking about, I matched a dvd subtitle file to the original text and aligned it perfectly for both widescreen and 4:3 tvs."

If you are referring to my suggestion, then that's excellent news. I personally feel that's the best route overall. Player-generated subtitles bug me, and I like to be able to control the fade in/out of the subtitles. I matched the timing of Greedo's subtitles quite nicely (though I used a different font.)

Different font?! Blasphemy!

What do you mean by "player-generated" subtitles?

"Different font?! Blasphemy!"

LOL. I couldn't find the original at the time. Sorry...

"What do you mean by "player-generated" subtitles?"

As opposed to burned-in subtitles.

no, i'm talking about "player generated subtitles" as you call them. You wouldn't need separate 4:3 and widescreen subtitles for yours, MBJ, since it will be letterboxed.

Also, you can control the fade-in/out of these subtitles easily using maestro.

"You wouldn't need separate 4:3 and widescreen subtitles for yours, MBJ, since it will be letterboxed.

Also, you can control the fade-in/out of these subtitles easily using maestro."

Actually, whether I had an anamorphic or letterbox transfer (though both are likely), it wouldn't matter since I place my subs right below the picture, and I do control the fade in/out quite easily in Vegas as well.

I was just saying that you can do all these things with actual subtitles in a subtitle track, the advantage being that you can turn them off if you wish.

But I don't want to turn off Greedo's subtitles. That kinda defeats the purpose of the film. If a foreign subtitle track can be placed over burned-in subtitles, then I would place the foreign track over Greedo's English. Thus, the English is always present, and the subtitle tracks can be solely for different languages.

If you want to do all subpicture subtitles, you can set Greedo's subtitles to "Forced Start" so that they'll always be on, even if you have turned all other subtitles off.

This way, you dont have to burn them in and lose control over placement and readability when considering 4:3 and 16:9 monitors, because you can make separate subpicture tracks for each aspect ratio.

"This way, you dont have to burn them in and lose control over placement and readability when considering 4:3 and 16:9 monitors, because you can make separate subpicture tracks for each aspect ratio."

Well, for one thing, I intend to make both 4x3 and anamorphic transfers, so this is not a concern of mine.

Fair 'nuff.