Encoding bluray MKV within handbrake and keep subtitles

pioneer2000

pioneer2000

pioneer2000

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So, i've converted a bluray to an MKV (using MakeMKV)... and then encoded this MKV within handbrake but the bluray subtitles for foreign language are lost...

How does one re-encode via handbrake and retain bluray subtitles? :o

Thinking about it, if someone could just post how they go about converting blurays to a re-encoded handbrake MKV that would be appreciated. How do you know when a film actually has foreign forced subtitles anyway?
 
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on handbrake there is options for including subtitles, choose the one you think is right, then use 'preview' on handbrake (you will need vlc player installed) to check before encoding.


thats what i had to do for films like, crouching tiger and house of flying daggers.
 
From what I understand, you cannot retain bluray subtitles within handbrake... Also, if you don't know the film inside out, how do you know where to look for the foreign language scenes?!
 
Encode the video with Handbrake, then mux back in the original subs from the MakeMKV file using mkvmerge.

This is what I do to retain the subtitles and lossless audio streams, as Handbrake can't handle either.
 
Use TSMuxer on the original m2ts file found in the Stream folder of the Blu Ray Rip. Mux it into a single m2ts file with the audio stream, video stream and subtitle track you want, then play the m2ts file using the right codec as an mkv file.
 
Superb - that seems to be doing the trick on the subtitle front.

However, is it still just a case of hit and miss as to knowing when a film has forced subtitles (i.e. that are not burnt in)?

Also, I thought handbrake has an option for ac3 / dts passthrough? Doesn't that work for HD soundtracks?
 
pioneer2000 said:
However, is it still just a case of hit and miss as to knowing when a film has forced subtitles (i.e. that are not burnt in)?
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It really is hit and miss - it depends how the publisher has done it. There's a "Forced Subtitle" option in MakeMKV, which works some of the time... but some Blurays have their forced subtitle track as an entirely separate track... so it takes some investigation to find out what they've actually done. I usually rip all English ones, have a look, then remove the ones I don't need.

Also, I thought handbrake has an option for ac3 / dts passthrough? Doesn't that work for HD soundtracks?
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Don't think so - or it didn't when I last used it! It takes the DTS or DD core track, but it will dump the HD part.
 
Ok, makes sense.

When re-encoding via handbrake, i'm setting video size to 1920x1080 and selecting "none" for anamorphic... is that the best option for bluray?
 
I usually let it auto-crop it (provided it's correct), as most widescreen films are 1920x800 ish. Seems a waste encoding some empty space.

Can't remember many of my other settings, but they're not too far away from Handbrake's "High Profile" preset.
 
I don't let handbrake bother with any sound - I just mux in the HD one. The HD tracks always contain the DTS/DD 'core' track anyway, for any players that don't support decoding the original.
 
Since getting an ATV2 i've now decided to convert everything to M4V...

So,

Is there anyway to convert a bluray to M4V and retain:

1) HD sound

2) Forced subtitles (for foreign language parts)

As far as I can tell, using handbrake you have to simply convert the DTS HD / True HD to standard 5.1 AC3? What happens in the case of 7.1 soundtracks?

Is the only way to get the forced subtitles working to convert the bluray to MKV, manually determining which subtitle track is the correct one and retaining that, then extract this track and convert it to an SRT before importing that into handbrake when you convert the MKV to a M4V? By doing so however, you lose any custom fonts that the subtitles may have been coded with ala Lord of the Rings?
 
Sorry to hijack the thread (as usual) but if any of you knowledgeable chaps could help me...

I've tried to rip a bluray and compress it down a bit, but when I start encoding, it finishes instantly and is only 4kb (and obviously doesn't work)?
 
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