Convert PGS to VOBSUB

Discussion of advanced MakeMKV functionality, expert mode, conversion profiles
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Bossi
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:43 am

Convert PGS to VOBSUB

Post by Bossi »

My Media Player unfortunately don't play PGS-subtitles in MKV files.
I tried to convert the PGS subtitles additional to VOBSUB in my conversation profile:

<outputSettings name="vobsub" outputFormat="VOBSUB">
<description lang="eng">Save VOBSUB</description>
<description lang="ger">Als VOBSUB speichern</description>
</outputSettings>

<!-- Save PGS additional as VOBSUB -->
<trackSettings input="PGS">
<output outputSettingsName="copy"
defaultSelection="$app_DefaultSelectionString">
</output>
<output outputSettingsName="vobsub"
defaultSelection="$app_DefaultSelectionString">
</output>
</trackSettings>

If I use this profile, copying the disk fails immediately.

Any ideas?
Woodstock
Posts: 10293
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:21 pm

Re: Convert PGS to VOBSUB

Post by Woodstock »

I do not think Mike added subtitle format conversion to MakeMKV... Nope, not listed in any of the change log entries.

The only thing MakeMKV will do for PGS subtitles is compress them with gzip for compatibility with Western Digital players (the "WDTV" profile). To convert them to another format, you would need to extract them from the MKV file, and run them through a tool for that.

How old is your media player? PGS-in-MKV has been in most stand-alone media players made since 2013 or so. Some (like WDTV) require that they be compressed, but they otherwise work just fine. My ASUS player from 2010 just required a firmware upgrade.
Bossi
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:43 am

Re: Convert PGS to VOBSUB

Post by Bossi »

Ok, thank you...
I will try gzip, maybe this works...

As Mediaplayer i use the Yamaha BlueRay-Player BD-A1060.
It ist from last year, but it don't support PGS subtitles in MKV files :-(
ndjamena
Posts: 830
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:23 am

Re: Convert PGS to VOBSUB

Post by ndjamena »

BDSuptoSub...

Need I say more?
Woodstock
Posts: 10293
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:21 pm

Re: Convert PGS to VOBSUB

Post by Woodstock »

What ndjamena said, assuming you are willing to have Java installed on your machine.

As for the BD player as playback... I've heard a number of BD players cripple their playback of MKV files in this way, probably to encourage you to use the original BD as a source. One supposedly only plays PGS subtitles from encrypted m2ts files; decrypted ones are not supported.
ndjamena
Posts: 830
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:23 am

Re: Convert PGS to VOBSUB

Post by ndjamena »

You could also try OCRing the things with SubtitleEdit or DVD Subextractor and then converting the text to VobSub (or just keep the text if your player supports it... and has a decent renderer), but from experience that method is prone to errors. PGS has more resolution than VobSub anyway, so tends to convert nicely enough.
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