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How To Add and Burn Subtitles to AVI Permanently

Posted By Raymond In Category: Computer

Dec
14
2007

Few months ago I’ve written a guide on how to include subtitles in downloaded movies by finding and placing the SUB or SRT subtitle file together with the AVI movie file. You must also have DirectVobSub installed, otherwise it won’t read the subtitle file. However, this works only in computer. What if you want to burn the weekly Heroes TV series to VCD or DVD and watch it on your huge plasma screen TV? Problem with older DVD disc players is it can’t read AVI format and subtitles as well. It can only read DVD format which is VOB and VCD in DAT format.

You will need to embed the SRT/SUB subtitle file to AVI movie file permanently, then convert and burn it to VCD or DVD using your favorite disc burning software. There are a few ways of doing that but I will only show the way that I think it’s easiest and without using too many programs. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below on how to burn AVI to VCD or DVD with subtitles.


Before you start the process of adding subtitles into AVI, it’s important you are sure the AVI video file can be played on your computer WITH subtitles. If the downloaded AVI video can’t be played, just install K-Lite Codec Pack.

1. Download VirtualDub and VobSub

2. Extract VirtualDub-1.7.7.zip to C:\VirtualDub-1.7.7

3. Install VobSub, expand Plugins and select VobSub for VirtualDub and TextSub for VirtualDub and Avisynth.
Install Vobsub for subtitle

4. When asked to select the directory where VirtualDub is installed at, browse to C:\VirtualDub-1.7.7
Burn subtitle to AVI

5. After finish installing VobSub, run VirtualDub.exe from C:\VirtualDub-1.7.7

6. Go to File -> Open Video File and select the AVI

7. Go to Video on menu bar, select Filters (or press Control+F)

8. Click Add button, select TextSub 2.23 and click OK.
TextSub subtitle in AVI

9. In TextSub settings, click Open button and look for the SRT or SUB subtitle file. Click OK and OK.
play avi with subtitle in DVD player

10. Go to Video on menu bar and make sure that Full processing mode is selected.

11. Go to Video on menu bar, select Compression (or press Control+P) and choose the video compression that you’d like to use. For me, I use DivX.
Video Compression for AVI

12. Finally, click File and select Save as AVI (or press F7)

Wait for the processing to complete and you will have a new AVI file with subtitles embedded into it. You can now burn it to VCD or DVD using your favorite disc burning software such as Nero. If you have a DVD player that can supports DivX, you can directly burn the AVI file to the disc without converting it to DVD or VCD format. That’s the advantage of using DivX as video compression.

It looked like a lot of steps but it’s actually quite easy when you’ve got used to it. I am no expert in video codecs, compressing, decompressing, lossless or lossy. So I am not sure if the method above will worsen the AVI quality or not but to me, the video still looks great.


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  • How To Burn Downloaded Windows Vista to DVD
    • Henrique Schroder

      Its possible to do in one single program too: Avi2DVD (http://www.trustfm.net/divx/SoftwareAvi2Dvd.html)

    • Henrique Schroder

      Its possible to do with one single program: Avi2DVD (http://www.trustfm.net/divx/SoftwareAvi2Dvd.html)

    • http://www.raymond.cc/ Raymond

      From the description and screenshot, it looks pretty easy. I’ll try it and update.

    • http://www.raymond.cc/ Raymond

      Avi2DVD works. I am able to burn AVi with subtitle to DVD easily but it takes quite a while for the whole process to complete. The final result will create an ISO file which you can burn it with Nero or any burning software.

    • monamy

      you may download VobSub_2.23.exe from this link also
      http://tmc.alkohol.ee/down/MovieCodecs/vobsub_2.23.exe

    • Guss

      I keep getting a msg, that says:

      ‘Couldn’t locate decompressor for format ‘XVID’
      What should I do?

    • Guss

      Ok, forget that. I think I fixed it.
      The problem now is…that in filters,
      there’s no text 2.23 on mine!
      Help?

    • Roost

      I’ve been waiting for a tutorial like this one, I always been trying to burn movies with subtitles but i never could so thx a lot for this, you’re winning your little piece of heaven!

    • Chris

      Hi. Thanks for the tutorial.

      I have successfully done it. Unfortunately, the audio and the subtitles do not synchronise with each other. The person talks but no audio, the person does not talk but he can be heard talking. Any suggestions to rectify this?

      Thanks. :)

    • Chris

      Further to the problem I mentioned, it seems that the subtitles are moving faster than the movie.

    • Chris

      Hi again. Henrique, I tried the Avi2DVD software. The output was horrible — very pixelated pictures. Any suggestions?

    • Rami

      It works fine but only for 10 sec after that the video begin to lag the video and the audio. but the sub are good.

    • http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/ffdshow.cfm Joker

      I use ffdshow that has all the features need to display subtitles. It can be turned on/off and reads text file subtitles. Also read raw subtitles extracted from DVD videos. So cool, you got to see it at my given link.

      http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/ffdshow.cfm

    • Luciano

      Simply the best for me “ConvertX to DVD” with few clicks you can make your dvd with subtitles and menu (and you can insert 2 movies in 1 cd), the only con is not freeware, but i think this should not be a problem for nobody here (all of us like to buy original software :) )

    • Psychic

      Thanks a lot Raymond, your post is awsome. I tryed those steps and it works fine :D. Videos with same quality and legends are OK. But some avi videos are not compatible because they have codecs that doesn’t work with VirtualSub, so watch out people, maybe that’s why your videos are not synchronised. In this case I use WinAviVideoConverter to convert avi into avi but with different codecs (i change only in audio), and then it works in VirtualSub. Because sometimes it says that the video has uncompatible codecs when I open video file.

    • ranjit roy

      hi folks

      i tried the vsub s/w and it seems to work just fine – the version that i have downloaded is VirtualDub 1.7.7

      Raymond – on the ADD FILTER command, instead of TextSub, it is VobSub2.23. Otherwise, everything else is as you have prescribed in your wonderful little tutorial above

      in terms of synchronization, i tried some samples of the movie, and it seems fine

      aside of this, going thru some of the posts above where someone tried AVI2DVD and the result was poor video quality. I have faced the same problem albeit whilst trying DVD2AVI using Nero/ImTooPlatinum/FoxDVD rippers – the video quality is poor and at times the audio goes out of sync

      but some downloaded movies (AVI) seem to have much better video clarity. Please let me know if any of you has suffered the same problem and found a solution to it

    • Psychic

      Hey, ranjit roy on the add filter we must choose TextSub, not VobSub2.23 ;). Raymond is right because i have done his process several times and legends are fine. I dont know if with VobSub2.23 filter works too… Oh, I didn’t try other programs…VirtualSub is perfect :D.

    • Psychic

      P.S.: REFORM: Not “legends” but “subtitles” (hehehe xD)

    • Nitz X3

      Guys it seems that i have a problem with virtual dub..
      The video and audio don’t synch.. what should i do.. the original file synch.. HEEELPPPP…..

    • Psychic

      Nitz X3, did you select full processing mode on Video tool bar? You have to, and if when you open video file an error occurs you have to select full processing mode on Audio too and compress it. That should do it ;)

      (Error: AVI: Variable bitrate (VBR) audio detected. VBR audio in AVI is non-standard and you may encounter sync errors up to….)

    • rajiv

      it is working but the lip moment of the movie is missing

    • sidlord

      I’m sorry to say this, but I think that this guide is rubbish!!!

      You are encoding already encoded avi (divx, xvid) file, so by using “Full processing mode” in VirtualDUB to include/encode subtitles you are without any doubt lowering the quality of the video!!!

      This method can be used for uncompressed video files, but certainly NOT for compressed divx/xvid files!!!!

      Or am I wrong?

    • sidlord

      Psychic,
      video/audio sync errors are most certainly occuring due to crappy compression of audio stream in the avi file. People are using VBR audio bitrate for compression and that is causing these “out of sync” troubles.

      Try to reencode the audio stream back to more compatible CBR (constant bitrate format)…
      1. hit “Audio > Full procesing mode > Compression”
      2. choose proper MP3 codec
      (commonly MPEG Layer-3 128 kbit)
      3. set “direct stream copy” for video
      4. save the avi to a new file

    • Oxyale

      I been having out of sync problems, I’m out of solutions. I want to add subtitles to a xvid video. I’m not worried about decreasing in quality, just that the audio and subtitles are not in sync. Can someone help?

    • lexiconmaster

      Guys, got a question.

      I downloaded a movie in AVI format. When I play it with VLC, I can turn the subtitles on or off. However, when I burn it using IMTOO, there would be no subtitle option.

      There is no other file with the movie for the subtitle. It’s sort of together with the AVI file.

      Is there any way I can burn it to a DVD without losing the subtitles?

      Thanks in advance.

    • P

      i have a problem…
      i have the movie and the subtitles in my pc but i can see the movie only on my pc normaly but when i burn the movie into a cd the sound of the movie is not sichronize Is something tha i do rong when i burn the mouvie???

      Thank u….

    • Shen

      Raymond,

      Thank you so much for this tutorial, you are awesome. I\’ve been looking high and low for a tutorial such as yours for months and finally, I am able to burn avi movies with subtitles.

      THANK YOU!!!

    • quang

      Raymond,
      As you show us how to do is very good, but how can I change the fond size.
      Thanks

    • Martin

      Sidlord, I´m also having sync errors… the steps that you wrote are pretty clear.. but i have a question… do I follow those steps after doing what this (raymond´s tuorial) tutorial tells to do??

    • Envoytheguy

      THANKS!!! My chinese subtitles are finally hardcoded successfully to my AVI file! :D

      Thanks again for this great tut.

    • Tim

      Raymond, thanks for the tutorials. I was able to add the subtitle perfectly. However, the video size gets smaller and the picture quality is a bit worse. Is there any way that I can add the subtitle without losing the video quality, saying that the size of the file would be the same? I tried direct stream copy but it seems the filter did not work.

      Thanks again and I’d appreciate any thoughts.

    • parsec

      Wow, raymond, a great tutorial. Followed your instructions and was able to add english subtitles to an Austrian film perfectly. Thanks so much for taking the time to instruct us novices. I did not experience the problem related by Tim, but used Nero8 to burn the DVD. Nero8 costs but I’ve found it to be far superior to Roxio or Windows Movie Maker. Your recommendation on programs to download to accomplish the task were right on. A little confusing, but by following your instructions, worked the first time. Thanks again.

    • jocoham

      Its possible to do in one single program too: convertXtoDVD

    • Alon

      Hey guys – Need your help
      when im trying to open a video file (Avi) it goves me an error that it couldnt loacte decopressor for format XVID…
      VirtualDub requires a video for windows (VFW)…
      what to do ??
      i dont know much about softwares and codec and all that and i need to burn the subs . please help
      thanks

    • http://theinternetisfullgoaway.blogspot.com Keyser

      Psychic\\\\\\\’s suggestion helped in synchronizing my audio/video/subtitle:

      ———
      \\\\\\\”…did you select full processing mode on Video tool bar? You have to, and if when you open video file an error occurs you have to select full processing mode on Audio too and compress it. That should do it ;)

      \\\\\\\”(Error: AVI: Variable bitrate (VBR) audio detected. VBR audio in AVI is non-standard and you may encounter sync errors up to….)\\\\\\\”
      ———

      BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM NOW:

      Is this tutorial really intended for hardcoding the subtitle? I couldn\\\\\\\’t turn it off.

    • fue_el

      I FOLLOWED ALL THE STEPS IN THE TUTORIAL AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY!!…THANKS RAYMOND…i could finally put my spanish subtitles into an english movie…but in the videos some glitches appear like little green dots and lines….how do i get rid of them??? you can get exelent spanish subtitles here…http://www.subdivx.com/index.php…bye...

    • CARLOS BORGES

      CARO AMIGO:

      FIZ COMO VOCÊ ENSINOU…E RESULTOU NA PERFEIÇÃO.
      BEM HAJA.
      OBRIGADO E UM ABRAÇO

    • Jonas

      Thanks a lot Raymond. Very useful guide

    • rosie

      hola, ya baje el prog, pero en ningun lado me aparece texsub 2.23, ayuda please

    • Kimitoh

      Hi Raymond
      Thanks so much for your help. I managed to add my subtitles on AVi no problem.
      However, this time, I have 2 srt files for 1 avi file. Following your guide, subtitles are added but subs from btoh files are added at the same time and are on top of each other on the subbed version.
      I don’t know how to join them together. Can you help?

      Thanks

    • Dan

      Hello Raymond,
      I´ve got the same problem as Alon…
      Can you please help us?
      Thanks!
      Dan

    • Trevor

      Just adding subs onto my first film.Looking at both screens it does\\\’nt look as if i lost any quality and the subs look in sync with the scenes.Thanks for a great article.

    • http://HI Profdrhsn

      Does That work on windows vista ?!! Because it didin’t work with me win i tried it on vista it keeps interrupting the installation of Vobsub ; do u have any solution for this , Please ?

    • wang

      It works well,thanks!

    • Brazinha

      Great tutorial, Raymond. But allow me to give a suggestion. Why not try AVI ReComp? Does all the embbeding and recompression work by itself and no problems of sync. Besides…it’s free. One advice: I reinstalled the version 1.4.3 that in my opinion is more reliable than the two latest updates.
      Best,

    • Thomas

      TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress is easy and I can position the subtitle almost anywhere. I will embed two subtitle in one movie to watch a Japanese Movie with Spanish subs for my wife and English for me.

    • Manuel

      Great tuto, thx for it, but I have a little issue, I made 2 avi files with their subtitles, but when I started the third copy I obtained a 36.GB file, which is ridiculus as you can understand, can any one tell me how to avoid this issue?

      Thanks.

    • zakarius

      how long does this process take? i started the conversion and it seems like its gonna take 12hrs to complete!!

    • rhea

      oh my god, that was SO HELPFUL. thank you so much for posting this. i’ve spent the last hour trying to get these programs to work, and now i can finally turn my soft subs into hard subs. thank you so much for taking the time to post this. much much appreciated!

    • wenhao

      Try convert x to dvd. :D It works too and you can add multiple subtitiles.

    • tetwey

      got the same problem here with alon & dan,help pls:)

    • cirip2006

      All of you, try to do this with only easy and powerful one software : AVI ReComp, 1.4.6 is the latest version. Go and see for yourself : http://www.avirecomp.com/news.php
      You won’t regret, I swear.

    • dsfs

      For Mac OS users, software that may help you a lot on video conversions is Aimersoft DVD Creator for Mac, which can easily convert AVI files to DVD on Mac without losing quality.

    • jay

      oh. nice tutorial. but a little problem. my .sub file is not loading. i tried similar programs like avirecomp but it says that my .sub file is a note supported file type. what sshoul i do?

    • confused

      ok so i did all that but when i click save file i get
      video compression error: The source image format is not acceptable. (error code -2)but i know the video is avi and i have vodsub and divx. is there something else i need to download???

    • foden12

      Ok..now you all are talking jiberish to me…Ive followed faithfully on trying to get virtualdub to work and its bashing my head in…all I want to do is add subs to a movie and watch the dam thing.
      Firstly How to get virtualdub to work…I get the idea and process of adding the AVI and the sutitle filter then adding the whole shabang to gether then saving as AVI…it does all that and STILL no subs on my movie…what am I missing…I’ve aslo tried to install VobSub to see if its that Im missing and even that is confusing as it says you have to install it where VirtualDub is installed but its NOT installed and wont accept where Im trying to add the VobSub file to and crashes…Man I need help here

    • yeoh

      in the select video compression why i dont have divx to choose from

    • Ricky

      hey pal, it works perfectly. thanx a lotttttt!!!!!!! was huntin for burnin subtitles on dvd since loooong.
      Just wanted to check one thing.. does the size of a 700 mb avi file gets converted into a 10-15 gb avi file after the subtitles are burnt on it? coz i face that issue though.

      Looking forward to a reply. Thanx!!

    • Ricky

      yes, there’s one more issue. i didn’t get divx to choose from. so i selected ffd show or something like that. it worked. but the question is how do i get divx??

    • Ricky

      hey got it.. i tried using ffdshow since i could not find divx in the Compression panel & it worked perfectly. The new avi file bears a size of around 742 mb. It was earlier close to 735 mb, so it’s simply perrrrrfectt….Thanx a tonnnn!!!!!!!

    • Ricky

      hey pal.. the video quality dropped by 20-30%. is it possible to avoid this? thanks!

    • Andre

      I followed all the steps and the subtitles were added perfectly, BUT, there was a big lowering in the video quality.
      Is there a way to fix it?

    • cara quong

      hi i have purchase a burn dvd of la tormenta but it has spanish subtitle…i dnt understand spanish is there a way to make it into english subtitle?

    • toni29

      Seteleh saya browsing kesana kemari, ternyata paling enak dan gratis itu pake linux. Ada aplikasi open source di linux yang bisa melakukan penggabungan dvd dengan subtitle dengan satu cara.

    • shem

      avirecomp did the recrompressing decently, but didn’t burn the subs
      (Win 7)

    • ain

      hi..i got 1 problem..after i did a hardsubs everything ok just my icon flipped upside down but when i played the movie is ok…how i want o make sure my icon didn’t flip??thanks a lot..

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