No-English subtitles without the English ones

[cplloyd42]

Finally got a resolution

I've been checking the DVDFab updates as they came through, but it wasn't until this last version, 9.0.7.2, that I was able to have English subtitles for the French dialog in the ripped version of the Blu-ray Hereafter video. In the process, I have discovered that the settings you need to use varies from disk to disk. Here's what I found, so that it might be of use to others:

1. Under Common Settings I have (for all these disks I will mention):
Conversion>Convert>Always display forced subtitle=ON
Streams>Audio>Preselect the following audio tracks=English
>For multiple tracks of the same language select=Dolby Digital
>If none meets my selection criteria=Select first track
Streams>Subtitle>Preselect the following subtitle tracks=English
>If none meets my selection criteria=Select all subtitle tracks
2. With the above settings, the Subtitle drop-down list of a loaded DVD/Blu-ray in the Ripper screen differs from previous versions by having options: None, Display only forced subtitle, followed by a list of languages including English which may be there more than once; the Display only forced subtitle and first instance of English are usually checked ON.

Now, to my experiences. These were the settings I found necessary to achieve embedded English subtitles for non-English dialog in the ripped video:
DVD - Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: Display only forced subtitle=ON, 2nd instance of English=ON
DVD - Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope: Display only forced subtitle=OFF, 1st instance of English=ON (2nd instance of English=ON gave all dialog as subtitles)
Blu-ray Hereafter: Display only forced subtitle=OFF, 2nd instance of English=ON

I hope this helps. It looks like DVDFab is now able to handle most instances of subtitle encoding in the original video. It just takes some testing to find the correct settings and for this, it's best to select an appropriate chapter to rip, rather than the entire video.
Paul.

[cplloyd42]

Just to underline the variation

I have now tried the Blu-ray disk, Hunt for Red October. Its settings to get the subtitles was:
Display only forced subtitle=ON,
1st instance of English=ON.

I also notice that the Progress log shows that it recognizes subtitles and processes them for Blu-ray disks, but not for DVDs - at least for the 4 disks I have tried so far.

Paul.

[LordDelacroix]

Yes

I agree with your assertion - that the manner in which the subtitles are encoded has changed recently. I've never had such a terrible time getting what I want off the DVD's. For me now with v9.1.1.6 the ONLY way I can get no subtitles is with all of them unselected. If any one channel is selected, whether or not the little black icon to the left of the channel is on makes no difference what so ever - english will be the subtitle that shows.

No matter what I've tried on more than 20 discs so far, I can not get only the forced subtitles to show. For me this isn't such a problem but the rest of family doesn't speak all the languages I do so I end up having to translate the dialog for them and it detracts from the overall viewing enjoyment for me.