[mythtv-users] Forced subtitles in mkv DVD rips.

[Alexander Fisher]

On 17 May 2012 17:21, Jack <list-mythtv-users at jack.org.uk> wrote:
> On Thu, 2012-05-17 at 16:34 +0100, Alexander Fisher wrote:
>> Yes.  This is what I understand by forced subtitles too.  Some films
>> are basically unwatchable without them.
>> Not being able to tell what the Na'vi are saying in Avatar, or missing
>> huge parts of Japanese dialogue in Kill Bill etc would ruin those
>> movies.
>
> I have a number of films ripped with forced subtitles and they work fine
> for me. However, these are from Blu-Ray not DVD.
>
> I have a similar work-flow to you except that I run the video through
> handbrake to get the file-size down a little. I have found that this
> leaves me with no subtitles, so I use mkvmerge to put them back in. The
> big difference is that I do not play with any of the settings with
> regards to forced or not forced in mkvmerge.
>
> I have opened one such file up and mkvmerge does not claim that /any/ of
> my subtitle tracks are forced (??!) yet the expected translation subs do
> appear automatically when forced subs are enabled in mythvideo.
>
> I took a look with mkvinfo and that doesn't mention anything about any
> forced subs tracks either.
>
> This is weird, yours doesn't work when it should and mine works when it
> shouldn't.
>
>
> I think I've just muddied the waters, sorry.

Perhaps maybe Blu-Ray subtitles can have individual subtitle items
forced whereas DVDs need an entire dedicated subtitle track?

Kind Regards,
Alex