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[KennyHott]

Using Media Center - Red October I am having issues with Subtitle timing (which i think is fairly serious) and with subtitle formatting (which i merely consider annoying).  I first noticed the issue editing .srt files, the subtitles did not seem end when they were supposed to.  And recently, since I watch fansubbed Anime, I noticed the same issue with .ass embedded subtitles in .mkv files. Subtitles would not be displayed with any formatting.  They would START at the proper time, but either stay on screen much longer or stop early (by a second or two)

This behavior is consistant across three different machines.  Other playback methods (VLC, MPC with CCCP, PowerDVD11) on the same machines show subtitles with proper timing and formatting.

This currently happens with Media Center 16.0.179, although I'm certain the issue has been around for a bit.  I have experimented with the following settings with no change:

1. Used Red October Standard and HQ
2. Changed all Subtitle settings in Options (these appear just to modify what to show by default in any case)
3. Tried various file type playback settings in options (i.e. Automatic, JRiver video Engine)

I know that you have been working on the subtitle engine, but the forum seems to have been focused on the issue of default subtitle display, and the timing and formatting issue seems to me a bit more serious.  Is this a known issue? 

I can provide provide screenshots of the timing and formatting issues using different media players and the text of the extracted subtitle file.  Or you can download the recent 'One Piece' fansub episode at http://yonkoufansubs.com.

-kh

[Matt]

Thanks for the detailed post.

Our subtitle engine is new in v16:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=65418.0

SSA/ASS support may not support all formatting tokens.

I'm looking into the duration issue.  If there are other formatting tokens that you consider important that aren't supported, let us know and we'll see what we can do.

[Matt]

I don't see any duration in the SSA data for a single subtitle.

So currently we use whatever is less between 3 seconds and when the next subtitle arrives.

Any advice?

[globetrotters1]

Well, I wanted to add my two cents to this topic, as the subtitle business is important for me/us. We watch lots of movies (audio in their original language, we don't like them dubbed at all) and normally with english subtitles.

The whole new subtitle engine is currently a big problem. Many subtitles are misplaced, timing not in sync with the audio and the formatting leaves a lot of wishes open.

Our main wishes which (we think, have many other people here too) we would like you to solve is the following:

- proper timing sync between audio and subtitles, adjustable 'on the fly' forwards or backwards - stored in the sidecar file
- always automatic start of the attached subtitle in the chosen language (often, they are there but don't get started)
- sometimes a subtitle has no specific language code attached (language "und" - undefined) but is the right language, why not start that one as the "default"?
- the formatting and positioning of the subtitles should be the same all over (no changes in colors, fonts, positioning)

We use a beamer on a huge 4:3 screen and would love to put the subtitles always onto the lower screen portion, which is often just black as most movies are widescreen nowadays. But that seems impossible, why? Does the subtitle always HAVE TO BE within the movie portion?

Thanks

[Matt]

- proper timing sync between audio and subtitles, adjustable 'on the fly' forwards or backwards - stored in the sidecar file

Are you saying you have sidecar subtitles with incorrect times, and you need a way to compensate?  Or do you believe that Media Center is handling the specified times incorrectly?

- always automatic start of the attached subtitle in the chosen language (often, they are there but don't get started)
- sometimes a subtitle has no specific language code attached (language "und" - undefined) but is the right language, why not start that one as the "default"?

Explore Options > Video > Subtitles.

- the formatting and positioning of the subtitles should be the same all over (no changes in colors, fonts, positioning)

PGS, VOB, and EVOB are image subtitles so it's not up to us.

All text subtitles use a consistent text drawing.

SSA is an exception because it can explicitly define styles, colors, position, etc.

[globetrotters1]

Matt,

to 1) yes, but not always incorrect, it's very strange, but most movies are not in sync with the audio

to 2) sometimes the subtitle doesn't get started although it is there in the specific language I have set. I have to switch it 'on' with the remote control. Until now I couldn't find out why only with certain movies

to 3) no. You always draw the text into the movie part and it is on another portion of the screen if it is a 4:3 fullscreen movie or a widescreen movie. Furthermore it is much smaller on a widescreen movie than on a fullscreen movie. My idea would have been to define the portion ON THE SCREEN where it should be drawn, NOT on the movie. My screen is always 4:3 format and most of the movies are widescreen and don't use the lower black portion of the screen

thanks

[JustinChase]

Matt, I'm not sure if you are aware, but NEV is currently working on/looking for feedback on subtitles for his splitter.

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1532244#post1532244

He's focused on default behavior, (and is hoping to work with you to integrate to this engine)

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1532315#post1532315

but might have some insight on finding/using the tags you questioned about above, or other methods to control the stop/start of the display.

I have no experience with the sub type in this thread (pgs subs work pretty great already) but hope this information is helpful none-the-less.