Subtitles support for Hearing Impaired Disability in Emby

[adamglenKH 4]

As a person with Hearing Impairment, I am disappointed with Emby’s handling of subtitles. This makes the use of Emby significantly sub-par to the equivalent functionality of PLEX.

I feel that the following points are of note if Emby is considering enhancement to cater for those with disability:

1.       During playback I cannot access Opensubtitles.org. I therefore have to rely on identifying and storing the relevant subtitle before I include the movie in my database.

2.       I include in my movie file (using mkv format) all identified subtitle. In the MKV file I give the subtitle a unique name and I set one subtitle to default. However, Emby in the list of subtitles, when playing a movie does not display the name and ignores the default parameter subtitle of the MKV container. I cannot identify a logic to how they are present.

3.       Although Emby has the capability of identifying a movie by it hash length and downloading the subtitle this does not work for me as I include the movie and subtitles in a single MKV package which will have a different hash length to the original.

4.       Before I add a file to my Emby database I locate the subtitles and include in an mkv container with the movie. I use Opensubtitle to identify and download the SDH subtiles. I set the Subtitle name, its position in relevant to other subtitles in the mkv container, if it is forced, its language and the default subtitle. I only have one default subtitle. I use MKVToolNix GUI to create the resulting mkv container-file. I don't want SRT files cluttering my database, that is why I use mkv containers. That is what used to happen with the Netgear playback devices from over a decade ago.

Over the last few years we have moved on from the past where hearing disabilities were ignored. Almost all packages like PLEX have allowed dynamic run-time downloading of subtitlesI believe that it is important that Emby make acknowledgement of that and look to make changes. Now I am considering returning to PLEX as this deficiencies, allied with the inability to identify duplicates without programming skills, are a blockage to my and my family's enjoyment of my movie collection.

I live in a bilingual family. I am the one who has English as my native language and I am hearing impaired. Besides having to add English subtitles I also have to make available subtitles in another language. Over the past 16 years I have collected over 3,000 movies and all, except about 20, have subtitles. I have carefully curated the collection to ensure that it can be used and accessed by all in my household.

Please help me in this difficulty by enhancing Emby or providing a non-programmatic solution to this (and the Duplicates issue).

For note we use Apple TV as the client devices.

Thanks

[Luke 42081]

Quote

1.       During playback I cannot access Opensubtitles.org. I therefore have to rely on identifying and storing the relevant subtitle before I include the movie in my database.

Hi there, are you sure? Have you explored the options in the subtitle menu during playback?

[Luke 42081]

Quote

2.       I include in my movie file (using mkv format) all identified subtitle. In the MKV file I give the subtitle a unique name and I set one subtitle to default. However, Emby in the list of subtitles, when playing a movie does not display the name and ignores the default parameter subtitle of the MKV container. I cannot identify a logic to how they are present.

Is the default flag actually set, or just something in the title of the track? In your emby user preferences, how are your subtitle options configured?

[Luke 42081]

Quote

3.       Although Emby has the capability of identifying a movie by it hash length and downloading the subtitle this does not work for me as I include the movie and subtitles in a single MKV package which will have a different hash length to the original.

The file hash is based on the entire file. What would you like us to do?

[Luke 42081]

Quote

Almost all packages like PLEX have allowed dynamic run-time downloading of subtitlesI 

And so does Emby! Again, have you explored the options in the subtitle menu?

[adamglenKH 4]

3 minutes ago, Luke said:

Is the default flag actually set, or just something in the title of the track? In your emby user preferences, how are your subtitle options configured?

Yes, I always set the default flag when building the the mkv container. I also ensure that there is only 1 subtitle with "default flag" set in mkvGUIToolNix when creating the mkv container. It would be less of an issue if the subtitle name was displayed.

[seanbuff 1318]

6 minutes ago, adamglenKH said:

It would be less of an issue if the subtitle name was displayed.

If you are manually updating the track titles of your subtitles, then you will need to enable this option under the 'Advanced' tab of the Library section:

By default, this is not selected.

[adamglenKH 4]

5 minutes ago, Luke said:

And so does Emby! Again, have you explored the options in the subtitle menu?

I will recheck what options show up on the CC submenu during playback on the AppleTV app. I have one user account for administration and one use account for myself and another two for my family. Children use a third user account.

No, on the AppleTV app it does not have support for "Search for Subtitles". Also when listing the subtitles it only shows "English Subrip" and does not display the subtitle name unlike when I am using the Web client on Windows.

[adamglenKH 4]

4 minutes ago, seanbuff said:

If you are manually updating the track titles of your subtitles, then you will need to enable this option under the 'Advanced' tab of the Library section:

By default, this is not selected.

I would not use the term "embedded" as that can be understood to mean "hard coded into the video".

I only manually update the track titles in MKVToolNixGUI so there is no update via Emby. I don't want anyone interfering with the file structure of the mkv container. I do the creation to control the mkvfile structure.

[adamglenKH 4]

25 minutes ago, Luke said:

The file hash is based on the entire file. What would you like us to do?

I don't expect nor would want Emby to search on the file hash. As I may include subtitles from multiple languages that would be impossible.

But I do need to search for subtitles during playback and as indicated separately that is not supported for a non administrator user in the AppleTV app.

Thanks

[seanbuff 1318]

2 minutes ago, adamglenKH said:

I would not use the term "embedded" as that can be understood to mean "hard coded into the video".

I only manually update the track titles in MKVToolNixGUI so there is no update via Emby. I don't want anyone interfering with the file structure of the mkv container. I do the creation to control the mkvfile structure.

I agree that 'embedded' can be a little confusing in this context.

Rest assured, this option will not mess with your files, it simply changes the way the file data is read and displayed to the clients. I do the same as you and use this option to view my custom titles for each track.

[adamglenKH 4]

3 minutes ago, seanbuff said:

I agree that 'embedded' can be a little confusing in this context.

Rest assured, this option will not mess with your files, it simply changes the way the file data is read and displayed to the clients. I do the same as you and use this option to view my custom titles for each track.

Thanks, I will look into that.

 

[adamglenKH 4]

5 minutes ago, adamglenKH said:

I don't expect nor would want Emby to search on the file hash. As I may include subtitles from multiple languages that would be impossible.

But I do need to search for subtitles during playback and as indicated separately that is not supported for a non administrator user in the AppleTV app.

Thanks

 

34 minutes ago, Luke said:

And so does Emby! Again, have you explored the options in the subtitle menu?

I have rechecked on Appletv app and confirm that search for subtitles is not available during playback nor is it available if I exit play back and return to movie information summary screen.

[Luke 42081]

On 7/13/2023 at 4:00 AM, adamglenKH said:

 

I have rechecked on Appletv app and confirm that search for subtitles is not available during playback nor is it available if I exit play back and return to movie information summary screen.

Correct. This feature is not in the Emby apple TV app yet but its planned for upcoming updates. It's in our other apps though. Thanks.

[adamglenKH 4]

On 16/07/2023 at 03:47, Luke said:

Correct. This feature is not in the Emby apple TV app yet but its planned for upcoming updates. It's in our other apps though. Thanks.

Thank you. It is good because it has been sending me crazy and I was even considering return to PLEX.

I create the mkv container with default set at known SDH subtitles but display of the Title that I have assigned would be extremely useful. The MKV container does not have a parameter to show that the subtitle is SDH unlike "forced".

Can I suggest that when you do the OpenSubtitle search that somehow you highlight those subtitles which are SDH. I know that in a web search for subtitles on OpenSubtitle it tags those which have been uploaded as SDH.  This would be good for those who are hearing impaired.

Thank you.

[adamglenKH 4]

7 hours ago, adamglenKH said:

Thank you. It is good because it has been sending me crazy and I was even considering return to PLEX.

I create the mkv container with default set at known SDH subtitles but display of the Title that I have assigned would be extremely useful. The MKV container does not have a parameter to show that the subtitle is SDH unlike "forced".

Can I suggest that when you do the OpenSubtitle search that somehow you highlight those subtitles which are SDH. I know that in a web search for subtitles on OpenSubtitle it tags those which have been uploaded as SDH.  This would be good for those who are hearing impaired.

Thank you.

I have found the Impaired Hearing flag in MKVToolNixGUI

[Luke 42081]

HI, the hearing impaired status for subtitles, both internal and external will be supported in Emby Server 4.8:

Thanks.