DVD to MP4 (Default DVDSUB) problem

[Houfino 41]

Hi...I have a problem...I have almost 500 DVDs at home..I converted them from DVD to MP4 (also contains Czech subtitles)...I put them in Emby and the video plays fine, but I can't see the subtitles.....I have subtitles turned on, but why can't I see the subtitles..Strange...Emby doesn't support dvdsub??? I can't use MKV because my server is old and underpowered

I use VLC for Windows and I can see OK...But Emby doesn't see subtitles at all when subtitles are turned on

Better MKV than MP4 or??

If you want a video, I can send one...Thank you



 

embyserver.txt ffmpeg-transcode-73aec1ec-c079-4f07-b922-20fbbaff4a4e_1.txt ffmpeg-transcode-59a238ad-1991-44cf-815c-c6c45df4eb86_1.txt

Edited January 28, 2025 by Houfino

[Luke 42077]

hi, is dvdsub normal in an mp4? can you try mkv instead?

[Carlo 4560]

23 hours ago, Luke said:

hi, is dvdsub normal in an mp4? can you try mkv instead?

It's technically supported in MP4 but has compatibility issues with many media players. Some display the images wrong, some might not display them at all, while others might have issues with rendering or timing. Because of those issues its recommended to use MKV containers instead for dvdsub.

On 1/28/2025 at 4:49 AM, Houfino said:

 I can't use MKV because my server is old and underpowered

Better MKV than MP4 or??

MP4 & MKV are both containers. MKV is much more flexible in what codecs and track types it supports than MP4. 

You can change the container from mp4 to mkv about as fast as you can read/write the file using ffmpeg.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mkv

(Replace input.mp4 with the actual name of your MP4 file and output.mkv with the desired name for the MKV file.)

ffmpeg -i "Top Gun (1986).mp4" -c copy "Top Gun (1986).mkv"

 

[Houfino 41]

Dne 1/28/2025 v 19:25, Luke řekl:

Ahoj, je DVDSUB normální v MP4? Můžete místo toho zkusit MKV?

Unfortunately I can't use MKV..Because my server is 10x weaker....It can't handle MKV

The server probably needs 8-12 cores..I only have 2 cores and stupid

 

[Houfino 41]

2 hours ago, Carlo said:

Je to technicky podporováno v MP4, ale má problémy s kompatibilitou s mnoha přehrávači médií. Některé zobrazují obrázky špatně, některé je nemusí vůbec zobrazit, zatímco jiné mohou mít problémy s vykreslováním nebo načasováním. Kvůli těmto problémům se doporučuje místo toho použít kontejnery MKV pro DVDSUB.

MP4 a MKV jsou oba kontejnery. MKV je mnohem flexibilnější v tom, co kodeky a typy tratí podporují než MP4. 

Kontejner můžete změnit z MP4 na MKV přibližně tak rychle, jak můžete číst/psát soubor pomocí FFMPEG.

Ffmpeg -i vstup.mp4 -c copoce oupet.mkv 

(Nahradit input.mp4 se skutečným názvem souboru MP4 a output.mkv s požadovaným názvem souboru MKV.)

FFMPEG -I "Top Gun (1986) .mp4" -c Copy "Top Gun (1986) .MKV" 

 

You are right....I think I will buy a better server and more powerful than my older server

I'm currently solving the program because of MP4 I'm still looking for a solution, then we'll see...I'll let you know later..

 

[Luke 42077]

2 hours ago, Houfino said:

Unfortunately I can't use MKV..Because my server is 10x weaker....It can't handle MKV


 

How does mp4 vs mkv affect that?

[Carlo 4560]

On 1/29/2025 at 3:54 PM, Houfino said:

You are right.... I think I will buy a better server and more powerful than my older server

I'm currently solving the program because of MP4 I'm still looking for a solution, then we'll see... I'll let you know later..

 

I wasn't saying you need to purchase new hardware, but I'm sure that would allow the server to run faster.
A faster computer would not necessarily fix the problem you have.

The most likely fix is changing the media container format to mkv which fully supports the subtitle type in use.
mp4 and mkv are containers, not codecs. Think of them as a bag you carry produce in. If you're strong enough to carry the paper bag filled with marshmallows, then you're strong enough to carry marshmallows in a plastic bag. <-- like your computer.

Now if the plastic bag contained\watermelons instead off marshmallows (codecs), a stronger or more powerful person may be required to transport the produce.

In the case, we're not asking you to change produce, only the bag used for transport.