HandBrake Subtitles
HandBrake is a popular program for ripping DVDs and converting movie files from one format to another.
I extended HandBrake to support subtitles from file inputs (in addition to DVDs) and to support the SSA and ASS subtitle formats, which are popular for encoding Japanese anime and foreign films.
My main motivation for adding subtitle support was to watch movies on my iPhone while riding public transit and flying long-distance.
This was the first open source project I participated in.
Download
- HandBrake 0.9.5 and later has subtitle support
- I have personally tested:
- HandBrake svn3563 (2010100201)
- HandBrake svn3567 (2010100301)
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hbencode - A command line tool for automatically encoding multiple video files in bulk with optimized settings for an iPhone (or iPod Touch).
Burn Planner - Automatically burn lots of files to DVDs.
SSA Problems?
If you experience any major rendering issues with SSA subtitles, please:
- Check whether it is a known issue on the HandBrake bug tracker.
- Otherwise please send a message to the Bugs board on the HandBrake forum.
- Only if you are not satisfied with the response there, then you may try contacting me directly.
These days (as of 2011) I am more or less inactive on HandBrake development.
Updates
Simultaneous subtitle support added
2011-02-24
Committed: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18379&p=93265
HandBrake 0.9.5 released
2011-01-03
Now everyone can see my SSA subtitle improvements.
http://handbrake.fr/?article=11
SSA burn-in support committed!
2010-09-28
At long last. The main body of work is now complete.
Committed: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17609&start=75#p83649
SSA burn-in now compiles under all supported architectures.
2010-09-19
Announced: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17609&start=50#p83250
Initial version of SSA burn-in patch completed.
2010-08-14
Announced: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17609#p81389
Wrote HandBrake Architectural Guide.
2010-07-02
This should help new developers on the HandBrake project come up to speed more quickly.
Committed: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16559#p77909
Now decodes SSA to UTF-8 subtitles.
2010-06-01
Subtitled anime is now playable on iPhone, albeit without styling info.
Committed: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16538#p77832
Can now transcode all subtitle formats that it can output.
2010-05-20
HandBrake can now transcode all subtitle formats that it can output (VOB, UTF-8, TX3G).
Committed: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16267#p77158
General support for subtitles from file-inputs.
2010-05-04
Committed: https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16099#p76255
Approach decided.
2010-04-13
Announced to the HandBrake community here:
https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15967