How to Install English Subtitles for a Japanese Movie

Adding subtitles to a DVD means recompiling the original DVD files.

Synchronizing English subtitles with Japanese scenes is difficult, but keeping the menus is harder. This process uses free software and prewritten subtitles. Be sure you copied the DVD to the hard drive before you begin.

Things You'll Need

• 25 GB of hard drive space
• 3 computer folders labeled "Demultiplexed," "Finished" and "Original"
• DVD Decrypter software
• DVD-lab PRO software
• Ifo Update software
• English subtitles file (any common format acceptable)
• DVD-R or DVD-RW
• DVD burning software

Instructions

Prepare the Files

1. Start DVD Decrypter.

2. Select "Settings" in the "Tools" menu, and click the "IFO Mode" tab.

3. Check boxes for: "Select Main Movie PGC," "Enable Stream Processing," "Stream Information," "Chapter Information-DVDLab," and all Options except "Remove PUOs" and "Remove VOB PUOs." Press "OK."

4. Select "IFO I" in the "Mode" menu.

5. Select the target movie from the "File Options" menu.

De-Multiplex ("Demux") DVD Files

1. Go to the "Stream Processing" tab in the right window.

2. Check the "Enable Stream Processing" options box.

3. Select "Demux" under "Stream Video" options.

4. Choose one line in the "Stream Processing" window, and select the "Demux" option. Repeat this step for each line you want in the "Stream Processing" window.

5. Select the file destination (in this example, "Demultiplexed"), and click the "DVD to Hard Drive" icon. Close DVD Decrypter when the process is complete.

Import Video Files to DVD-lab PRO Workspace

1. Open DVD-lab PRO.

2. Select "NTSC" or "PAL"--- whichever matches the original DVD.

3. Click the "Simple (Movie Only)" option box.

4. Right click in the open workspace, and then select "Import". Choose all video and audio files in the "Demuliplexed" folder. After importing, right click on each file and chose "Insert to Project...". The files should now appear in the "Movie 1" window in the upper right of your screen.

5. Right click on the Chapters section in the "Movie 1" window. Follow the path "Chapters," "Import Chapters." According to the manual, "[y]ou may either select the chapter text file or press 'Cancel' to add chapters manually. Almost any time-based chapter file format is supported." Click "Proceed" to continue.

Generate Subtitle Stream

1. Double click on the empty subtitle spot "Sub 1." A new subtitle window will appear. Select subtitle language, "English."

2. Press the "Import" button at the the top of window.

3. Confirm the changes to the movie in the "Preview" window, paying particular attention to the synchronization. You can adjust the time by typing a new "Start Time" and" End Time." You can disable a subtitle by clicking the "Eye" icon.

4. Click "Generate Subtitle Stream." DVD-lab PRO compiles the subtitle stream before the "Subtitle" window is closed. The subtitle stream will not have to be recompiled, even if you make other changes.

5. Select "Compile DVD" in the "Project" menu. Ignore any warning messages. Processing can take 15 to 30 minutes.

Prepare to Burn DVD

1. Put DVD Decrypter in "File" mode. Copy all files from the original DVD to "Original" folder.

2. Copy and paste all main movie .vob files from the "Finished" folder into the "Original" folder.

3. Start IFo Update, and then select the following in the "Options" menu: "Transfer VTS_C_ADT Table," "Copy Color Table in Each PGC," "Copy Audio and Subpicture Tables," "VTS_TMAPTI Table Transfer (Time Map)," "AutoCorrect VTS Sectors (When Updating)" and "AutoAnalyze Original IFO (When Specified)."

4. In "Original IFO Path," select the corresponding IFO file from the "Original" folder. In "Authored IFO Path," select the "VTS_01_.IFO" file from the "Finished" folder. In "Backup IFO Path," select where you would like to save a backup of the original file.

5. Click "Update IFO" at the bottom of the screen. Click "OK" on any subsequent windows. These steps allow you to keep the original menus, which now recognize the new, subtitle-added data. You may now burn the new files to a DVD-R or DVD-RW using any program.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want the subtitles to automatically appear once the movie starts, select the "Set this Subtitle always ON by default" option before starting the "Compile DVD" process.

References

• DVD-lap Pro User's Manual: Chapters, Import Chapters
• DVD-lap Pro User's Manual: Subtitles, Adjusting Subtitles
• Source Forge: Adding Subtitles to a DVD, 1.(b)