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Hello,

I've followed dozens of tutorials online but none of the menus people are using match mine. Everyone is saying to go to Media and I do not have that option in my menu. In trying to follow similar steps, I have not gotten this to work.

I can play subtitles fine on VLC but I'm trying to hardcode them so I can upload the video with the subtitles already there. I have .ass and .srt files in the same folder as my video, with the same name.

Here is what steps I take to hardcode:

File -> Convert/Stream -> Open Media -> I select my video file -> Choose Profile -> H.264 + MP3 (MP4) -> Customize -> Subtitles and Subtitle Overlay are checked -> DVB Subtitle -> Choose Destination -> Save. I choose the same name for the new video I'm exporting.

It creates a new video file with about 2 seconds of my original video with no audio. My video is about 16 minutes long. Am I missing something?

I got the same question.

VLC works fine on Windows 10, I mean subtitles can be embedded onto a video itself, but not on Mac OS version VLC.

No idea about this.

I also browsed many pages.

I'm having the same experience on my Mac. Only difference is I don't see a separate subtitle file. I just have the mp4 file. When I play it in VLC I can turn the subtitles on and off, so the subtitles seem to be stored in the mp4 file. Other than that, my experience in trying to hard copy the subtitles is exactly the same as bluewind's.

I mean to burn srt file together with video file (hardcoding?). With Windows version,
File -> Convert/Stream -> Open Media -> I select my video file -> Choose Profile -> H.264 + MP3 (MP4) -> Customize ->
and then, DO NOT tick "keep the original video" on the video tab, you can tick "keep the original audio", and on the subtitle tab,
tick subtitle Overlay, ignore DVB whatever.
Then browse folders for destination, and save.

This works on Windows VLC.

TO: sms216
Maybe your mp4 video contains subtitle info, as mkv files do. But I never know whether you can turn on or off the subtitle with an mp4 video if it is burns together with the video.

Yes, my mp4 does contain subtitle info, which I can turn on and off with VLC. But when I stream the mp4 to my Samsung, TV I can't figure out how to turn on subtitles. I can mirror the VLC on my computer to the TV, but I'd like to be able to convert the mp4 so I can stream it directly from my network hard drive to TV with subtitles. Haven't figure how to do that.

This is driving me crazy. I have an MP4 video files and a ttml subtitle file. I can add the subtitle to the file, using "Add subtitle file..." and it displays properly.

I've tried using convert/save and stream in VLC and neither will hardcode the subtitles into the video.

No matter what combination of options I try following various instructions I've found on-line, nothing will create a video with the subtitles hard coded.

E.g.,

I save the video and TTML file with the same name in the same folder.
Open VLC
From the Media text menu, select Convert/Save
In the Open Media window, under the File tab, click on the "Add" button to the right of File Selection and browse to and select the video file.
On the same window tick the box "Use a subtitle file" and browse to and select the TTML file.
From Convert/Save, button dropdown, select Stream (I've tried Convert as well, which also doesn't work).
The "Stream Output" window opens with the file path to the video pre-populating the Source field. Click NEXT
In the Destination Setup step, select "File" next to "New Destination" and click ADD, file tab opens. Next to "filename" click browse, browse to destination folder, and name the new file
Click NEXT
On the Transcoding Options page check "Activate Transcoding" box and under profile select "Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4)" (I've tried other profile options to no benefit)
Click on the options wrench
In the profile edition window under the encapsulation tap, I keep the MP4/MOV radio button, selected by default
Under the Video codec, I do not change any default options, which are "Video" check. "Keep original video track" NOT checked. Encoding parameters, codec is H-264. Bitrate = not used, quality = not used, Frame Rate = same as source, custom options = blank; resolution tab: scale=Auto, frame size width=auto, height=auto; filters tab = nothing checked.
Under the Audeo codec tab, keep default: audio is checked, keep original audio track is checked

Under the subtitles tab, subtitles is checked and overlay subtitles on the video is checked, codec is grayed out

Click SAVE

Back to the Stream Output window, click NEXT

Miscellaneous options - stream all elementary options NOT checked

Generated stream output string =
Click "STREAM"

Wait for the VLC progress part to complete.

Open the newly created file. No subtitles.

If anyone could explain where I went wrong I would be grateful.

I have same problem. The tutorials say you need to click on Media, which is not shown on my version of VLC. Perhaps because I am using a Mac?

Did anyone find a solution for this?
Everything worked no problem on windows for me, but moving over to mac, the options were not the same. It feels like it is missing an option to upload the .srt file as well as the video file in the Convert/Stream options.

I suggest to burn srt document collectively with video document (hardcoding?). With Windows model,
File -> Convert/Stream -> Open Media -> I choose my video record -> Choose Profile -> H.264 + MP3 (MP4) -> Customize ->
and then, DO NOT tick "maintain the authentic video" on the video tab. You can tick "preserve the unique audio", and on the subtitle tab,
tick subtitle Overlay, forget about DVB whatever.
Then browse folders for vacation spot, and shop.

This works on Windows VLC.

Thank you, It worked. Just had to remember to NOT choose the keep original video track option. And when choosing file destination, use the Browser option and then rename the file as we please.

Hi all,

I have tried this to no end on a Macbook with the latest update to VLC player.

My .MOV file and .SRT file have the same name and I can play the .MOV to my heart's content in VLC reading the subtitles successfully.

What I need to do is export the video with the subtitles hardcoded onto it. Here's what I've tried:

No filters selected in preferences > File >> Convert/Stream >> Select .MOV file >> Customise... > MP4/MOV selected > Skip Video and Audio codec > Select subtitles, select overlay, select DVB >> Save as file
This creates a flipped video that doesn't show any visuals until about halfway and doesn't have subtitles

No filters selected in preferences > File >> Convert/Stream >> Select .MOV file >> Customise > MP4/MOV selected > Keep original video > Keep original audio > Select subtitles, select overlay, select DVB >> Save as file
Same result as above

No filters selected in preferences > File >> Convert/Stream >> Select .MOV file >> Customise > MP4/MOV selected > Skip video > Keep original audio > Select subtitles, select overlay, DON'T select from dropdown DVB thing >> Save as file
Same result as above

No filters selected in preferences > File >> Convert/Stream >> Select .MOV file >> Customise > MP4/MOV selected > Skip video and audio > Select subtitles, select overlay, SKIP DVB dropdown >> Save as file
Same result as above

What am I missing here?!?

Some 3 years back , thanks to postings in VideoLan forum, could succeed in windows, through 1) In addition in vlc setting preferences, after resetting to original setting, display subtitle, subtitle utf-8 video codec ffmpeg strict standard compliance minus 2, 2) convert/save , input mkv with audio file then add on file subtitle .ass , settings for video- to display stream, configuration h264+ mp3, Video codec- NOT selecting original, no entry for bit rate and frame rate, quality 25, 640px 360px , Audio- original audio, Subttile- yes, overlay subtitle dvb, for output mp4, browse and give file name and location - this worked.
in Mac trying for the last 2 years 1) through advance open where mkv with audio and additional file for subtitle .ass file can b e input OR 2) through convert/ stream having no provision to input two files. placing subtitle file included in mkv and /or lacing subtitle file in preferences -add subtitle, so far nothing worked. video codec has no setting to avoid frame rate and bit rate and to input quality. Quality put in preferences changing from reset setting Q 23 to 25. No success so far.
As solution using handbrake with mkv having audio and srt subtitle to make mp4 OR using Mac screen record to record playing mkv audio plus ass or srt on VLC . Screen record comes as .MOV which gets easily converted to mp4 in iMovie.

Some 3 years back , thanks to postings in VideoLan forum, could succeed in windows, through 1) In addition in vlc setting preferences, after resetting to original setting, display subtitle, subtitle utf-8 video codec ffmpeg strict standard compliance minus 2, 2) convert/save , input mkv with audio file then add on file subtitle .ass , settings for video- to display stream, configuration h264+ mp3, Video codec- NOT selecting original, no entry for bit rate and frame rate, quality 25, 640px 360px , Audio- original audio, Subttile- yes, overlay subtitle dvb, for output mp4, browse and give file name and location - this worked.
in Mac trying for the last 2 years 1) through advance open where mkv with audio and additional file for subtitle .ass file can b e input OR 2) through convert/ stream having no provision to input two files. placing subtitle file included in mkv and /or lacing subtitle file in preferences -add subtitle, so far nothing worked. video codec has no setting to avoid frame rate and bit rate and to input quality. Quality put in preferences changing from reset setting Q 23 to 25. No success so far.
As solution using handbrake with mkv having audio and srt subtitle to make mp4 OR using Mac screen record to record playing mkv audio plus ass or srt on VLC . Screen record comes as .MOV which gets easily converted to mp4 in iMovie.

noticed in Mac, that to record mkv play of video audio subtitle on vlc and get mp4 hard coded video, it is enough to select through vlc top menu Play Back, in the drop down menu Record. The recorded mp4 is stored in movies folder of Mac. No need to use Quick Time - Sound flower screen recording, get mov and then mp4

Nothing is working for me (sad-palm-face!). iOS (High Sierra 10.13.6); VLC version (VLC 3.0.16); First time here!
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Same issue - if someone can give more clear instructions, I will be indebted to you!! I have MP4 file and SRT file (with same name). I can play on my iMac fine (i.e., video showing subtitles). I am trying to hardcode subtitles in MP4 file and save it as either AVI or MP4 or MKV - doesn't matter! Happy to donate as well as I find VLC to be fairly useful and easy to use software. I downloaded MP4 file and SRT file from different sources.
Tried all of the above mentioned options.. PLEASE HELP!! I speak English and my partner's English is not so strong so I have to embed subtitles in every movie.

I am also new here and facing the same issue. The reason I downloaded VLC was because I thought I could add subtitles to a video. I've managed to do that onscreen but can't find a way to export or record it. Not sure what I'm missing.

Is that function not possible?

—R

I've tried to do some debugging by running the VLC binary in verbose mode: This opens up the VLC UI interface and allows me to see what's going on in the background since all the output is shown in the terminal.

The bug that prevents hardcoding subtitles on Mac is related to the container format (MPEG 1, MPEG 4, MPEG TS, etc.). Out of all the available container formats, only MPEG TS hardcodes the subtitles. For some reason, all other formats result in an error like the following:

[00007faf7638e320] main stream output debug: adding a new sout input for `subt` (sout_input: 0x7faf72bc0eb0)
[00007faf77393460] stream_out_transcode stream out debug: not transcoding a stream (fcc=`subt')
[00007faf773ab720] main mux error: cannot add a new stream (unsupported while muxing to this format). You can try increasing sout-mux-caching value
[00007faf7638e320] main stream output warning: new sout input failed (sout_input: 0x7faf72bc0eb0)
[00007faf763a4ee0] main decoder error: cannot create packetizer output (subt)

which is why the subtitles don't get hardcoded.

I don't know how to fix this, but it's a step in the right direction.

As stated before in windows preferences setting video codec ffmpeg strict standard compliance minus 2 , subtitle UTF-8 and then save / convert with input files mkv with ass (subtitle file) as well as additional same ass (subtitle file) convert save , display (select) MOV MP4 video h264 original frame rate original bit rate quality 25 resolution 640 x 360 original audio subtitle dvb overlay SAVE then output file lication and name - works well
For MAC again mkv (separate program from mkv toolnix) is necessarily needed to be used. After MP4 file OR other format video file with audio is added to subtitle filt in MKV container as mkv file , the mkv file is played in VLC of Mac and screen recorded using Quicktime player and Sound flower interface (SF 2CH input and SF 2CH output in Mac sound preference setting) Recorded .MOV file could be uploaded to youtube with high resolution. MOV can be used in iMovie to make high resolution MP4.
Free mp4 converter available in App store also converts mkv to mp4 with embedded subtitle (use VLC to check embedded playing and not QT - QT needs display setting) Resoltion is low only SD if free version is used.

Hi, were you ever able to find a solution?

" cannot add a new stream (unsupported while muxing to this format)."
That's pretty self explanatory. You can't add subtitles in a non stream format after it started.
That means your first subtitle must arrive before the sout-mux-caching value.

Every tutorial that I've found online for hardcoding subtitles on VLC use the 'Media' tab. I understand that that's Windows terminology and that it is 'File' on the Mac OS. However, there is no dedicated 'Stream' option under 'File'. There is only 'Stream/Convert' and when I click on that, the interface is entirely different from what I see in most of the tutorials. There is no '+' and no place where i can add a subtitle file.

I'm using Version 3.0.16 Vetinari (Intel 64 bit) on a Macbook Pro 2020. I just updated VLC to this version.

Can someone help me?

I've tried to do some debugging by running the VLC binary in verbose mode:

Code: Select all

/Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC --verbose=2

This opens up the VLC UI interface and allows me to see what's going on in the background since all the output is shown in the terminal.

The bug that prevents hardcoding subtitles on Mac is related to the container format (MPEG 1, MPEG 4, MPEG TS, etc.). Out of all the available container formats, only MPEG TS hardcodes the subtitles. For some reason, all other formats result in an error like the following: ~snip~

Thank you so much! I tried everything, and nothing worked until I used the container format of MPEG TS.

If it helps someone, these are the exact steps I used: From File, I chose Convert/Stream. I used Open media... to pick the file I wanted, then on the next line I clicked on Customize. In the Encapsulation tab, I chose the actual format I wanted (MKV). In the Video codec tab, my "Keep original video track" box was already unchecked... but others have made mention of it needing to be unchecked, so I'm making note of it. In the Subtitles tab I checked "Subtitle overlay" and picked "DVB subtitle" to the right. (The other option "T.140" didn't work.) I also checked "Overlay subtitles on the video". I hit "Apply", then chose a destination and name and hit Save. After just a few seconds, I stopped it. (This was only to get the settings saved. This file didn't keep the subtitles.)

I then went back into Convert/Stream, clicked Customize, and this time in the Encapsulation tab I chose MPEG TS. I hit "Apply", told it to overwrite the first file, and hit stop as soon as it got to the point where I wanted to stop. (I only needed a snippet, not the whole file.)

Noteworthy for anyone who wants to debug: I wanted to save it in the MKV format, so that was what it was set to before I tried MPEG TS. Despite MPEG TS being the selection, it properly saved in the MKV format with subtitles (not that I'm complaining, since that was the format I wanted).