DVD Audio and subtitle streams

flashlight wrote on 11/4/2002, 10:52 AM
This is kind of a Vegas question and a DVD authoring software question at the same time.

I work for a foreign language translation agency and we do multiple language versions of corporate videos. (Thanks for the help on the subtitle thread!!!) We usually do 5 or 6 languages for each video. The cost to the client gets to be considerable when they have to make beta masters for each languages and then make VHS copys to send throughout the world.

I recently read that DVD can handle up to 9 different audio streams and 22 different subtitle streams. I was thinking that it would be cool to put all the different languages on one DVD rather than all that tape. Have one video stream, allow the viewer to pick their language at the menu stage and then the viewer would see the video while hearing the audio stream of their language. Also, these video's have boring graphics that contain translatable text. Would it be possible to have the graphics on a subtitle stream and not embedded in the main video stream.

So...Question 1 is non Vegas related. What DVD authoring software can do this? I have checked some middle of the road ones and they claim they cannot do this.

Question 2 is Vegas related. How do I need to render the subtitle streams so the graphic will lay over the top of the video?

I read an article that this is possible, of course they did not explain how they did it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Al

Comments

jgourd wrote on 11/4/2002, 11:08 AM
DVD Junior can handle multiple MPEG audio streams. It is $99. The bigger brother version has fewer limitations and you may need to use that one. It even knows how to make a "Sound Setup" menu item.
kkolbo wrote on 11/4/2002, 12:10 PM
ReelDVD from Sonic Solutions is probably your best bet. It will handle the subtitles, multiple audio streams etc. The directions of how to do all of that are a part of the ReelDVD package.

K
vonhosen wrote on 11/4/2002, 1:39 PM
Pinnacle Impression DVD Pro, will allow 2 video , 8 audio tracks & 32 subtitle tracks. It's about a third of the price of ReelDVD but I must warn you that doing subtitles with it is torturious.

It allow .wav , mpeg & AC-3 audio including 5.1 support (no AC-3 encoder built in though - can't wait for Acid Pro's promised plug-in encoder)

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage.asp?Product_ID=464&Langue_ID=2
flashlight wrote on 11/4/2002, 4:21 PM
Thanks!

The $99 version of Junior says it will handle 8 audio streams but no Subtitles. For that you must purchase the $500 version. ReelDVD is $1,000.

I am going to download the trial versions and test it out. I have a feeling I will have more questions on the subtitle streams.

Thanks,
Al