Subtitles

All you have to do is give your subtitle files the same filename as your movie file. The part of the filename up to the first dot must be identical. If you do that, the subtitles will automatically be detected and displayed.

For example:
This is some cool movie (CD1).avi
This is some cool movie (CD1).srt

The following is also allowed:
This is some cool movie (CD1).English.srt
This is some cool movie (CD1).German.srt

Common subtitle file formats are: srt, idx/sub, idx/rar, smi, ssa, sub

Right-click on the white Haali Media Splitter icon in the system tray (right-bottom of your screen). There you can select the subtitle that should be displayed.

If a subtitle is selected, but still not being displayed in Windows Media Player, then try enabling the option "Autoload VSFilter" in Haali Media Splitter. You can do that here: Start > Programs > K-Lite Codec Pack > Configuration > Haali Media Splitter > Options > Compatibility.

You should see a green arrow shaped icon in your system tray (right-bottom of your screen). That is DirectVobSub. Right-click on that icon to enable or disable the subtitles.

If you don't see the green arrow icon, then you are probably using the internal subtitle renderer of Media Player Classic. You can enable/disable the subtitles through the menu of the player: Play -> Subtitles.

Go to DirectVobSub configuration. On the tab 'Misc', enable 'Hide subtitles'.

For subtitles that are embedded in the file, you can select the desired one by right-clicking on the Haali Media Splitter icon. That is a white icon in your system tray (located in the right-bottom of your screen).

For external subtitle files, you can select the desired subtitle by right-clicking on the DirectVobSub icon. That is a green arrow shaped icon in your system tray.

If you are using the internal subtitle filter of Media Player Classic instead of DirectVobSub, then you can select the subtitle in the player menu: Play -> Subtitles.

You should see a white icon in your system tray (right-bottom of your screen). That is Haali Media Splitter. Right-click on that icon to switch between the available subtitles that are embedded in the file.

A solution for this problem is to use an older version of DirectVobSub. You need to install version 2.33 (only included in Mega pack).

Alternatively you can disable the DirectVobSub filter and use the internal subtitle filter in ffdshow video decoder instead.

Yes, that is possible!

Subtitles are normally placed on top of the video. Placing the subtitles below the video is possible by enlarging the video frame. This is done by adding black bars to the top and bottom of the video. These black bars will be visible when the video is not in fullscreen. They are different from black bars that are only visible during fullscreen playback. Those are not part of the video frame and thus can not be used to put the subtitles onto.

So two steps need to be taken: (1) enlarge the video frame, and (2) move the subtitles down a bit. Step 1 is the most important, step 2 is often not even needed.

Below you will find instructions for configuring DirectVobSub and ffdshow. You only need to configure the filter that is responsible for displaying the subtitles. Usually that will be DirectVobSub, unless you explicitly configured ffdshow to handle the subtitles. If you are using the internal subtitle filter of Media Player Classic, then the appropriate settings can be found further down below.

DirectVobSub

(1) DirectVobSub options -> General -> Vertical Padding -> Extend to 16:9
(2) DirectVobSub options -> Main -> Override placement

ffdshow

(1) ffdshow video decoder configuration -> 'Subtitle' page -> Enable 'Letterbox' with value 16:9
(2) ffdshow video decoder configuration -> 'Subtitle' page -> Vertical Position

Values that you should use

Extend and Letterbox 16:9 means that the video height will be enlarged so that the ratio of the video width/height becomes 16/9. A different ratio may be more optimal depending on your monitor/tv. Some indications:
Monitor with screen resolution 1600x1280, 1280x1024, 1280x800 -> use 16:9
Monitor with screen resolution 1600x1200, 1024x768, 800x600 -> use 4:3
HDTV -> use 16:9
PAL TV -> use extend to 576 lines
NTSC TV -> use extend to 480 lines

Both filters have a default vertical position of 90%. To move the subtitles further down, increase this percentage with a few %. Don't make it too big, otherwise the bottom part of the subtitles may fall outside of the visible video area.

Media Player Classic internal subtitle renderer

The internal subtitle renderer of MPC works differently from the other subtitle filters. Instead of merging the subtitle image with the video before it gets send to the video renderer, it sends the subtitle image to the video renderer separately from the video. The video renderer is then responsible for merging it with the video. The disadvantage of this method is that it only works with certain video renderers. The advantage is that the subtitles can be placed anywhere on the visible screen. There is no need to enlarge the video frame.

Subtitle placement options can be found here:
MPC Options -> Subtitles -> "Override placement"
MPC Options -> Subtitles -> Default Style -> "Screen Alignment & margins"

To enable the internal subtitle filter and select a compatible video renderer:
MPC Options -> Playback -> enable "auto-load subtitles"
MPC Options -> Playback -> Output -> DirectShow video

Disable the option "Pre-buffer subpictures" in DirectVobSub. This uses a little more CPU power, but karaoke subtitles are displayed correctly.

If you are using the internal subtitle render of Media Player Classic, then a similar option can be found in: MPC Options -> Subtitles.

Enable the option "Auto-load VSFilter" in Haali Media Splitter options.

On Windows 7, both Windows Media Player and Media Center make use of the Media Foundation framework instead of DirectShow for playing certain file types. As a result, DirectShow subtitle filters like DirectVobSub are not used. Media Foundation lacks native support for many common subtitle formats.

Media Foundation is used for the following file types: AVI, WMV, MP4, MOV, 3GP, M2TS.

In case of AVI files, subtitles will be displayed if DirectVobSub is installed. Media Foundation has a special workaround to make that possible.

For the other file formats mentioned above you need to disable Media Foundation in order to be able to get subtitles. You can do that with the Win7DSFilterTweaker tool that is included with the codec pack.

Two solutions:

1. Make DirectVobSub a preferred filter:
   MPC Options -> External Filter -> click "Add Filter..." -> select "DirectVobSub (auto-loading version)" and click OK -> choose "Prefer"
2. Enable the internal subtitle filter:
   MPC Options -> Playback -> enable "Auto-load subtitles"

Solution 2 is required if you want to use DXVA hardware accelerated video decoders.

They are largely based on the same code, so they have similar abilities. The main difference between the two is how the subtitles are merged with the video.

DirectVobSub merges the subtitle image with a video frame before that video frame gets send to the video renderer. The advantage of this method is that it works with all video renderers.

The internal subtitle filter of MPC sends the subtitle image to the video renderer separately from the video. The video renderer is responsible for merging them together. The advantage of this method is that it is compatible with DXVA video decoders. That are video decoders that use your graphics card to assist in the decoding process. Such decoders need a direct connection to the video renderer, meaning that intermediate filters such as DirectVobSub can not be used. A disadvantage of the internal subtitle filter of MPC is that it only works with certain video renderers.

When the internal subtitle filter of MPC is enabled it will automatically prevent DirectVobSub from being used. That way you won't get double subtitles.

This is the fault of Windows Media Player. In certain situations it prevents intermediate filters (such as DirectVobSub) from loading.

An alternative method for displaying the subtitles is to activate the internal subtitle filter in ffdshow. You can enable/disable subtitles through the red ffdshow video decoder icon in your system tray.

If you always want to use ffdshow for the subtitles, then don't forget to disable DirectVobSub with the Codec Tweak Tool. Otherwise you might get double subtitles in some situations.

Make sure you have enabled the DVD subtitles. You can enable the subtitles through the "Navigate" menu in MPC. There you can also select the subtitles language.

If no subtitles are displayed, even when you have enabled them, then try the following solutions:

• Disable DXVA hardware acceleration in the Cyberlink MPEG-2 Decoder. You can do that with the Codec Tweak Tool.
• Enable the internal MPEG-2 decoder in MPC. You can do that in MPC Options -> Internal Filters.

This problem can be solved by disabling subpicture buffering. This problem does not occur on older versions of Windows.

MPC Options -> Subtitles -> set "Number of subpictures to buffer ahead:" to 0.

The only negative effect of changing this setting is a slight increase in CPU usage.

There are three ways to display subtitles using the components that are available in the codec pack. By default either DirectVobSub or the internal subtitle renderer of Media Player Classic is used.

DirectVobSub

This dedicated subtitle filter works with all players.

ffdshow video decoder

ffdshow has an option for displaying subtitles. If enabled, then by default it will only be active whenever ffdshow is used to decode the video. If you also want to use it together with a different video decoder, then you need to enable "Raw video" in ffdshow.

Internal subtitle renderer of Media Player Classic

This subtitle renderer has the advantage that it is compatible with DXVA hardware acceleration.

You should see a green arrow shaped icon in your system tray when DirectVobSub is active. The system tray is located in the right bottom corner of your screen.

Media Player Classic can show you which filters are being used during playback. Right-click on the video and select Filters. You should see DirectVobSub in the displayed filter list when it is active.

MPC Options -> Playback -> enable "Auto-load subtitles".

You also need to select a compatible video renderer. Compatible ones are: VMR-7 (renderless), VMR-9 (renderless), Haali video renderer, and EVR Custom Presenter.

MPC Options -> Playback -> Output -> DirectShow video.

When the internal subtitle renderer is active, it will automatically prevent DirectVobSub from being used. So you do not need to uninstall or disable DirectVobSub.

It is only possible to adjust the font and color of text based subtitles. Subtitles that are based on images, such as idx/sub, can not be modified.

Instructions can be found below for each of the subtitle display methods that is supported by the codec pack.

DirectVobSub

DirectVobSub configuration -> Main tab -> Text Settings -> click on "Arial". There you can choose the font, colors, and font size.

ffdshow video decoder

ffdshow video decoder configuration -> Subtitles -> Font. There you can choose the font, colors, and font size.

ffdshow video decoder configuration -> Subtitles -> VobSub. There you can adjust the size (scaling) of image based subtitles.

Internal subtitle renderer of Media Player Classic

MPC Options -> Subtitles -> Default Style. There you can choose the font, colors, and font size.

MPC-HC works with a delay interval (default: 500ms). Press F1 to substract this interval from the current delay. Press F2 to add this interval to the current delay.

For example, press F1 twice for a delay of -1000 milliseconds. Press F2 three times for a delay of +1500 milliseconds.

The delay interval can be adjusted here: MPC Options -> Subtitles -> Delay interval.

If you want to use a specific delay value, then you could use set that value as the delay interval (as a positive value!). After that you will only need to press F1 or F2 once to activate the delay.

Yes, that is possible by increasing the resolution of the texture upon which the subtitles are rendered. This will however result in a small increase in CPU usage.

DirectVobSub

DirectVobSub configuration -> general tab -> adjust the "Resolution" setting

Internal subtitle renderer of Media Player Classic

MPC Options -> Subtitles -> adjust "Maximum texture resolution"

Those options are only available when using the internal subtitle renderer of Media Player Classic. They are disabled when using an external subtitle filter, such as DirectVobSub.