I like the ability to turn subtitles ON or OFF when I’m viewing an MKV media title, but when I convert the MKV to an Optimized version (MP4) the subtitles are always ON with no way to turn them off (?). Is that the way optimized versions work? I can understand the benefit of playback for the smaller file size, but I would still like the option to turn subtitles ON/OFF.
I’m not sure with 100% certainty, but when you convert an MKV file with internal subs to an MP4 those subs are burned in and it may have something to do with an MP4 not being able to carry internal subs that can be switched on and off. At least that’s my guess. I have not seen internal subs for MP4 files - not to say it can’t happen, I just haven’t seen them.
I think most people handle this outside of Plex, extract those subs to an SRT file in UTF-8 and run them as sidecar subs that can be switched on an off and also display during direct play without the need for transcoding.
I did recently use MKVToolNix to extract an SRT file from an MKV Movie file that had about 10 lines of Spanish speaking (and I edited it to contain those 10 lines). I don’t speak Spanish and got the jist of the conversation, but the OCD in me required that action when I couldn’t find an appropriate forced sub file.
Internal subs in an mp4 are possible, they will show up in Plex Web as “TXG3” when you select them.They can also be turned on and off just like any other form of subtitle.
Another not 100% sure answer here… I make my own optimized version outside of Plex as mentioned above, but did try the built in feature a couple of times
I think the optimizer does it’s best to figure out what you want, based on your preferences for audio language and subtitles. Those prefs may trigger the transcoder to burn them in directly to the video, so there is no way to turn them off. So if your default is subtitles enabled, the subs will be burned in.
If the original MKV file has the audio language listed as “unknown” (a lot of material found on “alternate sources” often does) the above situation could be triggered as well. You can edit the language tags in MKV’s easily with MKVToolnix if that is the problem and give it another shot.
My OCD detests ‘unknown’ in any form.
During ‘pre-processing’ items before they hit the library they are deep cavity searched for contraband (metadata), removing same and dropping it in ‘the bucket’. Then they are turned into MP4 files and given a nice orange jump suit like the other prisoners. They then proceed to ‘the barber’ and sit in the chair while Xmedia Recode normalizes their audio tracks to 89db while giving all ‘unknowns’ an English tattoo. If subs have been gathered it’s at that time they are named; ‘File Name.eng.srt’ so they too will not have an ‘unknown’.
There’s a lot to be said for ‘pre-processing’ All prisoners get the same treatment so no one feels left out.
It depends on whether a subtitle has been selected/activated on the preplay page of the movie.
If subtitles are set to ‘disabled’ prior to the optimization, then no subtitle gets ‘burned in’.
@OttoKerner – This worked just fine. I maybe had this set wrong when I Optimized in the past. To be honest, I have seen this control on the preplay page but gave it no significance. I have Re-optimized as you suggest and it is working fine. TYVM!
@JuiceWSA said:
My OCD detests ‘unknown’ in any form.
I think you mean CDO. It is the same as OCD but the letters are in alphabetical order, as they should be.
