Removing a countdown timer from a film

[Unbr4ke]

I have successfully made an m4v file of a VIDEO_TS film - a TV programme from the 19160s - that wouldn't play on my Mac, but would play on PC and DVD player on TV. Unfortunately, the film contains a countdown timer running across the top. Not a huge deal, but irritating. Is there any way of getting rid of this?

[Woodstock]

If it's burned into the video, no.

If it's a subtitle, perhaps.

[Unbr4ke]

How can I tell if it's burned in?

[Deleted User 11865]

Well, a scan log would help for a start. See the red banner for instructions.

[Unbr4ke]

I'm not sure I understood what the red banner said, but here's what the Activity Log says. (I couldn't see how to get Pastebin to give me a URL.)

[14:45:53] macgui: Handbrake Version: 0.10.2 x86_64 (2015061100)
[14:45:53] hb_init: starting libhb thread
[14:45:53] hb_init: starting libhb thread
[14:46:04] macgui: hbInstances path to this instance: /Applications/HandBrake.app
[14:46:04] macgui: hbInstance found instance pidnum: 821 at path: /Applications/HandBrake.app
[14:46:04] macgui: hbInstance MATCH FOUND, our pidnum is: 821
[14:46:04] macgui: Pid for this instance: 821
[14:46:04] macgui: HBQueueController : My Pidnum is 821
[14:46:05] macgui: Queue reloaded

[mduell]

You have to actually open the source file.

[Unbr4ke]

What source file, mduell? How do I do that? (I thought I'd followed the instructions on the red banner.)

[Unbr4ke]

Ah, got it, I think - http://pastebin.com/Gp382e1k (I've replaced my name with xx in the log.)

[Woodstock]

[12:23:46] * source
[12:23:46] + /Users/xx/Desktop/SONY_RECORDER
[12:23:46] + title 1, chapter(s) 1 to 3
[12:23:46] * destination
[12:23:46] + /Users/xx/Desktop/SONY_RECORDER.m4v
[12:23:46] + container: MPEG-4 (libavformat)
[12:23:46] + chapter markers
[12:23:46] * video track
[12:23:46] + decoder: mpeg2video
[12:23:46] + bitrate 9396 kbps
[12:23:46] + filters
[12:23:46] + Framerate Shaper (0:27000000:1080000)
[12:23:46] + frame rate: same as source (around 25.000 fps)
[12:23:46] + Crop and Scale (692:574:0:2:20:8)
[12:23:46] + source: 720 * 576, crop (0/2/20/8): 692 * 574, scale: 692 * 574
[12:23:46] + loose anamorphic
[12:23:46] + storage dimensions: 692 * 574, mod 2
[12:23:46] + pixel aspect ratio: 16 / 15
[12:23:46] + display dimensions: 738 * 574
[12:23:46] + encoder: H.264 (libx264)
[12:23:46] + preset: veryfast
[12:23:46] + profile: main
[12:23:46] + level: 4.0
[12:23:46] + quality: 20.00 (RF)
[12:23:46] * audio track 1
[12:23:46] + decoder: Unknown (AC3) (2.0 ch) (track 1, id 0x80bd)
[12:23:46] + bitrate: 256 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[12:23:46] + mixdown: Stereo
[12:23:46] + encoder: AAC (Apple AudioToolbox)
[12:23:46] + bitrate: 160 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz

There doesn't appear to be any separate track to remove to get rid of the timer. The only option I see would be to use a manual crop to remove the section with the timer from the video.

[Unbr4ke]

Thanks very much. That's a pity. I'll leave it as it is.