Extract Subtitles From MKV Files

extract_subtitles_from_MKV_files.sh

#!/bin/bash

# /**
#  * @version    1.0
#  * @name       Extract Subtitles From MKV Files
#  * @author     Fotis Evangelou
#  * @date       March 2023
#  * @license    WTFPL (http://www.wtfpl.net)
#  */

# USAGE
# - Download this script and place it in a folder that directly lists MKV files
# - Make it executable: $ chmod +x extract_subtitles_from_MKV_files.sh
# - Ensure mkvtoolnix is installed on your system
#   (e.g. run "apt install mkvtoolnix" on Debian based OSes or "brew install mkvtoolnix" on macOS etc.)
# - Simply execute the script: $ ./extract_subtitles_from_MKV_files.sh

# TO DO
# - Execute rescursive search for MKV files and in a case-insensitive way
# - Pass directory path as option in script
# - Bake support for "HDMV PGS", "ASS" or other subtitle types by utilizing FFMPEG

# One liner version - for direct use on the terminal
# for F in *.mkv; do MKV=$(echo $F | sed -e "s/\.mkv$//"); SUBS=$(mkvmerge -i "$MKV.mkv" | grep "SubRip/SRT" | cut -d ' ' -f3 | tr -d ':'); for SUB in $SUBS; do mkvextract tracks "$F" $SUB:"${MKV}_$SUB.srt"; done; done

# This was created in response to another Gist that returned high in search results for "Extract Subtitles From MKV Files":
# https://gist.github.com/kampfgnu/bb7be04b624ed5ddf65d6e7c54f9ce2e

# Expanded version - for use in this script
for F in *.mkv; do
    # Get the file name without its extension
    MKV=$(echo $F | sed -e "s/\.mkv$//")

    # Create array of subtitle track IDs that match the type "SubRip/SRT"
    SUBS=$(mkvmerge -i "$MKV.mkv" | grep "SubRip/SRT" | cut -d ' ' -f3 | tr -d ':')

    # Extract subtitles for each MKV file
    echo "Extracting SubRip/SRT subtitles from $F..."
    for SUB in $SUBS; do
        echo "- Extractive subtitle track ID $SUB..."
        mkvextract tracks "$F" $SUB:"${MKV}_$SUB.srt"
        echo "...done"
        echo ""
    done
done

exit 0