DVD players remember audio and subtitle track selections. Once a viewer specifies an audio track (using a menu or the remote control), the player plays that same track for all timelines in the program. If a timeline does not contain the specified track, the player defaults to the Audio 1 or Subtitle 1 track for the rest of the project, even if subsequent timelines contain the originally specified track.

The player references tracks by number, not by the language settings. If you have more than one timeline, each with several audio or subtitle tracks (such as language voiceovers or subtitles), use the same track for related audio or subtitles throughout the project. For example, place all Spanish subtitles on the same numbered subtitle track in each timeline, and place all director’s comments on the same numbered audio track.

When a DVD project includes audio tracks, subtitle tracks, or both, it is important to set the default tracks for the disc and to give the viewer a way to select the tracks. You do this by setting the Disc properties for default tracks. The DVD player will play these tracks throughout the program unless the viewer changes the selection. (See Keeping track of tracks.)

1. To make the Disc properties appear in the Properties panel, do one of the following:

   • Click in a blank area in the Project panel (such as the lower-left edge of the panel).

   • Activate the Build panel by clicking its tab. When the Build panel is active, the Properties panel contains the Disc properties.

     Note: If the Build panel is not open, you can open it by choosing Window > Build.

2. In the Properties panel, do one or both of the following:

   • If your project includes audio tracks, choose the track you want as the default from the Set Audio pop‑up menu.

   • If your project includes subtitle tracks, choose the track you want as the default from the Set Subtitle pop‑up menu.

The default setting for Set Audio and Set Subtitle is No Change, which leaves the audio track as set in the DVD player. For example, if a viewer has a DVD player set to French, and a DVD has a track identified as French, the DVD player chooses the French track automatically if No Change is selected.

While most remote controls have a button to select the audio and subtitle tracks, it is best to create a menu that includes options specific to your project. If you are using these tracks for material that is not language specific (such as to provide captions, lyrics, hints, or different perspectives), a menu can provide the viewer with buttons for the appropriate choices. A menu can also show the viewer the currently active audio or subtitle track.

Linking menu items to audio and subtitle tracks

Audio and subtitle selection is a button property that you set along with the button’s destination link. After the viewer activates the button, the track setting remains in effect for all subsequently viewed timelines, unless reset by the viewer or specifically reset by a link control (such as End Action or Override).

You can set the audio or subtitle track with any link control in the Properties panel. For example, if you want the subtitle track selection to apply only to the destination timeline, you can set it either to off (subtitle tracks only) or back to a specific track using the button’s Override property. When the timeline ends, the override setting resets the track.

1. In the Menus panel, select the desired menu or double-click the menu to open it in the Menu Viewer.

2. Select a button to set the audio track, subtitle track, or both.

3. In the Properties panel, choose Specify Link from the Link pop‑up menu.

4. Select the desired menu or timeline for the destination of the link.

5. Do any of the following to set the track for the destination you specified:

   • If you want this button to change the audio track setting, select a track number from the Audio pop‑up menu.

   • If you want this button to change the subtitle track setting, select a track number from the Subtitle pop‑up menu.

6. Click OK.

To preview the links to the subtitle and audio tracks, choose File > Preview, and then test the links. (See Preview a project.)

You can indicate to the viewer which audio or subtitle track is currently active when a menu is displayed. For example, if a viewer uses a menu to turn on French subtitles, watches the DVD, and then returns to the menu with subtitle options, the French subtitle option is selected, even if it wasn’t the default.

1. In the Project panel, select a menu that acts as a setup menu for the audio or subtitle tracks.

2. In the Properties panel, choose Active Audio Track or Active Subtitle Track from the Default Button menu.