Subtitles are essential for various media. They enable people to understand and consume content in different languages regardless of the original content language. That’s why subtitle converters are crucial. Subtitle conversion is one of the essential processes in this workflow.
Let’s discuss subtitle converters, the methods available for conversion, their importance, and steps to other beneficial subtitle workflows.
In this article
What Are Subtitle Converters?
Subtitle converters are tools—available as online platforms, desktop software, mobile apps, or browser extensions—that transform subtitle files from one format to another. Common subtitle formats include SRT, ASS, VTT, SSA, TXT, and SUB.
Converting subtitles is often necessary to ensure compatibility across different platforms, devices, or media players. The process is generally straightforward: users simply upload the file they want to convert, select the desired output format, and initiate the conversion. Most subtitle converters complete the task within seconds, depending on the file size and format.
In summary, subtitle converters streamline the process of managing subtitle files, making it easier for users to ensure their subtitles work seamlessly across various media.
How They Work and Top Features
After feeding a subtitle converter a conversion file, the next step is parsing. The software reads all the information from the original file, including timecodes, extracts subtitle text, and preserves the format if needed. Then, it converts the input file into a new format.
These tools rely on various technologies, such as text parsing, regular expressions, character encoding technologies, time synchronization algorithms, timestamp handling libraries, etc.
Subtitle converters have many features that improve their converting capabilities. Here are the most notable:
- Multi-format conversion – Subtitle converters can work with many formats, including SRT, TXT, SUB, SSA, ASS, and VTT.
- Batch conversion – Subtitle converters can convert multiple files simultaneously. They also support automation, allowing users to set up conversion workflows.
- Character encoding conversion – Subtitle converters can also convert different character encodings, such as ISO-8859, ANSI, and UTF-8. While converting files, these tools can also preserve all characters.
- Subtitle editing – Many subtitle converters allow you to edit the text of the subtitles or their timecodes. Some even let you preview the subtitles to see how they will look after the conversion.
- Custom formatting – When users convert from advanced formats like SSA/ASS, these converters retain the formatting. The tools simplify formatting to maintain readability when the output format doesn’t support advanced formatting. Some converters also let you change text attributes, positioning, and font size.
- Multi-language conversion – Subtitle converters can convert titles depending on their languages and characters, allowing you to reach broader audiences and adjust content for different countries.
How to Convert Subtitles Online
The following steps will show you how to convert subtitles online. We picked the Happy Scribe online subtitle converter as an example. It supports SRT and VTT subtitle formats. Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Go to the official Happy Scribe Subtitle Converter page and click Select File to find the subtitle file on your device.
Step 2: Click Choose Format under the output format options and select one (SRT, VTT, DOCX, TXT, or PDF).
Step 3: When ready, click Convert Subtitles.
Step 4: Wait until the process is complete. When the file is ready, click the option to download the file to your device.
As you can see, online subtitle converters are pretty straightforward. You only have to go through a few steps to convert your subtitle files. Anyone can use them, and the process is quick. On top of that, they are entirely free, and you don’t have to worry about hidden costs or limited use.
The Limitations of Online Subtitle Converters
Even though online subtitle converters are accessible, quick, and convenient, they have specific limitations that make them inferior to professional desktop software. Here are some of them:
- Limited format support – Most online subtitle converters support the most popular file formats, including VTT and SRT. However, they often don’t work with specialized formats like STL, SUB, or ASS.
- Limited file size – Online subtitle converters often limit you to specific file input and output sizes. That makes them less effective for converting sizable subtitle files for long movies or documentaries.
- No advanced editing – Most online subtitle converters only offer conversions and don’t include advanced editing options like splitting, merging, fine-tuning, or font customizations. They also rarely allow you to synchronize subtitles and change timestamps.
- Dependance on a stable internet connection – You can’t use online subtitle converters offline, which can be a limiting factor although not a deal-breaker.
- Seamless conversion of subtitles with perfect content accuracy.
- Vast video/audio effects and creative assets.
- Powerful AI for effortless content creation.
- Intuitive, professional yet beginner-friendly.
- Works on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Bonus: How to Use a Desktop Subtitle Converter
Converting subtitles into various formats is crucial for video creators to ensure subtitles display correctly across different platforms and meet the diverse needs of target audiences. Content creators and translators benefit from subtitle converters that allow them to quickly adapt subtitles to different formats, catering to specific client requirements or publishing platforms.
In cases where subtitles need to be created from scratch, sophisticated software like Wondershare Filmora becomes essential. Filmora's powerful speech-to-text capability, powered by advanced AI, helps transcribe audio/video efficiently and generate accurate subtitles that are perfectly synced with the video. This subtitle converter not only simplifies the creation process but also ensures high-quality, synchronized subtitle output.
Speech to Text Tutorial
How to Create Subtitles Automatically
Filmora has a cutting-edge AI speech-to-text functionality that analyzes your video content and automatically turns all speech into subtitles. It automatically generates subtitles with excellent accuracy. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Download and install Filmora. Launch the program and click New Project in the opening window.
Step 2: After adding your video to Filmora, drag it onto the timeline. Select the video on your timeline and go to Tools > Audio > Speech-to-Text.
Step 3: Specify the language of the video you want to transcribe. You can also choose the language to translate the speech. Filmora lets you save the subtitles as SRT or TXT files. Tick the Auto-match checkbox to ensure the subtitles match the video. When ready, click Generate.
Step 4: Wait until you see the Completed message under Status.
How to Add Subtitles to Videos
Filmora also lets you hardcode subtitles to video files. That means you can permanently add subtitles to videos to ensure your audiences can always access subtitles. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Launch Filmora and click New Project.
Step 2: Click Import and select your video. Repeat the step to choose the SRT file you want to use.
Step 3: Drag and drop the video and subtitles onto the timeline. Ensure the subtitle track is above the video track.
Step 4: Click Export, select the output settings, and confirm.
How to Edit Subtitles in Filmora
Once you successfully generate or upload subtitles to Filmora, you can also use this software to edit them manually. Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Double-click the SRT file on the timeline.
Step 2: In the subtitle editor window, you can edit the subtitles’ position and size on the left preview screen. This window lets you add hyphens and bold subtitles, change subtitle alignment, etc (1).
Step 3: Look for the subtitle editing area to change time codes, edit text, split subtitles, or remove specific subtitle text (2).
Step 4: Browse subtitle presets, access additional customization options, or animate your subtitles above the subtitle editing section (3). When you’re done, click Save (4).
How to Use Subtitles in Filmora for Editing
Filmora has another fantastic feature—AI Text-Based Editing. It allows you to use subtitles for quick video editing. Once you generate subtitles for a video, you can modify the text, and the video will be changed according to your modifications. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Start Filmora and select AI Toolbox > AI Text-Based Editing.
Step 2: Filmora will automatically ask you to select a video. Once you do that, click Text-Based Editing, select the language in the clip, and click OK.
Step 3: Once Filmora transcribes the video, you will see a text editing window. You can remove parts of the video by deleting the corresponding text. You can also click Delete all silent clips to remove pauses. When done, click Export to Timeline.
Conclusion
Subtitle converters are helpful tools that can make your life easier. These tools rely on modern speech recognition technology for transcribing and syncing speech with videos using timestamps. They can caption YouTube videos, TV shows, movies, and webinars while improving engagement and accessibility.
Some advanced video editing tools like Filmora take conversion to the next level, allowing you to translate content, create multilingual subtitles, and use transcriptions to edit videos. With subtitle creation automation, you can save a lot of time and improve the quality of your work.
