Subtitle Writing Formats
There are an enormous range of subtitle formats currently available for both online media and broadcast videos. For clients, choosing a suitable subtitle format for a video project can be overwhelming. With so many options available and so much online jargon around subtitles, making the decision can quickly progress from what feels like jumping a small hurdle, to climbing Mount Everest without a map.
Subtitle Writing Formats Explained in More Depth
At Capital Captions, we like to be transparent about our services and provide as much help and subtitle advice to our clients as possible. Different projects require different formats, styles and outputs, and choosing the wrong one can cost both time and money. We’re here to help you get it right first time, so here is an overview of the most widely used subtitle formats and what they mean.
Format |
General Information and Usage |
Example |
SRT(SubRip) |
Highly basic and easy to work with. Highly compatible with most subtitle creation packages and media players. Basic formatting with no styling options.
Great for online videos and social media use including YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Slideshare and more as well as with Media Player and most website video content. |
1 00:01:58,311 –> 00:01:59,703 Capital Captions provide subtitle services.200:01:59,738 –> 00:02:01,319 It’s important for us and our clients that we ensure the best possible subtitle format3 00:02:01,354 –> 00:02:05,494 for video subtitling projects.4 00:02:05,529 –> 00:02:07,942 Here is some information on some widely used formats within the video industry. |
WebVTT(Web Video Text Tracks)
|
Almost identical visual format to SRT subtitles, though styling is available in terms of rendering, text formatting and position. Needs UTF-8 encoding and is highly compatible with HTML5 websites. Brilliant for use with online videos and social media including Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Slideshare and more. Compatible with HTML5 cloud based media players and sites. |
00:01:58,311 –> 00:01:59,703 00:01:59,738 –> 00:02:01,319 00:02:01,354 –> 00:02:05,494 00:02:05,529 –> 00:02:07,942 |
STL(Spruce Subtitle File) |
This type of STL file is relatively basic to use but allows editing of subtitle settings and styles on a subtitle by subtitle basis rather than having to have one overall style. There is an option to add information as comments to the text which does not display onscreen.
Used with DVD Studio Pro. |
00:01:58:05 , 00:01:59:18 , Capital Captions provide subtitle services.
00:01:59:18 , 00:02:01:06 , It’s important for us and our clients that |we ensure the best possible subtitle format for video subtitling projects. 00:02:01:06 , 00:02:05:12 , for video subtitling projects. 00:02:05:12 , 00:02:10:11 , Here is some information on some widely | used formats within the video industry.
|
EBU STL(European Broadcasting Union Subtitles) |
Editable and highly formattable with the use of professional subtitling and closed captioning software.
For use by terrestrial channels, broadcasters satellite TV service providers, television services, video on demand and professional subtitle creation labs. |
Binary, in data exchange format. Not text based. |
SAMI(Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange) |
The format of SAMI subtitle files is similar to CSS or HTML. SAMI files can be styled and positioned.
Used with media players such as Windows Media Player and YouTube. |
.SUBTTL {Name: ‘Subtitles’; Lang: en-US; SAMIType: CC;} –> </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY><SYNC START=118311> <P CLASS=SUBTTL>Capital Captions provide subtitle services. <SYNC START=119703> <P CLASS=SUBTTL> <SYNC START=119738> <P CLASS=SUBTTL>It’s important for us and our clients that<br>we ensure the best possible subtitle format <SYNC START=121319> <P CLASS=SUBTTL> <SYNC START=121354> <P CLASS=SUBTTL>for video subtitling projects. |
SCC(Scenarist Closed Captions) |
SCC subtitles or closed captions are encoded into Line 21. They are highly customisable and are widely used for broadcast, web video, DVDs and BluRay. | 00:01:57:17 9420 94f2 9723 4361 70e9 f461 ec20 4361 70f4 e9ef 6e73 ae80 942c 8080 8080 942f
00:01:59:00 9420 94f2 9723 d375 62f4 e9f4 ece5 20d3 e5f2 76e9 e3e5 73ae 942c 8080 8080 942f 00:02:00:12 9420 94e0 97a1 4f6e ece9 6ee5 2076 e964 e5ef 7320 616e 6420 62f2 ef61 64e3 6173 f473 ae80 942c 8080 8080 942f 00:02:04:20 9420 94e0 9723 c8e5 f2e5 20e9 7320 73ef 6de5 20e9 6ee6 eff2 6d61 f4e9 ef6e ae80 942c 8080 8080 942f
|
XML(Timed Text) |
This is a timed text format which can include positioning instruction, formatting and styles.
It is very diverse as a format and can be used by broadcasters and online media players alike. |
<p begin=”00:01:58.050″ end=”00:01:59.180 “> Capital Captions provide <br/>subtitle services.
<p begin=”00:01:59.180 ” end=”00:02:01.060 “> It’s important for <br/>us and our clients that </p> <p begin=”00:02:01.180 ” end=”00:02:03.060 “> we ensure the best possible subtitle format <br/>for video subtitling projects. </p. |
Those are some of the commonly used subtitle formats, but there are countless others currently used both in online, broadcast, video on demand, cinema, television and more.
The process of formatting subtitles is highly complex. It takes skill, experience, training and a high degree of patience to produce well written, accurately timed subtitles and all of Capital Captions’ subtitle writers and formatters are thoroughly vetted before commencing any work with us.
If you require subtitle services, feel free to Get a Quote or contact us for more information at info@capitalcaptions.com
