Add subtitles to video

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There are two ways of adding subtitles into the video file - hardcoding/burn-in (cannot be turned off ever, so this might be a bad idea) or embedding (only for some formats like mkv, mp4).

To hardcode a subtitle, save your subtitle as "Sub Station Alpha" (.ssa) or "Advanced Sub Station Alpha" (.ass) format and then use Virtual Dub. You can also use AutoGK (avi only) or Total Video Converter. Read more here or here.

To embed subtitles into mkv files (can be srt/ssa/ass or blu-ray sup or vobsub) use mkvtoolnix or Handbrake.
To embed subtitles into mp4 files use Handbrake or a Mp4Box GUI like Yamb.

Below you can find a short description of how to add subtitle to video with these programs: MKVToolNix, Handbrake, FFmpeg, VirtualDub, Format Factory, and Sony Vegas Pro

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MKVToolNix 5.7 - Embedding of srt/ssa/ass/blu-ray-sup/dvd-vobsub subtitles in mkv files

Step 1: start mmg.exe
Step 2: Click the "add" button and choose the video file (input does not need to be matroska - but matroska files are processed very fast and video/audio will not be re-encoded)
Step 3: Click the "add" button and choose your subtitle - can be srt, ssa, ass, sup, or sub/idx
Step 4: Click the "Start muxing" button

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Handbrake 0.9.6 - Embedding of srt subtitles in mkv/mp4 files

Step 1: Go to the "Subtitle tab"
Step 2: Click on "Import SRT" and choose your srt file
Step 3: Click on the "Add" button (very important and easy to forget!)

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FFmpeg - Embedding or hardcoding (command line)

To add a SRT file as a soft embedded track open a command prompt and type:

ffmpeg -i infile.mp4 -i infile.srt -c:v copy -c:a copy -c:s mov_text outfile.mp4

To hardcode/burn-in use this command:

ffmpeg -i video.avi -vf subtitles=subtitle.srt -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -c:a copy out.mp4

For more info about FFmpeg read this post on Video Help.

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VirtualDub 1.1.0.2 - Hardcoding of ssa/ass subtitles in video

For this you need the subtitle filter (save and unpack to the plugin folder) + some codecs like xvid.



Step 1: Open the video file (ctrl+o)
Step 2: Click on the menu Video -> Filters (ctrl+f)
Step 3: Click the "Add" button and choose the "subtitler" filter
Step 4: Browse to your ssa/ass file and press "OK"
Step 5: Click on the menu File -> Save as avi (F7)

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Format Factory 2.96 - hardcoding of srt/ssa/ass/sub-idx in video (many output formats) files

Step 1: Choose video format
Step 2: Click the "Add File" button and choose the video file
Step 3: Click the "Output Settings" button and choose your subtitle under "Additional subtitle"- can be srt, ssa, ass, idx
Step 4: Choose output folder
Step 5: Click "Click to start" to start muxing

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Sony Vegas Pro - Embedding of srt subtitles

Thx Giuseppe for info + screenshot :)



Step 1: File > Import > Closed Captioning > Files of type > Select SubRip Subtitles (*.srt)
Step 2: On the Video Preview area > click on "Overlay" switch to select "Closed Captioning CC1 (Primary)" to show the subtitles

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Got a better program or comments?

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