File formats and audio
SRT
The most common subtitle format: numbered text blocks with a start and end time.
SRT is the most widespread format for subtitles. An SRT file is plain text with numbered blocks:
1
00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,120
Right, we are under way. First item
is the budget for the autumn.
2
00:00:05,300 --> 00:00:08,750
Kari, you had the figures?Every block has a running number, a start and end time, and up to two lines of text. Note the comma as the decimal separator in the time codes, which is one of the differences from VTT.
What it can do
Show text within a time span. That is all, and it is often enough. The format is so simple that practically everything supports it: video players, YouTube, editing software, social media.
What it cannot do
- Styling. No colours, typefaces or placement. Some players interpret simple HTML such as
<i>, but that is not part of the format. - Metadata. No information about speaker, language or chapters.
- Positioning. The text lands wherever the player decides.
If you need any of that, VTT is the answer.
Common pitfalls
- Character encoding. Save as UTF-8, or accented characters break.
- Comma, not full stop, in the time codes. A full stop makes some players reject the file.
- A blank line between blocks is required.