How to Edit and Sync Subtitles

A rare movie, old subtitles, and the inevitable loss of synchronization. Some video players offer the possibility of re-syncing on the fly, but the best thing in these cases (or at least the most complete) is to check the content and correct the offset. That’s when Subtitle Edit comes in — a free and open-source program that, in addition to syncing subtitles, will also help you make advanced edits, from changing formats to applying small effects.

Editing and syncing subtitles is truly an art. Setting aside the natural complexity of the translation process, placing each phrase at the exact millisecond and with the correct duration is not for everyone, and it can become tedious in record time.

Most users take the easy way out and look for an alternative version of the subtitle with correct timestamps, but there are times when we don’t have that luxury, and we must make the subtitles work anyway.

How to Edit and Sync Subtitles

The first step is to download a copy of Subtitle Edit — a powerful free and open-source tool compatible with more than 200 subtitle formats. If it has a piece of text and time markers inside, it’s likely Subtitle Edit can open it correctly.

There are also secondary functions such as automatic translations via Google Translate (don’t trust the robot!), removal of text for hearing-impaired viewers (read: hearing impaired), direct ripping of subtitles from a DVD (as long as it has been decoded), and of course, conversion between formats.

The most powerful aspect of Subtitle Edit is undoubtedly its visual synchronization. Assuming the durations for each phrase are adequate, in this section we can sync a piece of text at the beginning of the movie and another near the end. The controls allow adjustments of 100 milliseconds at a time, and once we’re satisfied with the result, a simple click on the Sync button will apply the offsets.

Subtitle Edit also includes a wizard that repairs common subtitle errors, another that makes suggestions to merge lines of dialogue that are too short, another to split and join subtitles, and dictionary support, among other things.

The program is not free of bugs (something you can appreciate in the last image), and I admit it has a fairly advanced profile, but the important thing here is that we can work with it anyway. If you truly need to know how to edit and sync subtitles, Subtitle Edit is an excellent starting point, and it won’t cost you a cent.

Official site and download: Click here