Convert SBV Subtitles to STL Format
or drag and drop
About SBV
SBV (SubViewer) is a very simple, comma-separated subtitle format. It's most known for being one of the formats used by YouTube for caption uploads. The format consists of a start and end time on a single line, followed by the subtitle text. It's a very basic format without any styling capabilities, similar in simplicity to SRT.
About STL
The EBU STL (European Broadcasting Union Sp-ruce Teletext Ltd) format is a professional subtitle format used extensively in television broadcasting and for DVD authoring. It's a binary format that contains not only the text and timing but also a large amount of metadata related to the production, such as program title, episode number, and translation details. It's a robust format designed for professional broadcast workflows.
SBV vs STL
| Feature | SBV | STL |
|---|---|---|
| Styling Support | false | true |
| Positioning Support | false | true |
| Animation Support | false | false |
| Learning Curve | beginner | expert |
| Quality Rating | 3 | 5 |
| Patent Status | proprietary | industry standard |
| Year Introduced | 2009 | 1991 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SBV the same as SubViewer (.sub)?
They are very similar but have distinct formatting. The .sbv extension is specifically associated with YouTube's variant of the format. While they share the same core principle of 'start_time,end_time' followed by text, there can be minor incompatibilities between them. Our converter handles both.
Why would I use SBV?
The primary reason to use SBV is for uploading captions to YouTube, as it's one of their natively supported formats. It's a simple, no-frills format that is easy to create and edit in a plain text editor.
Is this STL related to 3D printing?
No, this is a common point of confusion. The EBU STL format for subtitles is completely unrelated to the STL (STereoLithography) file format used for 3D models and printing. They just happen to share the same file extension.
Can I open an STL subtitle file in a text editor?
No, most STL files are binary and will not be readable in a standard text editor. They require specialized professional subtitling software to be opened, edited, and converted.
Transform Your Videos with AI Subtitles & Closed Captions
Get started with 10 minutes of free transcription. No credit card required.