Convert SMI Subtitles to SUB_SUBVIEWER Format
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About SMI
SMI or SAMI (Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange) is a format developed by Microsoft for subtitles in Windows Media Player. It uses an HTML-like syntax, which allows for basic styling and formatting of the subtitle text. It also has features for including multiple language tracks in a single file. Its usage has declined significantly with the wane of Windows Media Player.
About SUB_SUBVIEWER
SubViewer (.sub) is one of the earliest popular subtitle formats. It is a simple, time-based text format. There have been two major versions, SubViewer 1.0 and 2.0. Version 2.0, which is more common, uses a '[region]' section to define metadata and then lists subtitles with timestamps. Its simplicity led to wide support, but it lacks any styling features.
SMI vs SUB_SUBVIEWER
| Feature | SMI | SUB_SUBVIEWER |
|---|---|---|
| Styling Support | true | false |
| Positioning Support | true | false |
| Animation Support | false | false |
| Learning Curve | intermediate | beginner |
| Quality Rating | 3 | 3 |
| Patent Status | proprietary | freeware |
| Year Introduced | 1998 | 1999 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SMI still used?
SMI is largely considered a legacy format. While it was popular in the early 2000s, especially in some Asian markets, its proprietary nature and the rise of open standards like VTT have made it uncommon for modern content.
What are the advantages of SMI?
Its main historical advantage was its ability to include multiple languages in one file and its use of familiar HTML-like tags for styling, which was accessible to web developers at the time. However, modern formats have surpassed its capabilities.
My .sub file doesn't work. Why?
The '.sub' file extension is very generic and is used by several completely different and incompatible subtitle formats, including the text-based SubViewer and the image-based VobSub (for DVDs). If your file isn't working, it's likely because your player is expecting a different '.sub' format. Our converter can intelligently distinguish between them.
Is SubViewer still a good format to use?
For new projects, SRT is a much better choice. It's just as simple but has even wider and more reliable support across all modern platforms and players. SubViewer is mostly relevant for compatibility with older files.
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