Convert SSA Subtitles to CSV Format
or drag and drop
About SSA
SubStation Alpha (SSA) is the predecessor to the more feature-rich ASS format. It was one of the first subtitle formats to allow for basic styling, including control over fonts, colors, and text position. While it has largely been superseded by ASS, it laid the groundwork for advanced subtitle scripting and is still supported by many players that support ASS.
About CSV
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple text format for storing tabular data. In the context of subtitles, it's often used for translation workflows or bulk editing. Each row in the CSV file can represent a subtitle cue, with columns for the start time, end time, and text. It's easy to open and edit in any spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets.
SSA vs CSV
| Feature | SSA | CSV |
|---|---|---|
| Styling Support | true | false |
| Positioning Support | true | false |
| Animation Support | false | false |
| Learning Curve | intermediate | beginner |
| Quality Rating | 3 | 3 |
| Patent Status | open format | open standard |
| Year Introduced | 1998 | 1972 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use SSA or ASS?
You should almost always choose ASS over SSA for new projects. ASS is fully backward-compatible with SSA and contains a much larger and more powerful feature set. SSA is primarily of interest for compatibility with very old files or legacy workflows.
What can SSA do that SRT cannot?
Unlike SRT, SSA allows you to define specific styles for your subtitles, such as the font family, font size, primary and secondary colors, and basic positioning on the screen. However, its capabilities are much more limited compared to its successor, ASS.
Can I use a CSV file directly as a subtitle?
No, a CSV file cannot be used directly as a subtitle track in a video player. It's an intermediate format. You would need to convert the CSV file into a standard subtitle format like SRT or VTT after you have finished your edits or translations.
What is the best use case for CSV subtitles?
CSV is ideal for workflows where non-technical users need to edit or translate subtitle text. Giving a translator a simple spreadsheet is much easier than asking them to edit the strict syntax of an SRT or VTT file. It's also great for programmatically managing subtitle data.
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