Convert SSA Subtitles to SMI Format
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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 While it has largely been superseded by ASS, it laid the groundwork for advanced subtitle scripting and is still supported by many players that support ASS.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 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.
SSA vs SMI
| Feature | SSA | SMI |
|---|---|---|
| Styling Support | true | true |
| Positioning Support | true | true |
| Animation Support | false | false |
| Learning Curve | intermediate | intermediate |
| Quality Rating | 3 | 3 |
| Patent Status | open format | proprietary |
| Year Introduced | 1998 | 1998 |
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.
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.
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