Convert SUB_MICRODVD Subtitles to SBV Format
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About SUB_MICRODVD
MicroDVD is a frame-based subtitle format, which means its timings are based on video frame numbers rather than timestamps. For example, a line might be defined to appear from frame 1000 to frame 1050. This can be very precise, but it also means the subtitle file is tied to a specific video file with a specific frame rate. If the frame rate changes, the subtitle timing will be incorrect.
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.
SUB_MICRODVD vs SBV
| Feature | SUB_MICRODVD | SBV |
|---|---|---|
| Styling Support | false | false |
| Positioning Support | false | false |
| Animation Support | false | false |
| Learning Curve | intermediate | beginner |
| Quality Rating | 2 | 3 |
| Patent Status | freeware | proprietary |
| Year Introduced | 1999 | 2009 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use frame numbers instead of time?
Frame-based timing can be very useful for video editors who work on a frame-by-frame basis. However, for general distribution and playback, time-based formats like SRT are much more flexible and reliable, as they are not dependent on the video's frame rate.
What happens if I use a MicroDVD file with the wrong frame rate video?
The subtitles will go out of sync. For example, if the subtitle file was created for a 25 fps video, but you play it with a 29.97 fps video, the subtitles will appear progressively earlier or later as the video plays.
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.
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