Convert SUB_SUBVIEWER Subtitles to SSA Format

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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.

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 While it has largely been superseded by ASS, it laid the groundwork for advanced subtitle scripting and is still supported by many players that support ASS.

SUB_SUBVIEWER vs SSA

FeatureSUB_SUBVIEWERSSA
Styling Supportfalsetrue
Positioning Supportfalsetrue
Animation Supportfalsefalse
Learning Curvebeginnerintermediate
Quality Rating33
Patent Statusfreewareopen format
Year Introduced19991998

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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