Formats & Guide

A step-by-step guide to every sample format

Each section below covers one subtitle format: what it is, when it's typically used, the full sample content, and the exact steps to preview or download it. The instructions are the same for every format — only the syntax changes.

On this page

  1. SRT — SubRip
  2. VTT — WebVTT
  3. SUB — MicroDVD
  4. SBV — SubViewer
  5. ASS — Advanced SubStation Alpha
  6. STL — EBU broadcast (text reference)
.srt

SubRip (SRT)

SRT is the most widely supported plain-text subtitle format. Each cue is a numbered block: an index, a start and end timecode separated by an arrow, and one or more lines of text, with a blank line between cues. Timecodes use a comma to separate milliseconds — 00:00:01,000.

Typically used for: general-purpose captioning, media players, and as an interchange format between subtitle tools.

1

Preview the sample

Select "Preview Sample" to read the full .srt content shown to the right.

2

Open the full sample

Select DOWNLOAD to view the complete sample.srt contents on this page.

3

Run it through your workflow

Import the file into your translation or conversion workflow.

4

Compare the result

Check that cue count, timecodes, and text lines match the original structure shown here.

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,000
Welcome to the subtitle sample library.

2
00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:08,200
This file demonstrates the SRT format structure.

3
00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:12,000
Each entry includes an index, a timecode, and text.
.vtt

WebVTT (VTT)

WebVTT is the caption format built for HTML5 video. Every file opens with a WEBVTT header line, followed by cues written as a start and end timecode with dot-separated milliseconds — 00:00:01.000 — and the cue text beneath.

Typically used for: web video players and platforms that consume HTML5-native captions.

1

Preview the sample

Select "Preview Sample" to read the full .vtt content shown to the right.

2

Open the full sample

Select DOWNLOAD to view the complete sample.vtt contents on this page.

3

Run it through your workflow

Load the file into your translation or conversion workflow.

4

Compare the result

Confirm the WEBVTT header and cue timing survive the round trip unchanged.

WEBVTT

00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.000
Welcome to the subtitle sample library.

00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:08.200
This file demonstrates the WebVTT format structure.

00:00:08.700 --> 00:00:12.000
WebVTT supports cue styling and positioning.
.sub

MicroDVD (SUB)

MicroDVD is a frame-based format: instead of a clock timecode, each cue names the start and end frame number in curly braces, followed by the text — {25}{100}Text. The sample below assumes 25 frames per second, so frame 25 corresponds to the one-second mark.

Typically used for: legacy desktop video players that key subtitles to frame counts rather than clock time.

1

Preview the sample

Select "Preview Sample" to read the full .sub content shown to the right.

2

Open the full sample

Select DOWNLOAD to view the complete sample.sub contents on this page.

3

Set the correct frame rate

Confirm your workflow is set to 25 fps so frame numbers map back to the intended timing.

4

Compare the result

Check that frame numbers convert to the same timecodes shown in the SRT sample above.

{25}{100}Welcome to the subtitle sample library.
{113}{205}This file demonstrates the MicroDVD SUB format.
{218}{300}Entries use frame numbers instead of timecodes.
.sbv

SubViewer (SBV)

SBV pairs a start and end timecode on one line — separated by a comma, formatted as H:MM:SS.mmm — with the cue text on the line beneath it, and a blank line between cues.

Typically used for: caption uploads to video platforms that accept the SubViewer format.

1

Preview the sample

Select "Preview Sample" to read the full .sbv content shown to the right.

2

Open the full sample

Select DOWNLOAD to view the complete sample.sbv contents on this page.

3

Run it through your workflow

Upload or import the file into your translation or conversion workflow.

4

Compare the result

Verify the timecode pairs and text lines match the original three cues.

0:00:01.000,0:00:04.000
Welcome to the subtitle sample library.

0:00:04.500,0:00:08.200
This file demonstrates the SBV format structure.

0:00:08.700,0:00:12.000
SBV is commonly used for caption uploads.
.ass

Advanced SubStation Alpha (ASS)

ASS files are organized into sections: [Script Info], [V4+ Styles], and [Events]. The Events section holds one Dialogue: line per cue, carrying the timecodes, style reference, and text together.

Typically used for: workflows that need styling, positioning, or typographic control beyond plain text cues.

1

Preview the sample

Select "Preview Sample" to read the full .ass content shown to the right.

2

Open the full sample

Select DOWNLOAD to view the complete sample.ass contents on this page.

3

Run it through your workflow

Load the file into your translation or conversion workflow.

4

Compare the result

Confirm the Script Info, Styles, and Events sections all survive the round trip intact.

[Script Info]
Title: Subtitle Sample
ScriptType: v4.00+

[V4+ Styles]
Format: Name, Fontname, Fontsize, PrimaryColour, ...
Style: Default,Arial,20,&H00FFFFFF,&H000000FF,...

[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, ..., Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.00,0:00:04.00,Default,,0,0,0,,Welcome to the subtitle sample library.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.50,0:00:08.20,Default,,0,0,0,,This file demonstrates the ASS format structure.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.70,0:00:12.00,Default,,0,0,0,,ASS supports advanced styling and positioning.
.stl

EBU-STL (text reference)

EBU-STL is a binary broadcast subtitle exchange format built around a General Subtitle Information block and Text and Timing blocks, with timecodes expressed as HH:MM:SS:FF (hours, minutes, seconds, frames). Because the native format is binary, the sample below is a plain-text reference that lays out the same timecode structure for review and compatibility testing — it is not a byte-for-byte STL file.

Typically used for: broadcast television delivery and exchange between broadcast subtitle systems.

1

Preview the reference

Select "Preview Sample" to read the full text reference shown to the right.

2

Open the full sample

Select DOWNLOAD to view the complete sample-stl-reference.txt contents on this page.

3

Check timecode structure

Use it to confirm your workflow correctly reads and converts HH:MM:SS:FF timecodes.

4

Pair with your STL encoder

For a native binary .stl file, generate it with your own broadcast-format encoder using this reference as the timing and text source.

STL SAMPLE — SIMPLIFIED TEXT REFERENCE
Note: EBU-STL is a binary broadcast subtitle format...

TC IN: 00:00:01:00   TC OUT: 00:00:04:00
Welcome to the subtitle sample library.

TC IN: 00:00:04:12   TC OUT: 00:00:08:05
This reference demonstrates STL timecode structure.

TC IN: 00:00:08:18   TC OUT: 00:00:12:00
STL is widely used in broadcast television workflows.