Move the subtitle SRT to a new area and save

[loninappleton]

Today I have some video with a hardcoded sub. I found an SRT I need for the video but I need to move it to a blank image area to make it legible. I think I can do that just a few line spaces downward to a black border area. Is there a program or SRT command to start the sub elsewhere? So in Subtitle Edit or something else can the SRT be reprogrammed?

[jagabo]

The software that draws the SRT subs decides where to put them. Change the position in that software's settings. Another possibility is to change the player settings so that it creates a black background behind the subs.

Some players respond to tags for sub positioning (this is NOT part of the original spec). But they work on a line by line basis. You would have to add the tags for each line. For example:

{\an8}Subtitle text goes here...

will draw the line at the top center of the frame, not the bottom center.

An alternate tag for that is:

{\a6}Subtitle text goes here...

Try the sample here: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/332300-How-to-position-a-subtitle-in-a-srt-file?hi...st#post2543525

The best solution is to use Substation Alpha format (ASS, SSA) which has a global positioning tag. But almost nothing outside of computer media players support that format.

[loninappleton]

Hello again. Thanks for reply.
I use VLC and Daum Potplayer as my players. Command line is and has always been a mystery to me but I'll look at your samples.
Anything for me has to be spelled out. :/
And of course the subtitle used is added in so I don't know how that effects the player drawing the new sub as you indicate.

[loninappleton]

Google AI had this though I don't know if it is exactly what's needed. But that query also mentioned Substation Alpha.

[begins]

To move the position of subtitles in Subtitle Edit, you can use the Alignment tool for quick 9-point grid placements,
or use the Advanced Substation Alpha (ASSA) format to set precise, custom positions on the screen.

Method 1: Use the Alignment Tool (For quick presets)The standard way to shift subtitles
(useful if they are covering a graphic on-screen) is by using preset alignment options:
Select the subtitle line(s) you want to move.
Right-click on the selected lines.
Select Alignment.
Choose one of the nine grid options (e.g., Top-Center, Middle-Center, or the default Bottom-Center).

unquote

Just looking at the grid options more carefully: Bottom Center might not offer much change.

[jagabo]

Bottom center is the default in most SRT renderers.

[loninappleton]

I now see that Subtitle Edit alignment tool will move a line to top of screen. That's fine it will work for one line. But I ran into a problem trying to highlight the whole SRT and select alignment. It's just something I'm missing to Select All, then align-- all. So my select all highlight is made in blue.
That's how far I am. I don't see how to right click and select align for the entire sub, then save that

As to viewing, if this works I'll just watch the video in the Subtitle Edit player in the program.

[jagabo]

Just use a player that lets you specify the global subtitle position. Like VLC, MPCHC, MKPlayer, Potplayer...

[loninappleton]

Found it.
I hit on the right combination to save and align all at the top in Subtitle Edit which will work fine for this viewing. I will though try to save and run in VLC or Daum just to see if it saved correctly

[pcspeak]

Just stepping to the left.
Because of my poor hearing I do this. The videos are usually 16:9 DAR. I letterbox them and add 64 lines to the bottom.
This keeps the same DAR. The 64 black/blank lines at the bottom allow subs of 2 lines to display clearly.
(your number of blank lines required may vary, subject to your display device. Mine's a Sony 55" TV)

ffmpeg.exe -i "movie.mp4" -sub_charenc UTF-8 -i "movie.srt" -map 0:v -map 0:a -map 1:s -disposition forced ^
    -vf format=yuv420p,scale=768:432,pad="in_w:in_h+64:0:0" ^
    -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 22 ^
    -af dynaudnorm -ar 48000 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ac 2 ^
    -c:s copy ^
    -y "new-movie.mkv"
pause

The final result is a fairly high resolution with black bars down the sides. I'm not bothered.
My main reason for doing it this way, apart from my poor hearing, is when I'm watching sport the stats, times, and other info shown at the bottom aren't being overwritten by the subs

[loninappleton]

This looks like a good thing to try. Thanks for your efforts.