Negative time code error...

[impmon2]

I was trying to use this guide: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic314307.html?sid=600fc846416793633822ead98e5d08eb for converting srt to closed caption and I was using the Diary of Anne Frank (2 disc) with english subtitle file. They play fine when using VLC with subtitle.

But when I use subrip2scc.exe to covert 1 of the 2 subtitle files, it stops with the error message "Negative time code in line 4 of annefrank2.srt,"

These are the first few lines of subtitle 2 files:

1
00:00:00,521 --> 00:00:01,920
What is it?

2
00:00:06,201 --> 00:00:08,237
-Presents.
-Real presents?

3
00:00:08,401 --> 00:00:09,834
-She made it herself.
-Look!

4
00:00:10,001 --> 00:00:12,959
-lsn't it festive? Isn't it gay?
-Oh, it's beautiful.

5
00:00:13,841 --> 00:00:15,593
For Margot.

6
00:00:22,241 --> 00:00:24,232
Read it out loud.

I can't find any negative time code so where would it be? Line 4 is empty, if it meant block 4, there's no negative time code there either.

[Midzuki]

I suppose the 4th line of the 2nd .srt isn't actually empty ---
maybe it contains one or more blank spaces

[themaster1]

I suggest you use a nice software to fix the problems with your subs called VisualSubSync (google it) it's freeware

[impmon2]

I tried VisualSubSync (no need to google as it's auto linked keyword on this forum) and it didn't report any negative time code error, only a few instances of text overlapping with scene changes. Same thing occured in the first subtitle file and the first file converted to scc without a problem.

I also checked the space between each block, there is nothing but a regular 'line return' in the empty lines.

Since the first sub file converted just fine not the second one, and both came from the same source in a single zip file, I think the error is somewhere else and the subrip2scc isn't throwing the right error message. I've sent an email to the author of the scc programs to see if he has any idea.

[impmon2]

Looks like it is timing issues, I got a response from the author:

Closed captions build up text in an invisible buffer before displaying on the screen.  This is because they are transmitted at a relatively slow rate, only a few per second.  The start time in the caption refers to when to start feeding this buffer, not when to start displaying the caption.
 
Your first caption has a start time of  00:00:00,521, or exactly 17 frames after the start of Part 2 of the video.  To transmit that caption takes exactly 18 frames.  Therefore, it needs to start transmitting 1 frame before the start of the video in order to appear on the screen at exactly 00:00:00,521.
 
You have two solutions: add an extra second of black to the beginning of part 2 of the video and move all of the captions up by one second, or change the start time of the first caption to be 00:00:00,600 or later.

1 little tweak and it's done.

[Midzuki]

Many many thanks for the useful info.