request help please with subtitles srt file and vlc

[kasfig]

Dear forum members
I am a novice in regard to subtitling but you kind help would be much appreciated please

I like to play Mp4 files in VLC, adding the srt file to display the subtitle.

When I do this I am finding invariably that the following occurs:

The first line of text appears.
Then at the right time , the second line appears.
However the first line doesnt disappear immediately It moves up one row above the second line, and stays in view until it is time for..
The third line of text to appear. The third line does so right on time, but at this point, the second line moves up one row too above the third line whilst line one disappears at this point
(and so on....) At any given time one can see two rows of text. The current one and the previous one.

I appreciate this may be a good way to present subtitle text and follow along well.

However what I would like to have it if possible that only one line of text subtitling is in view at any given time (the current one)
As soon as it is time for the next line, I would like to previous line to just vanish.

I don't know whether what Ive just tried to describe is comprehensible but if it is and anyone can advise please it would be much appreciated.
Thank you , Ian

[ndjamena]

Not only is that entirely possible, it's exactly what it's supposed to do...

Hmmm.

Open the srt file with a text editor and post a sample of what it looks like inside.

Have you muxed the srt into the mp4 or is it an external srt?

If it's in the mp4 what muxing program did you use?

[kasfig]

Dear ndjamena
Thank you for your help.
The video itself was downloaded by me from youtube using a program called 4kvideodownloader.
Just before I downloaded it I checked the box "download subtitles"
The download took place and resulted in an mp4 file and an srt file.

I wonder could it be a setting within VLC that is causing this to happen do you think?

In any case I have pasted below as advised a sample of the SRT file

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,760
<font color="#E5E5E5">the earth is home to over seven billion</font>

2
00:00:06,180 --> 00:00:10,739
people divided into countless cultures

3
00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:13,410
and languages

4
00:00:10,740 --> 00:00:17,009
<font color="#E5E5E5">people are on the moon and in many lands</font>

5
00:00:13,410 --> 00:00:18,630
immigrant populations are growing<font color="#E5E5E5"> these</font>

6
00:00:17,010 --> 00:00:22,890
cultural differences are often an

7
00:00:18,630 --> 00:00:25,410
obstacle to true communication and yet

8
00:00:22,890 --> 00:00:27,990
<font color="#E5E5E5">there exists a group of people</font><font color="#CCCCCC"> united</font>

9
00:00:25,410 --> 00:00:33,000
the world over by the pure language of

10
00:00:27,990 --> 00:00:35,460
truth<font color="#E5E5E5"> together</font><font color="#CCCCCC"> they joyfully feed on</font>

11
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,190
publish spiritual food prepared just

12
00:00:35,460 --> 00:00:40,870
<font color="#E5E5E5">right and translated into languages that</font>

13
00:00:38,190 --> 00:00:44,339
<font color="#E5E5E5">touch their hearts</font>

14
00:00:40,870 --> 00:00:46,320
<font color="#E5E5E5">how is this work being accomplished</font>

15
00:00:44,340 --> 00:00:48,630
<font color="#E5E5E5">and how can you have a share in the</font>

16
00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:51,090
fulfillment of<font color="#E5E5E5"> prophecy that everlasting</font>

[ndjamena]

If you look at it you can see the end timecode for each of the subtitles is AFTER the start timecode of the following timecode. VLC is doing all it can with what it's given.

What website are you downloading these things from? You should choose another one if that's at all possible.

Fixing it shouldn't be hard. Download SubtitleEdit, load up the srt, [tools->fix common errors]. One of the checkmarks is "fix overlapping timcodes", it should be checked by default, you can uncheck everything else or not [next->apply selected fixes] and it should just work.

[kasfig]

Dear ndjamena
Thank you so much. I have downloaded the program you advised and it has done the trick!
Thank you and kind regards
Ian