Embed subtitles into video (.srt)

Help/How To
1

Hello friends;

How can we embed srt file into a Video clp?

Thank you

2

You can embed subtitles into a video in Shotcut using either the built-in Subtitles panel (recommended in modern versions) or manual text tracks. [1, 2, 3]

Method 1: Using the Built-In Subtitles Panel (Version 24.08 and Later)

  1. Open the Subtitles Panel:
    • Go to the top menu and select View > Subtitles to open the Subtitles window. [1]
  2. Create a Subtitle Track:
    • Click the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the Subtitles panel, name your subtitle track, choose a language, and click OK. A subtitle track will appear above your video on the timeline. [1, 2]
  3. Add and Time Subtitles:
    • Position your playhead where you want the subtitle to start.
    • Click the Add Subtitle (+) button at the bottom of the panel and type your text into the “Current” text box.
    • Use the bracket icons (open/close brackets) in the panel or drag the edges of the subtitle blocks on the timeline to adjust start and end times.
    • Alternatively, you can import an existing subtitle file by going to the Subtitles panel menu and choosing Import Subtitles From File (supports .srt, .vtt, .ass, and .ssa). [1, 2, 3, 4]
  4. Burn In the Subtitles (Hardcoding):
    • To permanently embed (burn) the subtitles into the video frame so they cannot be turned off, select the Output track on your timeline, go to Filters, click +, and add the Subtitle Burn In filter. Select your subtitle track inside the filter settings.
    • (Note: If you prefer soft subtitles—where viewers can toggle them on/off in media players like VLC—skip the burn-in filter and export as a format that supports embedded subtitles like MP4, MOV, or MKV). [1, 2]
  5. Export Your Video:
    • Go to the Export tab and export your video as usual. [1, 2]

Method 2: Manual Text Track Method (Older Versions)

  1. Add a Video Track:
    • Right-click an empty area of your timeline, select Track Operations > Add Video Track, creating a new track (V2) above your main footage. [1]
  2. Create a Transparent Text Clip:
    • Go to File > Open Other (or Open Other on the toolbar) > Generator > Text.
    • Set the preset dropdown to Transparent, click OK or Open, and drag the text clip down onto your V2 subtitle track. [1, 2]
  3. Type and Style:
    • Select the text clip on the timeline, open the Filters panel, and add a Text: Simple or Text: Richfilter to customize the font, size, color, and outline.
    • Position the text near the bottom of the screen using the Size, Position & Rotate filter. [1, 2, 3]
  4. Cut and Repeat:
    • Move along the timeline, use the S key to split the text clips where dialogue changes, copy/paste clips, and edit the text for each spoken line. [1, 2, 3]

Here is a video tutorial demonstrating how to use the subtitle features and burn-in options in Shotcut:

Could you let me know which version of Shotcut you are using and whether you want hardcoded (burned-in) or soft subtitles so I can guide you through the exact export settings?

3

It is not always clear what a person means by “embed.” The literal, technical interpretation means you will not see the subtitles overlaying the video within Shotcut and that they are added as a text stream/track within the same export file that contains the audio and video tracks. Another user might mean text actually overlaying the exported video, what we call “burned-in.” So, keep those distinctions in mind when reading all information provided.

Now, I want to teach you something useful. Click ? on the Shotcut main toolbar; it changes the mouse pointer to have a ?. Next, click the Subtitles panel, and it opens this page in your web browser:

4

I couldn’t do it with a shotcut… I handled it with another tool.

However, when I selected/added the srt file in Shotcut, all the content did not come for some reason… SC v29.9.27