how to add subtitles to video

I've got some videos that I wish to add subtitles to it.

There are two kinds of subtitles I wish to add to.

1.Embedded subtitles- I mean the kind of subtitles that is embededded as part of the video, that will modify the video itself, however the subtitles will work everywhere

2. Not embedded subtitles, that will not modify the video.

My English is not good Please I hope you understand what I mean by "embedded"

Question
1.Which program is the best and the most convenient to use for adding subtiles

2. which programs will work for both or either of the above request

Thank you!!!

 

the embedded subtitles are called hardsub. The other one is called softsub.

you can use aegisub to make subtitle file (.ass) first, which can be opened/dropped on videos. You need to do the timing. You can add various effects (beautiful karaoke effects but timing is a bastard ).

if you want a mkv file, you can use MKVtoolnix or MeGUI to encode (either of them would work or both of them would work). The mkv file has the softsub attached to the video so you don't need to drop/open the subtitle file every time you play a video. I think the video player will automatically load the sub file if its directory doesn't change after the first time you open it on a video though.

be aware that if you upload an mkv file with subtitles on youtube or something, the subtitles won't work. Mobile phone might not be able to open mkv files. Another downside is that if there are too many subtitle lines on the same time interval or heavy effects, the video will not play smoothly, might even freeze. Video player can modify softsub (show/hide, larger/smaller size, change font).

after making softsub and add it to a video using MKVtoolnix/MeGUI, you can use mkv to mp4 (or whatever) converter (I don't know many programs, Format factory maybe) but quality might be lost. Another way is to use a video editing program (Sony Vegas for example). But you can only make a hardsub video and won't be able to use your .ass file, meaning do the timing again.

anyway, if you don't intend to upload it on youtube or some website like that, just make a .ass file. You might be able to use your .ass file for youtube subtitles but I'm not sure.

 

I am learning to use aegisub now
Timing is very difficult but looks like there is a fast method provided on youtube, which is not very difficult.

Ass file???? hhahaaaha

By the way could aegisub make hardsub

By making hardsub I have less worry about uploading to youtube or other services

 

afaik, aegisub only create an .ass file, which contains the subtitles. You can open this file with any video and the subtitles will appear. It cannot encode the subtitle to the video to make either softsub or hardsub video.

you need to create a sub file using aegis => MKVtoolnix or MeGUI to create a mkv file, which is a video with subtiles file attached (softsub video) => MKV to mp4 or whatever format you want converter to create hardsub video. I don't know any converter to recommend.

if you just need a video with simple hard subtitles, nothing fancy, then use some video editing software (Sony Vegas for example).

Timing is just time-consuming and rather intuitive, just when you want the subtitle line to appear and disappear. You may be off by a fraction of a second but that's not really noticeable. Just set the timer back a few milliseconds in Aegisub or go back a few frames in Sony Vegas, if you want.

 

i know theres a way to "burn in" subtitles to make them hardsubs with VLC (or maybe handbrake??), i did it once, but a month later i couldn't figure it out for the life of me.