Some online video players give you the option to add or subtract delay e.g. by ±0.5s to subtitles to manually sync them to the video currently playing. However I become functionally dyslexic when it comes to actually figuring out how much delay has to be added. I end up randomly adding or subtracting delay and make it work through trial and error.

Is there some rule of thumb I could follow instead to systematically sync subtitles?

  • NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de
    4·
    3 hours ago

    So you just want a better system than “completely at random”. Fair enough. Here’s what I’d do:

    1. After the first line is uttered, see if the subtitles are late or early. Pause.
    2. Adjust the delay, let’s say -1.0 second (or more if the difference between them felt really long).
    3. Skip back to before the line was heard, and play. Is the gap better or worse? If it’s worse, then you need to change the delay in the other direction (+1.0 instead of -1.0). If it’s better, the direction you used was good.
    4. Repeat step 3 until you get that one line synced perfectly.
    5. Enjoy the rest of the movie/episode.

    Disclaimer: I’ve never had this problem (that I remember), subtitles have always been either synced or completely out of my control. I don’t use ‘alternative means’ much.