Extract Hardcoded Subtitles from Videos

Are you the type of person who likes to watch movies and clips with subtitles? Well, that makes the two of us. But have you ever wanted to copy a subtitle for some reason? I am guessing the answer is yes since we live in the age of social media, where everyone wants to share information.

Unfortunately, you can’t do that directly. This is because, most of the time, the subtitles are hardcoded in the video. This means that the text is a part of the video and is embedded inside the pixels of that video. So, when someone wants to use that subtitle, they must write it down manually.

However, there are better ways to do this. In this article, we will explore these methods. We will show you hacks that allow you to copy video-embedded text. This text can then be used or manipulated according to your needs. So, let’s get into it.

Use Cases of Extracting Hardcoded Subtitles

Previously, we assumed that you wanted to extract subtitles. However, if you are confused about why this is needed, then this section will help you. Here are some scenarios where one might want to extract text from a video.

• Suppose you have 2 versions of the same video. One of them has excellent quality but doesn’t have the subtitle option. The other one has encoded subtitles but is of poor quality. In this case, if you could copy the subtitles from one file and insert them in the other one, you would be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.
• You found a movie that you like but it’s in some other language with hard-coded subtitles. Now you want to know what they are saying so you can extract subtitles and get them translated with Google Translate.
• Another simple use of this process could be when you want to copy a very interesting subtitle. This could be for sharing on social media or just for saving it in your notes.
• Subtitles could also be useful if you are narrating a video and want to quote someone.

These use cases show that there is, in fact, a need for accessing subtitles in videos.

Methods to Extract Hardcoded Subtitles

We will discuss two methods of performing this task. These methods depend on the requirements of the user.

1. Extracting Subtitles From A Single Frame

If you want to extract text from a single frame of the video, then this method is better. Single frame here means the point in a video that has a particular subtitle that you want. To extract this, we use an online image to text extractor.

These tools use the OCR technology and can be used by following these steps:

• Pause the video where your required subtitle is showing clearly.
• Take a screenshot of that point in the video.
• Insert that screenshot in an image to text converter.
• Wait for the conversion process.
• Copy the results. Some tools also provide a downloading option, so you can choose that as well.

This short process will allow you to extract and copy hardcoded text from an image. If the subtitles are in another language then you can get it frame’s screenshot translated instantly using an advanced tool like an image translator. An image translator is an advanced form of image-to-text extractor because it not only extracts text but also detects the language and then regenerate the image with English translation.

2. Using Third-Party Software

Some downloadable tools allow you to extract the subtitles of all parts of the video. These tools are advanced and require users to go through various difficult steps. Here is a simplified version of how to use such software.

1. Download the relevant software. In this demonstration, we are using VideoSubFinder.
2. Import the video file into the tool.
3. After that, go through a process which is explained here.
4. Then, you will have multiple text files. Merge them all into one.

In this way, you will have a single text file with timestamps and required subtitles.

Additional Tips

Usually, processes like these make people skeptical. For instance, you might be worried that your file will be corrupted, or your data will be leaked. You can rest assured in that matter as nothing like that happens. However, a few things that you can do to make your process run smoothly, are given below:

• Make sure that subtitles in your video are clearly visible. If they are not, change the file.
• If you are using some software, you should ensure that your file type is supported by that software. If it is not, then use some sort of online format converter to make things work.
• The language used in your required subtitles should also be supported by the relevant tool or software.

These precautionary measures make your work much smoother.

FAQs

If you are confused about any of the things explained above, these frequently asked queries might help you out.

1. How Do You Extract Subtitles From Videos Using Mobile Phones?

The same method is used on mobile phones as desktops. For example, in the first method, you take a screenshot, go to your browser, search for the tool, and follow the rest of the above-mentioned steps.

2. Is Using Online OCR Tools And Downloadable Software Safe?

Yes, most of these tools are credible and can be used without a care. However, if you are using a new tool, you should research it. Maybe read user reviews to see if it’s a worthy software or not.

3. Does Subtitle Extraction Work On Mac and iOS?

Yes, the above-mentioned online tools work on Mac and iOS as well. However, some downloadable applications might not be supported in the Apple ecosystem.

4. Can Soft-Coded Subtitles Also Be Extracted Using These Methods?

Yes, you can extract soft-embedded subtitles using the above methods as well. Just follow the same sequence of steps and you are good to go.

Conclusion

Subtitles are preferred by a lot of people. This feature comes in handy, especially while watching movies. So, when you are using a feature so much, you might also be required to extract and modify it. The methods explained in this article are the most efficient ways to do so.

So, if you think that the use cases at the beginning of the article relate to you, you should try out one of our methods. In this way, even if the video has hardcoded subtitles, you will be able to extract them and copy or alter them.

With over 2 billion monthly active users and 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, YouTube is one of the most popular and influential platforms for content creation in the world.

However, YouTube is also a highly competitive and dynamic environment, where creators must constantly innovate to stand out from the crowd. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) tools can help.

AI tools can help you with various aspects of your YouTube channel, such as generating ideas, writing scripts, editing videos, creating thumbnails, optimizing SEO, analyzing data, etc. 

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best AI tools for YouTube in 2023. 

Did you know?According to YouTube, its videos about generative AI tools have been watched over 1.7 billion times this year(2023), and 60% of the more than 25,000 viewers surveyed are open to watching content created by creators who use AI.

10 Best AI Tools for Youtubers in 2023

1.  Steve.AI

Steve.AI is an AI-powered text-to-video creation platform that enables anyone to create engaging videos within minutes. Steve.AI’s automated video creation process can save time and money for businesses, brands, video creators, and more. 

Steve.AI is a great tool for YouTube content creation, as it can help you produce professional and attractive videos for your channel in a fast and easy way.

You can choose from various templates, characters, backgrounds, and props to create professional videos for different purposes. Steve.AI also lets you customize your videos with your own branding, voice-over, music, and captions. 

2. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an AI tool that can generate engaging text conversations from a given topic or prompt.

You can use ChatGPT to create scripts for videos on your YouTube channel. All you have to do is put a topic and relevant details that you want to be included in the script, and then ChatGPT will generate a script.

ChatGPT can generate video scripts, storyboards, titles, descriptions, thumbnails, and tags based on the video topic and keywords.

3. VidIQ 

vidIQ is an online education tool that offers video tutorials and analytics on YouTube channel growth. It also has a Google Chrome extension, which allows users to analyze YouTube analytics data. 

vidIQ helps you boost your views and subscribers on YouTube by providing keyword, title, and description recommendations, as well as view prediction and daily ideas powered by artificial intelligence. 

This AI-powered tool can also turn your ideas into full-fledged YouTube videos. All you need to do is type in your idea, and the tool will generate a script, title, description, thumbnail, and even provide a voiceover. 

4. DALL-E

Dall-E can create realistic AI images and art from a text description, using a large neural network trained on text-image pairs. It can also manipulate existing images in various ways, such as outpainting, inpainting, and applying transformations.

DALL-E can help YouTube content creators in many ways, such as:

• Creating unique and eye-catching thumbnails for their videos based on their titles or keywords.
• Generating illustrations for their video content based on their scripts or voiceovers.

5. HeadlinesAI

HeadlinesAI is an AI tool that helps you create catchy and effective headlines for your content. HeadlinesAI can help you create headlines for your YouTube videos that will attract more views and subscribers. 

You can use it to research the best keywords and topics for your niche and audience. Plan your video content and structure based on the headline using HeadlinesAI.

HeadlinesAI is a useful tool for YouTube content creators, marketers, and bloggers who want to attract more attention and engagement to their content.

6. HappySRT

Happysrt is an AI tool that helps you generate subtitles and edit SRT files online for free. It can take your YouTube links or file uploads (mp4, mov, mp3, mpeg) and produce subtitles using AI. 

You can also use its online SRT editor to modify the subtitles as you wish. Happysrt supports multiple languages and formats and claims to help you increase your views and subscribers with its fast and accurate service. Happysrt is a useful tool for YouTube content creators, as it can save you time and improve your accessibility. 

7. ManyChat

ManyChat is a chatbot platform that helps YouTubers create custom chatbots to engage and communicate with their viewers. You can use ManyChat to answer common questions, send reminders, or provide personalized recommendations to viewers. ManyChat is a powerful way to automate your conversations and grow your brand.

8. ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs can create a digital twin of your voice or anyone else’s voice. Elevenlabs specializes in generative text-to-speech and voice cloning software. Their products allow you to create lifelike voiceovers for your content or use their AI voice generator as an easy-to-use text reader. You can create voiceovers for YouTube videos and YouTube Shorts.

They support 29 languages and 120 voices and offer advanced features such as emotion and style control, precision tuning, and long-form audio editing. 

Did you know?The global market for AI video generators is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%, reaching $1.5 billion by 2029.

9. Explore AI 

Explore AI is an AI-powered video search engine for YouTube. It enables users to search for answers in thousands of YouTube videos quickly. 

Its goal is to make more YouTube content searchable, and its semantic search capabilities ensure accurate results. 

It features many helpful YouTube channels, high-quality podcasts, and well-known people in the tech industry. 

Explore AI uses GPT-3 to provide detailed summaries, accurate timestamps, and accurate transcripts of YouTube videos. This set of tools makes content more accessible and understandable to a broader range of users.

10. StreamElements

StreamElements is a platform that helps YouTube content creators to design, monetize and engage with their live streams and videos. It offers sponsorship offers, alerts and overlays, real-time engagement tools, and more. StreamElements is trusted by some of the best creators in the world.

StreamElements has a chatbot that can moderate, entertain and interact with the viewers, as well as provide loyalty points, mini-games and giveaways

Conclusion

AI tools are changing the game for YouTube creators in 2023. They offer a range of benefits that can help you optimize your videos, engage your audience, and create stunning visuals. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you can use these tools to take your channel to the next level.