Merge your subtitles with movie file VLC Media Player vs HandBrake vs MKVMerge Software

Edited by Ronniel Javier, Lynn, Alma, Lister Jhan Dugho and 19 others

NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-000.jpg

Many people love to watch movies, and subtitles may be needed for you to able to understand, especially if the sound and video quality are bad, or if your hearing is not great. When you turn on subtitles in the movies that you watch, it can help you to understand the whole movie story. If you want or need subtitles on the movies you watch, you can merge the subtitle file to your MKV file so that the subtitles will always be available to you. You will need an MKV file of your movie for this merging process will work. But don't worry if your movie file is not MKV because you can convert it to an MKV file.

We've included two additional methods; VLC Media Player, which is also free and will work with multiple video formats, not just MKV, as well as HandBrake. Remember that you need to have your subtitle file (SRT file) in the same location as your video file, and they both have to have identical filenames.

Method 1: VLC Media Player

  1. 1
    Launch VLC Media Player.
    Merge-sub-video-02 1.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  2. 2
    From the top menu, click "Media", followed by "Stream".
    Merge-sub-video-03.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  3. 3
    On the Open media window, click "Add".
    Merge-sub-video-04.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  4. 4
    Browse to and open a video file.
    Merge-sub-video-05.png
    Notice the .srt file in our example has the same filename and it's in the same location.
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  5. 5
    Once your video file is open, click "Stream".
    Merge-sub-video-06.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  6. 6
    In the Stream Output window, click "Next".
    Merge-sub-video-07.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  7. 7
    Next on the Destination Setup window, click "Browse".
    Merge-sub-video-08.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  8. 8
    Now you can browse to a location to save your new video file (with hardcoded subtitles).
    Merge-sub-video-09.png
    Once you've picked an output location, click "Save".
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  9. 9
    Next on the Destination Setup window, confirm that the location is correct, then click "Next".
    Merge-sub-video-10.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  10. 10
    Here on the Transcoding Options window, make sure "Activate Transcoding" is checked, then click "Edit selected profiles".
    Merge-sub-video-11.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  11. 11
    On the Profile window, click the "Subtitles" tab.
    Merge-sub-video-12.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  12. 12
    Here on the Subtitles tab, ensure both "Subtitles" and "Overlay subtitles on the video" are checked
    .
    Also, from the drop-down, select T.140 as the codec, then click "Save".
    Merge-sub-video-13 1.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  13. 13
    On the Transcoding options window, be sure "Activate Transcoding" is still checked, then click "Next".
    Merge-sub-video-14.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  14. 14
    On the Option Setup window, we need to delete the following text from the Generated stream output string
    :
    "scodec=t14," without the quotes.
    Merge-sub-video-15a.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  15. 15
    Once you've removed the text, click "Stream".
    Merge-sub-video-16.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  16. 16
    VLC will now begin to hard code your subtitles into your video file
    .
    You will see the video's timer counting, but the screen will remain blank.
    Merge-sub-video-17.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  17. 17
    When VLC completes merging your subtitles, you will see your new video file in the location you chose earlier.
    Merge-sub-video-18.png
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  18. 18
    To make sure your subtitles are hardcoded, open the video file in VLC
    .
    You should see your subtitles displayed along with the dialogue.
    Merge-sub-video-19a.png
    To verify that the subtitles are hardcoded, right-click and select "Subtitles". If there is no option to turn them off, you've successfully merged your subtitle file with your video.
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

Method 2: HandBrake

HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder that works well for converting various types of video formats. It's also a great tool for adding or burning in subtitles to a movie or video file. Before proceeding with the steps below, go to HandBrake's Download page, download your version, then run the installer. If you have HandBrake already installed, skip to the steps below.

  1. 1
    Launch HandBrake, then select Open a single video file.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-01.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  2. 2
    Navigate to and select the movie you wish to add subtitles to, then select Open.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-02.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  3. 3
    Once your movie is loaded, select the Video tab, then select Same as source from the Framerate (FPS)
    drop-down menu.
    
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-03.jpg
  1. 1
    Select the Subtitles tab.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-04.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  2. 2
    Select Import Subtitle, then select Browse.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-05.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  3. 3
    Go to the folder containing the subtitle file (.SRT), then select Open'.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-06.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  4. 4
    Place a checkmark next to Burn In, then select Browse
    .
    Navigate to the location you wish to save your merged video, name it, then select Save.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-07.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  5. 5
    Select Start Encode.This may take some time depending on both your computer's speed and the length/size of your video file.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-08.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  6. 6
    Once your movie is encoded, play it with VLC to see if it displays the subtitles.
    NorthernTouch merge-subtitles-handbrake-09.jpg
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

Method 3: MKVMerge Software

  1. 1
">http://matroska.org/node/50.
Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  • 2
    Video Converter Software
    .
    There is a paid version available, but the free version is good enough. Get it at http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/.
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  • 3
    Your Movie and Subtitle File
    .
    Just search the subtitle file on Google.(Note: The subtitle should match the charset so that it will able to synchronize the voice and the text subtitle.
    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
  • Instructions

    1. 1
      Convert Your Movie to MKV File
      .
      If you already have the MKV movie file, that's good! Then skip this. If you have an FLV, MP4, AVI, or MPEG4 movie file, then you must convert it to an MKV file, using the software mentioned in the requirements section above.
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
    2. 2
      Merging Your MKV and Subtitle File
      .
      This is the process of mixing or merging the two files. Remember to add the two files individually and click the "Start Mixing" button below it. The process will take a couple of minutes.
      Kmv.png
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

    Other way around

    Requirements

    1. 1
      Download the AVC converter
      .
      AVC.JPG
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
    2. 2
      Download the subtitle you want to attach
      .
      Download subtitle.JPG
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

    How it is done

    1. 1
      Click the "Add video(s) button
      .
      Click to add video.JPG
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
    2. 2
      Choose the desired video.
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
    3. 3
      Click the "No subtitle" button
      .
      Click to add subtitle.JPG
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
    4. 4
      Choose the subtitle
      .
      Choose sub.JPG
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
    5. 5
      Click the "Convert Now" button
      .
      Convert now.JPG
      Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

    Questions and Answers

    How can I find the AVC converter program?

    I need the link to download a trusted AVC program. Thanks in advance!

    Here is the link to download AVC: AVC Ultimate.

    Once you evaluate the program, you will need to purchase it for $49.95 on PC or $54.95 on Mac. It is available on the Any Video Converter Web page. Click "Buy Now" to purchase the fully functional version.

    I cannot merge subtitle using vlc player with the method you shown?

    I have followed all the steps mentioned by you but in the last step it is taking forever to stream.. kindly guide.. thanks.. After the last step of stream there is nothing displayed on the screen and subs are not addded.. I have tried: I have tried all the steps as provided in method 1. I think it was caused by: I don't know?? if I know what has caused the problem why would I ask you??

    Reboot your PC and make sure you're using the latest version of VLC Media Player. Go through the steps again paying close attention to steps 10 to 15. If one detail is missing from a step, the process won't work.

    I have created the subtitle file but can't figure our how to merge with VLC Video?

    I have created the subtitle file but can't figure our how to merge with VLC Video. Need help. I can't figure out how to add the subtitle file. I have created the srt file in the same video file name yet facing problem

    Follow ALL the steps outlined above exactly as described.

    When I need to pick an output location, I don't really understand what to do?

    I did all the first 7 steps and step 8 confused me. I need to pick an output location but I don't have anything written in the file name as you do. Explained In the question detail....... Don't have anything to say

    Click Browse, navigate to the folder you wish to save your video file, then name it before clicking Save.

    If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

    Comments

    Article Info

    Categories : Software

    Recent edits by: DeleteQnA, Maria Quinney, Jay

    Share this Article:

    Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 63,948 times.

    About this article

    135 votes - 75%
    Co-authors: 23
    Updated:
    Views: 63,948
    x

    Thank Our Volunteer Authors.

    Would you like to give back to the community by fixing a spelling mistake? Yes | No