Adding delay to each .sub timestamp.

[Trip Machine]

I know that you can use the delay field in DirectVobsub and Vobsub Configure but is it possible to change each individual timestamp instead? I'm looking for some easy procedure that will take a delay number, and then apply it to every timestamp. I once did this the hard way and manually adjusted about 1400 timestamps individually (oh the dizziness and pain) for a delay of 1043 milleseconds.

I know that with Subrip and if you're using .srt files, you can input a delay number and each timestamp gets adjusted accordingly. So if any one knows how this can be achieved with .subs, taking my first sentence into consideration, I would be happy to know.

TIA. :)

[zalas]

I'm sure subresync does this correctly (from the vobsub package) for .ssa files. I think it loads some other subtitle formats as well. If it doesn't, you can probably convert the .sub file to .ssa and back, etc.

[oddyseus]

subrip can open sub files. U can adjust the delay there and export back.

[Trip Machine]

While SubRip does open .sub files, unfortunately it doesn't open Vobsub .sub files. When you open it in Subrip, it's an unknown file format.

I also took the suggestion of converting to .ssa and back to .sub using Subresync in the Vobsub package but Vobsub can't return the .ssa file back to a .sub file. D'Oh!


However.....

While fooling around, I did manage to find a small work around! It's not that complicated and doesn't require you to change back and forth between formats. So if anyone is having difficulties in adding or removing a delay to the timestamps for Vobsub's .sub generated file, I present to you this short guide:

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* For ADDING delay (positive numbers) so that subs play a little bit later read from step 1 and onwards.
* For REMOVING delay (negative numbers) so that subs play earlier, read step 1 then skip to step 4.

1. Obtain your .sub and .idx file from using Vobsub Configure.

2. Open Vobsub Joiner and in both Input 1 and Input 2, select your subtitle files. It doesn't matter if you choose the .idx or .sub, since they're both recognized as the same file. Then select an Output name of your choosing but don't press Go yet.

3. Now open the .idx file and take a note of the last timestamp. You're going to round to the next minute or two from that number and put that number into the Beginning of Input 2 field in Vobsub Joiner. Then hit Go.

For instance, my last timestamp is 00:23:35:046, so in the "Beginning of Input 2" field, I'll type in 00:25:00:000 just because it's a nice whole number and will be easier to calculate in the proceeding step.

4. With your new .idx and .sub file, open Vobsub Cutter and load the file. Make sure that "Modify timestamps to count from "Start" is checked.

For ADDING delay so subs appear later:
Remember that number I told you to make note of? Now take that number and subtract whatever your delay needs to be, and put that number in the Start field.

In my case, since I need a delay of 1043ms, I'll take 00:25:00:000 and subtract 1043ms from it, which results in 24:58:957. Be careful with the calculation here since you're using both minutes, seconds (max of 59) and milleseconds (max of 999).

For REMOVING delay so subs appear earlier:
This is a lot simpler. Just input the timed delay into the Start field.

5. Hit Save As.. and make a new file name.

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There you have it! Altered timestamps to your liking.

Of course it's just my preference that I have the delay within the timestamp. You could just simply input your delay number in the Vobsub Configure and DirectVobsub delay field as stated in my first post. Anyways, hope that helps anyone who is looking for the same thing as I was.

If you've got anything to edit about this method or comments, please do share. :)