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Captions and formats

What is an SBV file?

SBV is a simple caption format tied to YouTube. Each caption has a timing line with start and end separated by a comma, like 0:00:01.120,0:00:03.480, followed by the text and a blank line. There is no numbering and no styling. It is what YouTube Studio gives you when you download captions as .sbv.

Also called: SubViewer, .sbv file

Convert SRT to SBV Try it with my video
Example

Inside an SBV file

No number before each block, and a comma between start and end. Hours use a single digit.

0:00:01.120,0:00:03.480
I started filming weddings in 2015.

0:00:03.560,0:00:06.200
At my first one, I forgot to record the vows.
Why it matters

Why you will run into SBV

Because YouTube Studio offers .sbv as a caption download option. Download the auto captions of an old video to fix them and you often get an SBV file your video editor will not open.

Converting solves it: the text and timing are the same as in SRT, just written differently. The conversion does not change the sync.

In FilmScribe

SBV and FilmScribe

We deliver captions as SRT, which YouTube accepts directly. If your channel's workflow needs SBV, the free tool converts the SRT. If you have an SBV and need an SRT for your editor, the reverse conversion is free too.

Convert SRT to SBV We remove the numbering, rewrite every time in YouTube's format and strip the formatting. Convert SRT to SBV →
In practice

Handling SBV files without breaking sync

  1. 01

    Keep the format when editing

    If you edit an SBV by hand, keep its rules: no block numbers, no arrow, just start and end separated by a comma. SRT habits mixed into an SBV make converters misread the blocks.

  2. 02

    Keep the blank lines

    Each caption ends with a blank line. Delete it and the next timing line reads as text of the previous caption, so two blocks merge and a line of numbers can end up on screen.

  3. 03

    Use a period for milliseconds

    SBV times put a period before the milliseconds, like 0:01:05.300, while SRT uses a comma. Write three digits after the period so every converter reads the time the same way.

  4. 04

    Fix the text before converting

    Auto captions downloaded as SBV carry every recognition error, like misheard names. Correct the text first and then convert, so the fix lives in one file instead of being redone in every format.

Related terms

See all terms →
SRT A plain text file of numbered captions, each with a start time, an end time and the words shown on screen. WebVTT (VTT) A caption format made for web video players, close to SRT but with its own header and positioning options. Auto captions Captions generated from the video's speech, with the text and timing of each line ready and nothing typed by hand. YouTube chapters A video split by topic, created from the list of timestamps and titles you paste into the description.

Frequently asked questions

Does YouTube accept SRT or only SBV?

Both, plus VTT. SBV is just one of the formats YouTube Studio offers as a download. For uploading, SRT works the same way.

How do I open an SBV file in Premiere?

Premiere does not read SBV. Convert it to SRT and import the .srt as captions. The text and timing stay the same.

Does SBV keep italics or color?

No. SBV only stores timing and text. That is why converting to SBV removes italics, color and position tags.

Captions, clips and paper edits. All in one place.

Upload a video or paste a YouTube link. We transcribe every word with its timing, and you take the result to social media or to your editor.

Try it with my video
See the result on your own recording before adding a card.