How to Extract Subtitles from MP4

However, not everyone knows how to extract subtitles from a video file, especially if it is hardcoded or embedded. The good news is that with the right tools, such as Clideo's Auto Subtitle Generator, you can easily and quickly extract subtitles from MP4 videos and save them as text files without any hassle. This article breaks down the process into steps to make it easier.

Why extract subtitles from a video file

Extracting video subtitles from a file suggests pulling out the text captions that appear on the screen. For many content creators and casual users, this process helps make videos more accessible to people with hearing difficulties or people who may be watching videos without sound.

Having the text of subtitles also makes translating video content easier and allows repurposing the spoken text into articles or social media posts.

Subtitle formats explained

When it comes to video subtitles, there are two major ways they can be included:

• Separate subtitle files: These are external files, like .srt or .vtt, that accompany the video file but are stored separately. You can load these files alongside the video to display subtitles. These files can be easily found and edited even in a simple text editor.
• Embedded subtitles: These subtitles are part of the video file itself. They can be either soft-coded, meaning they are included as separate subtitle streams within the video container and can be turned on or off, or hardcoded (also called burned-in), meaning the subtitles are permanently "burned" into the video frames and cannot be removed or toggled off.

It is when subtitles are hardcoded into the video itself that you need to think a bit more creatively to find the easiest way to extract them. And luckily, there are a few.

Ways to extract hardcoded subtitles from video

There are several ways to extract hardcoded subtitles, each with its own quirks and charm:

• Manual transcription: The old-fashioned way for those who enjoy putting in extra effort. You watch the video, pause, type what you hear, rewind, repeat. It's a workout indeed for your fingers and patience, though perfect if you enjoy a slow, meditative process and want to feel like a subtitle detective.
• OCR (optical character recognition): A tech-savvy approach, where the software tries to "read" the subtitles directly from the video frames. It’s not perfect as OCR works best when subtitles have clear fonts and good contrast, but if the video is blurry or the text is fancy, there will be errors. Tesseract is one of the popular open-source OCR software that can be used for extracting text from images, including video subtitles.
• Subtitle recognition: Another tech-savvy approach, where the software "listens" to the audio and generates subtitles from scratch. This method uses AI to transform spoken words into text, making it like a high-tech version of manual transcription where someone else listens and types, but at lightning speed. This method, though, depends heavily on audio quality and accents, so it's sometimes more "close enough" than "perfect transcript."

As we're looking for the simplest solutions, let's walk through how you can create subtitle files or just grab the transcript from an MP4 video using the subtitle recognition tool.

How to extract subtitles from a video

Extracting subtitles as a text file can be easy and convenient with Clideo's online Auto Subtitle Generator. The tool will automatically generate subtitles, and you can easily review and edit the recognized text to make sure everything is accurate. All you need is a file to upload and a browser.

1. Add an MP4 video with hardcoded subtitles

   First, make sure you're logged in to Clideo, as subtitle generation is available only to registered users (if you haven't registered yet, you can quickly sign up via email and one-time access code or use a social media account). Visit Clideo's Auto Subtitle Generator and click "Choose file" to upload your MP4 video from your device or cloud storage.

   If you want to try the service for free, your file should be no more than 500 MB and up to 10 minutes long. Keep in mind that for longer videos or larger files, you might need a subscription to access extended processing capabilities.

2. Extract the subtitles from the MP4 video

   After the file is uploaded, click the "Auto subtitles" button, select the language spoken in your video, and choose "Do not translate" if you want the original text only. Then click "Generate" to start the subtitle extraction process.

   After generating the subtitles, review them carefully. Human oversight is still necessary (and keeps us still useful). If you notice any errors, feel free to edit the text directly within the tool.

3. Download subtitles as an SRT file or text

   To download your subtitles, click either "↓ SRT" or "↓ TXT" in the right panel. These files can later be used for captioning videos or just reading the transcript.

4. Translate the subtitles

   If you want the subtitles translated into another language, click the "Translate" button on the right panel. Choose the original and target languages, then click "Generate" to see the translation. Pay attention, the translated text will replace the original.

5. Save the file with embedded captions

   If you want to download the video with the captions after translating or editing them, click "Export video" at the bottom right.

   Then, preview and download the video with the new hardcoded subtitles to your device or to the cloud.

Tips for extracting subtitles from videos

Extracting subtitles can sometimes be tricky, but with these helpful tips, you'll get better and more accurate results.

• Be sure to select the correct language variation for subtitle extraction to improve accuracy.
• To achieve better results, the audio track in your video should be clear, and there should be no multiple speakers or different languages spoken at the same time.
• Automatic extraction is still less accurate than humans. Always review the text and check your subtitles for timing and punctuation errors before finalizing.
• If you want to translate subtitles, generate the original first, then use the translation feature to get more accurate results.

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