Ijharul Islam
To convert ASS subtitles to SRT, open the .ass file in a converter, which reads each Dialogue line's start, end and text, rewrites the times from 0:00:04.20 to 00:00:04,200, turns \N into line breaks and strips the styling codes in curly braces, then save the .srt. You keep the timing, the words and, optionally, italics and bold. You lose fonts, colors, positions, fades and karaoke effects, because SRT can't store them.
More on this topic: Subtitles and captions, every guide in one place.
Here are three free ways to do it, what changes inside the file, and what to do if you need the styling to survive.
The short answer
Easiest: drop the .ass or .ssa file into a free browser ASS to SRT converter and download the .srt. Desktop: open it in Subtitle Edit and save as SubRip. Command line: ffmpeg -i subs.ass subs.srt. SRT has no styles or positions, so only timing, text, line breaks and basic italic, bold and underline tags carry over. To keep the look, burn the ASS file into the video instead of converting it.
Key takeaways
- ASS (Advanced SubStation Alpha) stores styles, fonts, colors and positions; SRT stores only numbered cues, times and text.
- ASS times use hundredths of a second (0:00:04.20); SRT uses milliseconds with a comma (00:00:04,200).
- \N becomes a line break; override tags like {\an8} or {\fad(200,200)} are removed.
- Comment lines and vector drawings should be skipped; on-screen sign lines become ordinary subtitles.
- If the style matters, burn the ASS into the video instead of converting.
How do you convert ASS to SRT?
You convert ASS to SRT by extracting the time and text of every Dialogue line and dropping the rest. The quickest free way, with QuickVeed's ASS to SRT converter:
- Drop the .ass or .ssa file onto the page (up to 10 MB), or paste its contents.
- Choose whether to keep italic, bold and underline as <i>, <b> and <u> tags, sort cues by time and merge lines with identical timing.
- Check the SRT preview on the right, then press Download .srt.
The converter reads the [Events] section's Format line to find the start, end and text fields, so files with reordered columns convert correctly. It skips Comment lines and vector drawings, and it runs in your browser: the file is never uploaded.
What is an ASS subtitle file?
An ASS file is a text file in the Advanced SubStation Alpha format, used for styled subtitles, especially anime fansubs and karaoke. Open one in a text editor and you'll see three main sections:
| Section | What it holds |
|---|---|
| [Script Info] | Title, the video resolution the positions refer to (PlayResX, PlayResY), wrapping style |
| [V4+ Styles] | Named styles: font, size, primary and outline colors, bold, italic, border, shadow, alignment, margins |
| [Events] | A Format line naming the fields, then one Dialogue (or Comment) line per subtitle |
Each Dialogue line lists, in the order the Format line gives: layer, start, end, style, speaker name, three margins, an effect and the text. The text can carry override tags in curly braces that change the style for part of a line, such as {\b1} for bold, {\pos(640,80)} for an exact position or {\k25} for karaoke timing. SSA, the older version, uses a [V4 Styles] section and a few different fields, but the events work the same way.
What is the difference between ASS and SRT?
ASS is a styled subtitle format with fonts, colors, positions and effects; SRT is plain text with times. The difference in one table:
| ASS / SSA | SRT (SubRip) | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | [Script Info], [V4+ Styles], [Events] sections | Numbered cues: number, times, text, blank line |
| Time format | H:MM:SS.cc (hundredths) | HH:MM:SS,mmm (milliseconds) |
| Styles and fonts | Named styles with font, size, colors, outline, shadow | None (players use their own) |
| Positioning | Alignment and exact coordinates per line | None (bottom centre by default) |
| Effects | Fades, moves, rotation, karaoke timing | None |
| Inline formatting | Override tags in curly braces | <i>, <b>, <u> (and font color in some players) |
| Where it works | VLC, mpv, MPC, many media servers; few web players | Almost everywhere, including YouTube and social platforms |
That's why people convert: SRT plays on more platforms and in more editors. For web players you may need VTT next; the free SRT to VTT converter converts the result, and SRT vs VTT explains when each is used.
What changes inside the file when you convert?
The conversion rewrites the times and cleans the text. Here's one ASS Dialogue line and the SRT cue it becomes:
| ASS | SRT |
|---|---|
| Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.20,0:00:06.85,Default,,0,0,0,,{\an8}{\i1}Hello{\i0}\Nthere | 1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,850 <i>Hello</i> there |
| In the ASS line | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0:00:04.20 | Becomes 00:00:04,200 (hundredths to milliseconds) |
| Layer, Style, Name, margins, Effect fields | Dropped |
| {\an8} (top alignment) | Removed; SRT has no position |
| {\i1}...{\i0} | Kept as <i>...</i> if you choose, otherwise removed |
| \N | Line break |
| \h (hard space) | Normal space |
| {\fad(200,200)}, {\pos(...)}, {\c&H...&}, {\k} | Removed |
| Comment: lines | Skipped |
The Aegisub manual lists every ASS override tag if you want to know what a particular code did.
How do you convert ASS to SRT with FFmpeg or Subtitle Edit?
Both are free and work offline.
FFmpeg
- One file:
ffmpeg -i subs.ass subs.srt - From a video with an ASS track (for example an MKV):
ffmpeg -i video.mkv -map 0:s:0 subs.srt
FFmpeg strips most styling but can leave font tags in some cases; open the result and check a few lines.
Subtitle Edit
- Open the .ass file (File > Open).
- Choose SubRip (.srt) in the format list.
- Save with File > Save as.
Subtitle Edit also lets you fix timing and spelling in the same session; see how to edit an SRT file.
What if I want to keep the ASS styling?
If you need the fonts, colors and positions, don't convert: burn the ASS subtitles into the video so they become part of the picture. With FFmpeg: ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vf "subtitles=subs.ass" -c:a copy out.mp4. The subtitles filter renders ASS styling with libass. The trade-off is that burned-in subtitles can't be turned off or translated later. Open vs closed captions covers when each makes sense.
If you're starting from the video rather than an existing file, QuickVeed's auto subtitles transcribe it, let you fix every line, translate into 32 languages with timing kept, export SRT, VTT or TXT, and burn styled captions in 11 styles. A transcript costs 1.5 credits a minute, rounded up.
How do you check the SRT after converting?
Check three things after converting:
- Signs and songs. Fansub files often contain typesetting lines for on-screen text. They become ordinary subtitles at the bottom; delete the ones you don't want.
- Overlaps. ASS allows several lines on screen at once in different positions. In SRT they stack; merge or delete duplicates.
- Reading speed. Run the file through the free subtitle reading speed checker to catch cues that are too fast or too long; see subtitle reading speed.
If the whole file is early or late against your video, shift it with the free subtitle time shifter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert ASS to SRT?
Drop the .ass file into a free converter and download the .srt, or run ffmpeg -i subs.ass subs.srt.
Will converting ASS to SRT lose formatting?
Yes. Fonts, colors, positions and effects are lost. Timing, text, line breaks and basic italic, bold and underline can be kept.
Is SSA the same as ASS?
SSA (SubStation Alpha) is the older format; ASS (Advanced SubStation Alpha) is version 4+. Both convert to SRT the same way.
Can YouTube use ASS subtitles?
No. ASS isn't on YouTube's list of supported subtitle files, which includes SRT and VTT, so convert first.
Why are there extra lines in my SRT?
Sign and typesetting lines from the ASS file became normal subtitles. Delete them or merge duplicates.
Can I convert SRT back to ASS?
Yes, in Subtitle Edit or Aegisub, but you'll have to add the styling again.
Try it with your own video
Starting from the video? Transcribe it, fix the lines and export SRT or VTT in 32 languages. Upload a video, check the transcript line by line, and download the SRT. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
