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3. Fix subtitles out of sync

How to fix subtitles that are out of sync

Subtitles that show a second late all the way through need a shift. Subtitles that start right and drift later and later need a stretch. Subwave does both, and you see the result over the video.

All late (or early) by the same amount

1. Open the video and its subtitles in Subwave.
2. Find the first spoken line. Play until it is said, then pause.
3. Select its subtitle in the list and choose Tools → Shift times… → Line to the playhead. Every line moves by the same amount.

Drifting further off as it goes

Drift means the subtitles were made for another cut or another frame rate. Give two lines their right times:

1. Choose Tools → Fix sync (two points)…
2. Pick a line near the start, play to where it is said and press Playhead.
3. Do the same for a line near the end, then Sync. Every line in between is moved and stretched to match.

When the drift comes from the frame rate (a 25 fps release and a 23.976 fps video, for example), Change the frame rate… fixes it in one step.