How to Automatically Generate Subtitles in VLC

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How to Automatically Generate Subtitles in VLC

Last Updated: 2024. 07. 22

VLC is undoubtedly the most popular open-source multi-media player in the world. As of July 2023, it has won 3 billion downloads since its release. The wide format support, streaming options, and robust features like trimming, applying filters, transcoding.

As for generating subtitles, VLC can easily embed subtitles to video both permanently and temporarily. The problem is, can VLC automatically generate subtitles?

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Table of Contents

Can VLC Automatically Generate Subtitles?

How to Use VLSub Auto Subtitle Generator

Pros & Cons of VLSub Add-On

Alternative to VLSub’s Auto Subtitle Generator

FAQs About VLC Generating Subtitles

Can VLC Automatically Generate Subtitles?

As a matter of fact, VLC can’t be used to generate subtitles based on the audio. Yet, there is an add-on called VLSub which can help download subtitles for the videos you are watching. It should be under the View section. Here are more information about this extension.

Subtitle Source: VLSub connects directly to OpenSubtitles.org, a popular and extensive database of subtitles for movies and TV shows. No matter what you are watching, you can always find the correct subtitle files without leaving VLC.

Optimized Subtitle Search Results: VLSub uses two methods to offer optimized subtitle search results. Firstly, it automatically matches the subtitle files online with video’s name, hashtags, and other metadata. This eradicates lots of wrong results. Moreover, users can manually input keywords and select the language they want for the subtitles.

Automatic Subtitle Loading: Once you select a subtitle file, VLSub can automatically load it into VLC, making it available instantly for the video you are watching.

How to Use VLSub Auto Subtitle Generator

You only need go through 3 steps to get subtitles and add it to the video you are watching. Follow the steps below.

Step 1. Get VLSub Extension (optional)

Under most circumstances, the VLSub extension is already set ready, especially if you have downloaded the newest version of VLC. In case that’s not your situation, here is how to download the VLSub extension.

Visit the VLC official website and download the VLSub add-on file. Extract it, find the the file titled vlsub.lua. Paste it to the following path according to the operating system.

Windows: C > Program Files > VideoLAN > VLC > lua > extensions

macOS|: Applications > VLC.app > Contents > MacOS > share > lua > extensions

Linux: usr > lib > vlc > lua > extensions > or local > share > vlc > lua > extensions

Restart VLC, go to View, there you have a brand new VLSub extension ready!

VLSub Extension

Step 2. Download Subtitles

Choose the language, input the movie name, series and episode. Click on Search by hash, or Search by name. Browse the search result, make a selection and hit the Download section button.

Search for Subtitles with VLSub Extension

Step 3. Enjoy the Video

VLC should automatically load the subtitles you just downloaded and add them to the video. If not, you can go to the Subtitle section and add the subtitle file manually to the video.

VLC Play the Video

Pros & Cons of VLSub Add-On

The most significant advantage of using the VLSub extension is rich resources. You can get tons of up-to-date subtitle resources easily without leaving VLC program. After downloading the subtitle, you basically don’t need extra operations to add subtitles to video.

However, VLSub has some potential drawbacks. Sometimes you can’t find the subtitle file for your video especially if you are watching a relatively new TV series or movies. Sometimes you may encounter issues like subtitle delay issues due to the incorrect timestamp information.

Alternative to VLSub’s Auto Subtitle Generator

As mentioned above, VLSub is rather a subtitle file downloader instead of a subtitle generator. Among all VLC’s auto subtitle generator alternatives, FlexClip’s AI Auto Subtitle tool is ready to offer the best help. Here is how.

Add Auto-Caption

On average, the caption accuracy reaches up to 95%. If your video is in major languages like English, Spanish, the accuracy can even reach 98%.

Leveraging the latest AI algorithm, FlexClip understands 110+ languages and automatically adds captions to video with perfect synchronization.

You have the freedom to modify the subtitle font, color, size, position, and even styles. To name some of the most popular subtitle styles, word-by-word animation, neon text, hollow text.

Translate the video subtitle into 60+ languages and win your video more potential viewers.

How to Automatically Add Subtitle to Video

Step 1

Click on the Add Auto-Caption button above to enter FlexClip’s editing page. Move to the Media section, upload a video file from a local folder, mobile device, and cloud services.

Upload Video to FlexClip

Step 2

Move to Subtitles, click on the AI Auto Subtitle. Then follow the prompt to select original language, transcription content, and subtitle styles. Hit Generate.

FlexClip Auto Generate Subtitles

Step 3

Your video will soon have accurate, perfectly synced subtitles on your video.

FlexClip Finish Transcribing Video

FAQs About VLC Generating Subtitles

1. How do I remove subtitles from video?

There are two types of subtitles, the softcoded subtitle and the hardcoded subtitle. If you are playing a video with softcoded subtitle, you can disable it with any multimedia player. As for hardcoded subtitles, you can crop out or use mosaic to cover the subtitles. Check this post about how to remove subtitles in video >