What is the Difference between PGS and SRT Subtitle Files?

For content creators, publishers, and videophiles, a strong knowledge of subtitle formats is crucial to achieving the perfect content viewing experience they desire. Accessibility (especially for the deaf or hard of hearing), readability, multilanguage support, compatibility with devices or video players, subtitle customizations, and content type are some factors that dictate the choice of subtitle format. The two most popular subtitle formats in the industry are PGS and SRT. Indeed, SRT and PGS subtitle formats lie at the opposite ends of the spectrum, with the former offering plain text subtitles, while the latter comes with all the bells and whistles you'd want from subtitles.

But which one is right for your needs? This guide will help you decide that.

Part 1: Overview of the PGS and SRT Subtitles

1. What Are PGS Subtitles?

PGS subtitles are highly customizable subtitles that offer a rich subtitle experience for Blu-ray viewers. They are graphic-based subtitles with a high degree of customizability. Content creators can customize almost everything about PGS subtitles - their fonts, colors, styling, orientation, location on the screen, and more. They can do all this because PGS subtitles are essentially a timed sequence of bitmaps (images) that appear on top of the video content onscreen.

The rich formatting of PGS subs comes at a cost - size. PGS Subtitles are notoriously large and require quite a lot of storage space. Although the bitmaps of PGS Subtitles are compressed to make their storage convenient, they still take up much space compared to simple text subtitles.

Nevertheless, content creators and publishers rely on PGS subtitles when they wish to deliver a rich viewing experience unencumbered by the limitations or idiosyncrasies of countless video players or devices.

2. What Are SRT Subtitles?

SRT, short for SubRip Subtitle, are plain text subtitles. They are the most basic type of subtitles and contain only the bare minimum information. An SRT Subtitle file includes 3 pieces of information:

• A subtitle index, which is a sequential number that identifies each line of text in the subtitle so that the media player knows the precise sequence in which the text must be displayed
• The plain text of the subtitle, i.e., all the dialogues, voiceovers, etc.
• The last item is the timecodes, which indicate the exact start time and end time when each line of subtitle text must be displayed on the screen in sync with the video.

Since SRT subtitles are essentially text files, they are virtually negligible in size. You can wrap up dozens of SRT files, each containing subtitles in different languages, with the video container, and they'd still make no significant difference in the overall size of the video.

Simplicity is the core of SRT subtitles. Anyone can create them, upload them to videos, and use them. All you need is a text editor. For instance, Windows users can use WordPad to create a fresh new subtitle - it's that simple. And they're universally compatible too. There's no media player out there that doesn't support SRT subtitles. They're the unsung heroes of the media industry.

In the case of web media like YouTube videos, SRT subtitles also have a huge impact on SEO. SRT files accompanying videos are indexed by search engines and delivered to search engine users. So, including SRT files can boost your visibility too.

Part 2: What are the Differences between PGS and SRT Subtitle?

PGS and SRT subtitles take two very different approaches to deliver a great viewing experience. The differences arising from their diverging approaches make them suitable for different contexts. So, it's important to know how they differ so that you can make the right decision when choosing one over the other. Here's a quick overview of the most important differences between them:

1. File Size and Compression

As discussed above, SRT files are practically text files and don't take up much space. In contrast, PGS subtitles are a bunch of images compressed together. Despite the compression, they can be quite large. Therefore, they're suited for platforms with lots of storage space or when there's a high-speed internet connection available.

2. Quality and Aesthetics

PGS subtitles are the king of rich subtitle experience. When content creators wish to deliver an immersive visual experience that blends video and subtitle components into a seamlessly packaged, high-definition experience, they use PGS subtitles. Fonts, colors, karaoke effects, multilanguage context inputs, and custom placement of subtitles to suit specific scenes - they are all made possible by PGS subtitles.

In the case of SRT subtitles, presentation is limited to minimal styling. Rich formatting is beyond its cup of tea. However, when users need simple, unformatted, bare-bones subtitles, SRT subtitles perform their task perfectly.

3. Compatibility and Usage

PGS subtitles are typically supported with Blu-ray content. So, they're compatible with all media players that run Blu-ray content. Although some online streaming platforms and clients can support PGS subtitles, it's quite rare. Even when they do, they transcode (hardcode) them onto the background video. This compromises the original quality of the video. So, PGS subtitles are best run on media players that support Blu-ray content. Moreover, PGS subtitles are hard to edit and require professional software tools.

Then there's the SRT format. SRT subtitles are compatible with almost all media players. They are so easy to edit that anyone can use a standard text editor. The text from SRT subtitles can be extracted and translated into any other language easily using translators.

Based on what you've read so far, it's clear that SRT subtitles are the right choice when you need bare-bones subtitles without any formatting. This is especially true when you're constrained for space (like on CD discs) or have a low-speed internet connection. Even for online streaming and video embedding, SRT subtitles are perfect.

PGS subtitles fit well when content experience takes priority over other factors. When using a media player that supports them, PGS subtitles offer a superior video experience. This is especially true when storage space is not a problem, such as on Blu-ray discs or desktops. Even for online streaming, they can be great as long as the media player and internet speed support their large sizes.

Part 3: How to Convert PGS to SRT and Vice Versa?

1. How to Convert PGS to SRT using Subtitle Edit

There are plenty of PGS to SRT converter tools to get the job done. The popular options include Subtitle Edit, HandBrake, MKVToolNix, etc. But be warned that they all use one or the other form of OCR tool to "read" text from the PGS bitmaps. Depending on the accuracy of the OCR, there are bound to be a lot of errors in the converted files. So, you will have to correct them manually. Here's how you can use Subtitle Edit to convert subtitles from PGS to SRT format:

• Step 1: Import File to Handbrake

Install Subtitle Edit and launch it. Navigate from "File" >> "Import subtitle from Matroska (.mkv) file…" to import the files. Alternatively, just drag and drop the file into the box.



• Step 2: Choose Subtitle Files

The tool displays multiple files that it extracts from the video. Pick the PGS file you need to convert.

• Step 3: Edit Subtitle

Since PGS files are not text files, the images are converted to text with an OCR algorithm built into Subtitle Edit. So, there are bound to be some errors in the text recognition program.

Check, verify, and correct each subtitle line on the right side of the extracted text.



• Step 4: Choose Output Format

Proceed as follows: Format >> SubRip (.srt) >> Set "Unicode (UTF-8)" under the Encoding section. Finally, click as follows: File >> Save as >> Set a name for your subtitle >> Save.

And you're done!

2. How to Convert SRT to PGS with BDSup2Sub and MKVToolNix

Converting SRT subtitles into PGS format is a two-part process. The first step is the actual conversion of the subtitle format, for which you'll need BDSup2Sub, and then there's the second step, where you'll mux the subtitle to the video using MKVToolNix. Let's see how it's done.

• Step 1:Launch BDSup2Sub >> File >> Load >> Select SRT File to be Converted >> Select Output Format from Dropdown Menu >> Set Other Preferences >> Export

  

• Step 2:Launch MKVToolNix >> Drag and Drop Video and PGS Subtitle files into the "Tracks" box. Make sure to check the subtitle file. >> Select Destination Folder and File Name >> Click Start Multiplexing

  

Bonus Tips: How to Add SRT Subtitles to Videos without Hassle

BDSup2Sub and MKVToolNix are excellent tools artists and content creators use to work with their video content routinely. However, they are also loaded with features that can overwhelm a casual user. They also throw up a lot of prompts and customizations, which can be too complex for users. For users who need a simple yet powerful tool to convert subtitles or add subtitles to movies, HitPaw Video Converter is the perfect choice. This powerful tool allows you to convert the video format and add subtitles to your favorite video for better viewing. Elevate your content by easily adding subtitles including SRT, ASS, VTT, and SSA to your videos in just a few clicks.

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Guide on Hardcode SRT Subtitles to Video with HitPaw

Adding subtitles to videos is easy with the HitPaw Video Converter. Here's how to do it:

• Step 1: Import Videos

Launch HitPaw Video Converter. Under the "Add Files" dropdown menu, click "Add Video" to upload your files.



• Step 2: Edit Videos (Optional)

You can edit the video name and metadata, such as title, artists, album, composer, etc.



• Step 3: Add subtitlesto Video

You can add one subtitle per video at this stage. If you want to add more than one subtitle to the same video, you must follow the entire 5-step process again. Currently, HitPaw Video Converter supports SRT, ASS, VTT, and SSA subtitle formats.




The added external subtitle files will be sorted in descending order according to the import order. There will be a delete icon on the right of each added subtitle.



• Step 4: Select an Output Format

Click on the drop-down menu accompanying each file to set its output format, or do it for the entire batch using the drop-down menu at the bottom left corner.




You can also customize the output video by clicking the Edit button towards the right.



• Step 5: Start Convert Video with Added Subtitles

Click the "Convert" or "Convert All" button to add video subtitles.

FAQs about PGS vs SRT Subtitles

Conclusion

Both PGS subtitles and SRT subtitles perform the tasks for which they're designed spectacularly. However, when the context changes, you may need to switch from one format to another. Therefore, it pays to know how to convert subtitles from PGS to SRT formats or vice versa. And always use HitPaw Video Converter to add subtitles to your videos easily. Give it a test run today.