# Convert incompatible (text based) subtitles instead of transcoding **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Suggestions\ **Tags:** subtitles\ **Created:** [September 2, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/convert-incompatible-text-based-subtitles-instead-of-transcoding/740729 "2021-09-02T21:41:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ari](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Ari)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/convert-incompatible-text-based-subtitles-instead-of-transcoding/740729/1 "2021-09-02T21:41:59Z")
I want to avoid transcoding as much as possible, so if some form of text based subtitle format is not supported on the client (in my case WebVTT), the server should make an effort to convert it (to another, supported text based subtitle format). Generally, every client should understand the basic SRT format. And I know that the _advanced_ subtitle formats (ASS/WebVTT) don’t map perfectly into SRT, so the converter would have to make some compromises, i.e. dropping most of the styling, but this would still be preferable over transcoding (to me). And if the client supports at least one of the _advanced_ subtitle formats, you could (probably) completely emulate any (client) unsupported format. Ideally, this should be a **server** setting though. I know that some clients, like Amazon’s Fire TV, have a subtitle transcode setting, which allows you to choose between _Automatic_ and _Graphics subtitles only_ transcoding, but my client doesn’t offer such a setting. Furthermore, I completely disabled video transcoding on my Raspberry Pi server, so it’s either no subtitles or no movie for my users. Also, notice how I wrote “text based” in the title in parentheses? Why stop here? Why not include an OCR in the server and try to convert graphics based subtitles to text as well? You could even be smart about it and run it through a dictionary based on the specified subtitle language. Again, probably best to put that behind a setting, but based on the number of subtitle related threads, it looks like many users would appreciate something like this. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/convert-incompatible-text-based-subtitles-instead-of-transcoding/740729/2 "2021-09-02T22:23:18Z")
> [@Ari](#): > > Also, notice how I wrote “text based” in the title in parentheses? Why stop here? Why not include an OCR in the server and try to convert graphics based subtitles to text as well? Let’s stick with the text based ones in this thread. There’s already an existing suggestion to do some on-the-fly transcoding/conversion of image based subtitles 😉 > [@Automatically convert subtitles whilst streaming](https://forums.plex.tv/t/automatically-convert-subtitles-whilst-streaming/440308): > > I would like see to a feature that can transcode/convert my subtitle files from PGS/VOB/ASS to SRT whilst playing a video just like when a audio has to be transcoded. Why? because i simply want direct play. When i use any other subtitle file other than SRT my video and audio decides to transcode resulting in lower quality and most importantly BUFFERING. Before anyone says use the automatic subtitle downloader that can get SRT subs that’s NOT a solution because either you have to find the cor… ---
**Author:** ![Ari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ari](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Ari)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/convert-incompatible-text-based-subtitles-instead-of-transcoding/740729/3 "2021-09-02T23:05:59Z")
Upon further investigation, it looks like I didn’t spend enough time looking for an existing thread (I was only really looking in `/tag/subtitles` instead of `/tags/c/feature-suggestions/8/subtitles`). It would’ve honestly been shocking if nobody has requested this before. Please disregard > [@New option! Burn Subtitles: Avoid at all costs](https://forums.plex.tv/t/new-option-burn-subtitles-avoid-at-all-costs/320968): > > So, Plex is great at delivering media and their belonging subtitles. It works most of the time. Sometimes the subtitles are being burned in. Burning in the subtitles is totally fine when it really has to be done, but sometimes it is doing it unnecessarily (when it can be natively played or converted to another text format) One example is ASS subtitles in the android client. Having Burn Subtitles: Automatic will burn them. Changing the setting to Only Image Formats will now natively play them. F… ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2021, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/convert-incompatible-text-based-subtitles-instead-of-transcoding/740729/4 "2021-12-04T10:08:21Z")
2021 clean-up: duplicate