To convert an SRT subtitle file to XML format suitable for Digital Cinema Package (DCP), you need to transform the .srt into an Interop or SMPTE-compliant XML subtitle file. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how to do it:
What You Need to Know First
DCP subtitle formats are XML files conforming to either:
- Interop DCP (older, more compatible)
- SMPTE DCP (newer, supports more features like Unicode, positioning, etc.)
SRT is a simple subtitle format: Start time –> End time, followed by the text.
DCP XML is much more structured, uses XML schema, and has:
- <subtitle> elements
- Timecodes in HH:MM:SS:FF format (frames, not milliseconds!)
- Frame rate is critical (usually 24fps or 25fps for DCP)
Tools You Can Use
- Pay or free Subtitle Converter Software
- Custom Script (Python). You can write a script to Parse the SRT and Convert to compliant XML
- DCP Maker a Subtitle Online Professional Conversion Service (Commercial)
Example: SRT → Interop XML (Simplified)
Input .srt
1
00:00:01,000 –> 00:00:04,000
Hello, world!
2
00:00:05,000 –> 00:00:07,000
This is a test.
Output .xml
Want a XML Subtitles?
If you’re interested, we can provide: