Program for extracting subtitle text from MKV files

Is there a free program that can extract the text from embedded subtitles in MKV files? I don't want to remove the subtitles. I just want to get the plain-text from them. I want to save my favorite quotes from various shows and movies without having to manually open up a text editor and type it out.

Aznfin

Posted 2011-06-26T17:34:10.333

Reputation: 477

Answers

mkvextract from MKVToolnix can extract tracks and attachments from a Matroska container.

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

Posted 2011-06-26T17:34:10.333

Reputation: 100 516

How do I use this to extract the subtitles? – Donald Duck – 2019-11-03T10:08:44.063

great tool. I used it some time ago to extract the english subtitles from movie and later to add translated subtitles to the movie again. :-) – Juhele – 2011-06-26T17:56:02.723

Well, that lets me extract the subtitle tracks but I can't open the subtitles in a text editor without a bunch of nonsense characters coming up. Is there a way to get just the plain-text? Not the entire track itself as raw data. Is there any good subtitle editing programs out there? – Aznfin – 2011-06-26T18:06:20.230

You'll need to postprocess using something like awk or a subtitle editor if just want raw text. And if you're getting a bunch of nonsense characters then either you're extracting the wrong track or you need a better text editor. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2011-06-26T18:10:40.757

I've got the right track. It's a VOB subtitle. But Notepad++ doesn't handle subtitles apparently. – Aznfin – 2011-06-26T18:13:05.730

1Oh, VOB subtitles. Try Tesseract then or something. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2011-06-26T18:18:43.120

I use the program Subtitle Edit to extract subtitles from MKV files:

Open the program
Click on menu "File"
Select "Import subtitle from Matroska..."
A file window opens. Navigate to and select the .mkv file of interest
Wait a minute or so (depending on your CPU's power).
The subtitle is presented to you in SE's subtitle window.
Do whatever you want to the text and save it.

Eric Bligan

Posted 2011-06-26T17:34:10.333

Reputation: 21

I use the program Subtitle Edit to extract subtitles from MKV files: Drag and drop the mkv-file on Subtitle Edit. If Subtitle Edit finds any sub, select File and Save as... Done!

Peter

Posted 2011-06-26T17:34:10.333

Reputation: 1

Welcome to Super User! Please read how to recommend software in answers, particularly the bits in bold; then edit your answer to follow the guidelines there. Thanks!

– bertieb – 2018-07-20T12:42:02.570