EBU-TT (EBU Timed Text)
- .xml
- Read
- Write
Closed Caption Converter reads and writes EBU-TT files. Convert EBU-TT to and from 56 other caption and subtitle formats in the web app, with the REST API, or offline with the CLI.
What is an EBU-TT file?
EBU-TT (EBU Timed Text) is the European Broadcasting Union’s XML subtitle format, based on W3C TTML. It was designed as the modern successor to the binary EBU-STL format. It keeps the broadcast metadata STL users depend on, and adds Unicode text, flexible styling and layout, and the tooling of XML.
The core specification, EBU-TT Part 1 (EBU Tech 3350), defines a constrained TTML document for subtitle authoring, exchange and archiving. A companion document, EBU Tech 3360, defines how each EBU-STL field and control code maps into EBU-TT. A separate distribution profile, EBU-TT-D (EBU Tech 3380), is used for online and hybrid delivery, including HbbTV and DVB-DASH.
EBU-TT documents carry rich programme metadata in an ebuttm:documentMetadata block. This can hold titles, the originating subtitle file, the publisher and more. Closed Caption Converter reads this metadata and can carry it through to other formats, such as the GSI header of an EBU-STL file.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<tt xmlns="http://www.w3.org/ns/ttml"
xmlns:ttp="http://www.w3.org/ns/ttml#parameter"
xmlns:ebuttm="urn:ebu:tt:metadata"
ttp:timeBase="smpte" ttp:frameRate="25" xml:lang="en">
<head>
<metadata>
<ebuttm:documentMetadata>
<ebuttm:documentEbuttVersion>v1.0</ebuttm:documentEbuttVersion>
</ebuttm:documentMetadata>
</metadata>
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p begin="10:00:01:00" end="10:00:03:12">Where were you last night?</p>
</div>
</body>
</tt>Convert EBU-TT files
Every readable format converts to every writable format, through the web app, the API or the CLI.
Popular EBU-TT conversions
Convert EBU-TT to
- Cavena 890
- iTT
- Closed Caption Creator Project
- Caption Inc.
- LMS Transcript
- JSON
- Substation Alpha
- Advanced Substation Alpha
- SCC
- MCC
- Rich Text Format
- SRT
- WebVTT
- Subviewer
- Sofni
- Micro DVD
- DVD Architect
- Avid DS
- Adobe Encore
- Apple DVD Studio Pro
- EZ Title
- PowerPixel Format
- ProCap Transfer
- QuickTime Text
- Eclipse
- EBU-STL
- Spruce STL
- PAC
- Cheetah (binary)
- Videotron Lambda
- NCI Caption
- Cheetah (ASCII Text)
- TTML
- DFXP
- DLP Cinema
- Netflix TT Captions
- Netflix TT Subtitles
- MAGIC TT
- SMPTE-TTML
- IMSC Text Captions
- IMSC Text Subtitles
- DCDM Subtitle
- Verizon TTML
- Bento MP4-DASH IMSC
- Netflix DFXP
- Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange
- Comma-Separated Values
- As-Broadcast Dialog List
Convert to EBU-TT from
- Cavena 890
- iTT
- Closed Caption Creator Project
- Caption Inc.
- LMS Transcript
- JSON
- Substation Alpha
- Advanced Substation Alpha
- SCC
- MCC
- Rich Text Format
- SRT
- WebVTT
- Subviewer
- Canvass SST Project
- Sofni
- Micro DVD
- DVD Architect
- Avid DS
- Adobe Encore
- Apple DVD Studio Pro
- EZ Title
- PowerPixel Format
- ProCap Transfer
- QuickTime Text
- Eclipse
- EBU-STL
- Spruce STL
- PAC
- Cheetah (binary)
- Videotron Lambda
- NCI Caption
- Cheetah (ASCII Text)
- TTML
- DFXP
- DLP Cinema
- Netflix TT Captions
- Netflix TT Subtitles
- MAGIC TT
- SMPTE-TTML
- IMSC Text Captions
- IMSC Text Subtitles
- DCDM Subtitle
- Verizon TTML
- Bento MP4-DASH IMSC
- Netflix DFXP
- Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange
- Comma-Separated Values
- Google STT Transcript
- Assembly AI STT Transcript
- Deepgram STT Transcript
- RevAI STT Transcript
- Voicegain STT Transcript
- Speechmatics STT Transcript
- Vitac
EBU-TT questions
EBU-STL is a 1991 binary format with fixed-size blocks and limited character tables. EBU-TT is XML, supports Unicode and richer styling, and maps every STL field to an equivalent. See EBU-STL to EBU-TT.
No. EBU-TT Part 1 is for production, exchange and archive, and keeps broadcast metadata and SMPTE timecode. EBU-TT-D is a simpler distribution profile for online players, and uses media time.
Yes. Closed Caption Converter reads EBU-TT programme and publisher fields. If you set the target format’s encoding options to auto, those values are copied, for example into the EBU-STL GSI header.
Convert your EBU-TT files in minutes
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