The VideoLAN Forums

When I open an URL (avi file), then I open an additional subtitle file from the disk and I seek forward about 5 minutes, the video and the subtitles are not in sync. What can I do to avoid this annoyance?

re-sync the subtitles with the synchronisation dialog.

How do I activate this subtitles synchronization dialog? I can't find it.

I've tried using the g and h keys to synchronize, but I don't have the intuitive coordination needed to accomplish this. I've downloaded three .srt files from two sources, and all seem to have the same synchronization delay (many seconds) relative to the .mp4 file.

Another .mp4/.srt combination worked perfectly.

I'm feeling frustrated, having searched the VLC Media Player and the forum and wiki. Is this lack of synchronization (by many seconds) a common, basic problem, or something very rare?

The Synchronisation Dialog :

Tools > Track Synchronisation > Subtitle/Video.

Here you can precisely set a time shift to synchronise your video.

This lack of synchronisation is not an issue of VLC but the association video_file/subtitle_file.

If this association is not correct, you have to find a other one or you can work on the subtitle file with a specific editor (like Gaupol on Linux for example) because VLC is not made for this.

Corbax, Thank you for your excellent reply. I understand that the video and subtitles files may not correspond, since there may be various versions of the pairs. I understand that VLC is not a tool designed for use by deaf people. But deaf people are welcome to use tools like VLC, yes?

I found the synchronization dialog with your help, thanks. One problem is that entering a subtitle delay of -150.000 (minus 150 seconds) can result in VLC freezing. Even clicking the Stop button does nothing. Is this a known bug?

Is there a recommended procedure for determining the delay number to enter into the dialog box for a deaf person?

In the case of this movie, the subtitles clearly are correct for the movie, but delayed by approximately one scene. But how to determine the precise delay if the audio cannot be heard? In other words, does VLC or any other viewer have a tool that helps by having the user choose a video frame showing a unique actor action and then (independently) the corresponding unique subtitle by flipping through the subtitles?

Surely someone has created such a useful tool. Otherwise, how do deaf people synchronize video and subtitles when they are off by a whole scene?

Open to a helpful answer by anyone who knows one, thanks.

Yes, this is known. VLC cannot deal with a subtitle delay that is that big! You need to edit your subtitles.