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SMI to VTT Converter

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SMI
<SAMI>
<BODY>
<SYNC Start=1000><P Class=ENCC>Hello, world!</P>
<SYNC Start=4000><P Class=ENCC>&nbsp;</P>
<SYNC Start=4500><P Class=ENCC>This is a subtitle file.</P>
<SYNC Start=8000><P Class=ENCC>&nbsp;</P>
<SYNC Start=8500><P Class=ENCC>Converted locally!</P>
<SYNC Start=12000><P Class=ENCC>&nbsp;</P>
</BODY>
</SAMI>
VTT
WEBVTT
 
00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.000
Hello, world!
 
00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:08.000
This is a subtitle file.
 
00:00:08.500 --> 00:00:12.000
Converted locally!

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Supports .smi files up to any size

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How It Works

1

Upload SMI File

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2

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3

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No file size limits. No daily limits. Completely free.

Works Everywhere

Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android - any modern browser.

Free Online SMI to VTT Converter

Our SMI to VTT converter takes Microsoft SAMI subtitle files and produces W3C-compliant WebVTT for web video. SAMI uses HTML-like SYNC elements with millisecond timing offsets and CSS styling, while VTT uses the WEBVTT header with HH:MM:SS.mmm timestamps. This tool parses the SAMI HTML structure, strips all markup, extracts subtitle text, converts timing to VTT format, and adds the mandatory WEBVTT header. The result works in HTML5 video, YouTube, and JavaScript video players.

Input Format

SMI

SMI (SAMI, Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange) is a subtitle format developed by Microsoft for Windows Media Player. SAMI files use an HTML-like structure where each subtitle entry is enclosed in SYNC elements, with a Start attribute giving the display time in milliseconds. The format supports CSS styling, multiple language tracks via CLASS attributes, and metadata in the document head. SAMI is still found on Korean video platforms, older media archives, and educational content.

Output Format

VTT

VTT (WebVTT) is the W3C standard subtitle format for web video. A VTT file starts with the literal header WEBVTT on the first line, followed by cue blocks using HH:MM:SS.mmm --> HH:MM:SS.mmm timestamps (period before milliseconds). VTT supports optional cue settings (positioning, alignment, sizing), inline styling tags, NOTE comments, and CSS blocks.

Features

Parses SAMI HTML structure and extracts subtitle text from SYNC elements
Adds the mandatory WEBVTT header as the first line
Converts SAMI millisecond offsets to VTT HH:MM:SS.mmm timestamps
Strips HTML tags, CSS classes, and styling markup
Handles multi-language SAMI files with CLASS attributes
Outputs valid VTT for YouTube, Vimeo, Video.js, and HTML5 browsers

Why Convert?

SAMI (SMI) subtitles were built for legacy Windows Media Player and do not work in any modern HTML5 browser without conversion to VTT.
SMI files embed HTML and CSS within a <SAMI> tag structure that browsers cannot natively render, but VTT is the web video standard.
Korean broadcasting archives often store subtitles in SMI format; converting to VTT makes them playable on web streaming platforms.
VTT's <track> element is required by WCAG accessibility standards, while SMI is not recognized by any current browser engine.
Converting SMI to VTT removes the HTML wrapper and produces clean cue blocks that work with Video.js, Plyr, and native HTML5 players.
SMI timestamps use a single start time per cue with implied duration, while VTT records explicit start and end for precise control.
Educational and corporate video platforms built on web technology accept VTT exclusively and reject legacy SMI uploads.

Format Differences

SAMI uses HTML SYNC elements; VTT uses WEBVTT header with cue blocks.
SAMI stores timing as millisecond offsets; VTT uses HH:MM:SS.mmm timestamps.
SAMI uses CSS classes for styling; VTT supports inline styling tags and CSS blocks.
SAMI wraps text in HTML tags; VTT stores text in cue blocks without HTML wrapping.
SAMI supports multiple language tracks via CLASS; VTT uses separate files per language.
SAMI requires an HTML parser; VTT is a simpler text-based format.

Common Use Cases

Korean Platform to Web

Convert SMI subtitles from Korean video platforms into VTT for HTML5 video embedding on websites targeting international audiences.

YouTube Caption Upload

Transform SAMI subtitles into VTT files that YouTube Studio accepts for caption uploads.

E-Learning Subtitles

Convert SAMI subtitles from older educational content into VTT for modern e-learning platforms like Coursera or Canvas.

JavaScript Player Integration

Load SAMI-originated subtitles as VTT in Video.js, Plyr, or JW Player for web-based video streaming.

Legacy Content Web Migration

Move old Windows Media Player SAMI subtitles to modern web video by converting to VTT.

Multi-Platform Distribution

Produce VTT (for web) alongside SRT (for devices) from SAMI source files for broad compatibility.

Related Formats

SMI (SAMI)

The input format: HTML-based Microsoft subtitle format with SYNC elements.

SRT (SubRip)

The universal alternative: if your target is smart TVs or desktop players, convert SMI to SRT.

SCC (Scenarist Closed Captioning)

The broadcast alternative: for caption delivery to television platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

VTT is required for HTML5 web video, YouTube, and JavaScript players. Use SRT for smart TVs and desktop media players.

SAMI stores timing as millisecond offsets in Start attributes. The converter transforms these into VTT HH:MM:SS.mmm format. End times come from the next SYNC element.

Yes, completely free with no registration or watermarks.

Yes. The converter always adds WEBVTT as the first line of the output.

SAMI CSS styling is removed. VTT supports its own styling mechanisms (inline tags, CSS blocks), but the converter outputs plain text cues. Add VTT styling manually if needed.

Yes. The converter is fully responsive.

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