Convert the subtitle frame rate

If subtitles start fine and slowly drift – about 4% (2.4 minutes per hour) between 23.976 and 25 fps – they were timed for a release with another frame rate. Shifting won’t fix that; converting the frame rate will.

Open Cuemend – free

Steps

Open the file in Cuemend.
In Timing → Convert frame rate, choose what the subtitles were made for and what your video is (your player shows the video’s frame rate in its media information).
Apply and check a line near the end. If it’s now constant-offset, finish with a shift.

Which conversion?

Symptom	Try
Subtitles get later and later	23.976 → 25 (subtitles for an NTSC/film release, PAL video)
Subtitles get earlier and earlier	25 → 23.976
Small drift (about 1 s per 17 min)	23.976 ↔ 24

Not sure? Automatic sync tests these conversions for you.

Questions and answers

Is this the same as two-point sync?

Two-point sync can fix any speed difference, if you can find two lines. Frame-rate conversion is the one-click fix when you know (or guess) the two frame rates.

Does it change the video?

No – only the subtitle times.

Last updated: 2026-10-26