The definition
What is a clip-relative subtitle file? A clip-relative subtitle file is a subtitle file whose cue timings start at 00:00:00,000 — the first frame of a single video clip — instead of the full-length source video's timeline. You create one by subtracting the clip's start time from every caption timestamp in the master SRT:
Source cue: 00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:48,000 Clip starts: 00:03:42,000 Clip-relative cue: 00:00:03,500 --> 00:00:06,000
Clip-relative time = source cue time − clip start time.
Different words for the same thing
On this site, “clip-relative subtitle”, “re-timed subtitle”, “reset to 00:00”, “clip-start-relative timing” and “zero-based caption timing” all refer to the same thing: cue timings measured from the clip's first frame rather than the source video's timeline.
What it is not
It is not a new format, not a translation, and not a transcription. The caption text is untouched; only the timestamps move. A clip-relative file cannot be mapped back to the source timeline without knowing the clip start that was subtracted — which is why every batch export ships a manifest.csv recording each clip's range.
Where it is used
Every export of the batch SRT splitter is a set of clip-relative files, one pair per clip. The subtitles for video clips workflow explains who needs them, and the master SRT guide walks through the whole loop including revisions and edge cases.
Clip-relative subtitles FAQ
Turn the definition into files
Bring one master SRT and a CSV of clip ranges — every row leaves as its own clip-relative SRT and TXT in one ZIP.
Open the Batch SRT Splitter