Drop any file to identify it
No upload. No signup. No sending your file halfway across the internet.
We tell you what it is, right here in your browser.
Drop it!
Let go to identify this file.
Couldn't identify this file
Need to convert it? fwip it →
If SRT is a Post-it note, ASS is a design studio. The format supports custom fonts, colours, transparency, precise positioning, text outlines, shadows, karaoke timing, fade effects, and even animated movement. It's spectacularly over-engineered for subtitles — which is exactly why the anime fansubbing community adopted it decades ago and never looked back.
An ASS file is a plain text document with a structured header defining styles (font, size, colour, border) and a body of dialogue lines that reference those styles. The format enables subtitles that match the visual style of the source material — vertical Japanese text, styled song lyrics, typeset signs and title cards.
VLC, MPV, and Plex all render ASS subtitles with full styling support. Aegisub is the standard editor — a free, purpose-built tool for creating and timing ASS subtitles. For simpler needs, convert to SRT (you'll lose all styling) or VTT (some styling survives).