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Cleanup
2026-05-08·7 minHow to Remove SDH from Subtitles
Remove sound effects and speaker labels from closed captions for cleaner, more professional subtitles.
Introduction
SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing) include additional information like sound effects, music descriptions, and speaker identification. While invaluable for accessibility, these elements are often unwanted when repurposing subtitles for general audiences.
What is SDH?
SDH subtitles contain three types of additional information:
1. **Sound effects**: [door creaks], [phone rings], [thunder rumbling]
2. **Music cues**: ♪ Happy Birthday ♪, [upbeat rock music playing]
3. **Speaker identification**: [MAN]: Hello there, [NARRATOR]: Once upon a time
Manual Removal
Step 1: Identify SDH Patterns
Look for common patterns:
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Text in brackets: [sound], (music), {applause}
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Text in angle brackets: <i>, <b> (styling, not SDH)
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Uppercase speaker labels: MAN:, WOMAN:, NARRATOR:
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Music notes: ♪ or musical notation
Step 2: Use Search & Replace
1. Open your subtitle file in our Search & Replace tool
2. Search for bracket patterns: \[.*?\]
3. Replace with empty string
4. Review each removal carefully
Step 3: Remove Speaker Labels
1. Search for speaker label patterns: ^[A-Z]+:
2. Replace with empty string
3. Check for edge cases like "MAN 2:", "BOTH:"
Automated SDH Removal
Our Remove Sound Effects tool automates this process:
1. Upload your subtitle file
2. Select "Remove SDH" mode
3. The tool detects and removes:
- Sound effects in brackets
- Music cues and notes
- Speaker labels
- Descriptive text
4. Preview and download the cleaned file
Best Practices
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**Always preview** SDH removal results — some brackets may contain important contextual information
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**Keep a backup** of the original file before any cleanup
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**Check speaker labels** carefully — some are essential for understanding dialog, especially in movies with multiple characters
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**Consider your audience** — if accessibility is important, keep some SDH elements
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**Review line lengths** after removal — removing speaker names may leave single words on a line
Common Pitfalls
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Removing legitimate stage directions disguised as SDH
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Accidentally removing text that matches bracket patterns but isn't SDH
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Breaking line structure when removing embedded speaker labels
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Not catching all variations of SDH notation (different creators use different styles)