October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
Redmond desk4 min

How to Use SeConv in Windows BAT Files for Subtitle Tasks

Windows batch-file examples for Subtitle Edit’s SeConv, with notes on paths, overwrite behavior, exit codes, and runtime requirements.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

SeConv is Subtitle Edit’s headless command-line converter. The examples below show how to call its documented commands from Windows batch files (.bat), including bulk conversion, MKV track extraction, and JSON output. They are CLI examples adapted for BAT use—not a separate official collection of batch files—and should be checked against the SeConv build installed on your PC.

Before you put SeConv in a BAT file

SeConv runs without the Subtitle Edit desktop interface and is intended for scripts, CI pipelines, server-side workflows, and bulk conversion. The current project README describes it as cross-platform and requiring .NET 10; confirm the requirement for the specific release you use. A Windows BAT file runs in the Windows command shell and is not itself portable to Linux or macOS.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The project’s installation guidance says prebuilt binaries are distributed alongside Subtitle Edit. Make sure the command shell can find seconv.exe, either because its folder is on PATH or because the batch file calls it by full path. The project documentation is on a moving branch, so check the installed build’s --help, --help-json, and --version output if an option differs or fails.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

SeConv’s reference describes support for “380+ subtitle formats”; that is the project’s documentation claim, not a guarantee that every format is available or behaves identically in every build.

How SeConv commands work

The basic form is seconv <pattern> <format> [options]. The output format may instead be given with --format. Options accept colon, equals, or space separators; for example, --overwrite is a flag, while a value-taking option can be written as --track-number:3 or --track-number 3. The examples use the colon form shown in the reference.

  • Quote paths containing spaces. Wildcard handling can depend on the shell and build, so confirm how a wildcard pattern behaves in your environment.
  • By default, output is placed beside the input. Specify --output-folder to send it elsewhere.
  • Without --overwrite, existing outputs are given numbered suffixes such as _2 and _3. Use overwrite only when replacing existing files is intended.
  • Multiple input patterns can be supplied as separate quoted arguments or as comma-separated patterns.
  • An unknown option is an error, not a silently ignored setting. SeConv exits with an error rather than proceeding as if the requested operation had succeeded.

BAT example: convert SRT files to WebVTT

This batch file asks SeConv to convert matching SRT files to WebVTT, replacing existing outputs if necessary. The official feature page documents the underlying seconv *.srt webvtt command; this BAT form adapts it for Windows.

@echo off
seconv "*.srt" webvtt --overwrite
if errorlevel 1 (
  echo Conversion failed.
  exit /b 1
)
echo Conversion completed.

Check wildcard behavior with the installed build before relying on this in an unattended workflow. If the command reports no matching input, check that the batch file is running in the directory containing the SRT files or use the folder options in the next example.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
Dell Latitude 5420 14" FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
  • 256 GB SSD of storage.
  • Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM
  • Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.

BAT example: read from one folder and write to another

Use --input-folder and --output-folder to keep source files separate from converted results. This example converts matching SRT files to ASSA subtitle format.

@echo off
seconv "*.srt" assa --input-folder:"C:Subsin" --output-folder:"C:Subsout" --overwrite
if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1

Create the destination folder first if it does not already exist, and confirm that the input folder contains files matching the pattern. The documented default output location is the input file’s directory; the explicit output-folder option changes that behavior.

BAT example: extract a subtitle track from an MKV

To extract a selected subtitle track as SubRip, pass the MKV path, the target format, and the track number. This example selects track 3; choose the number appropriate for the file rather than assuming every MKV uses the same track layout.

Rank #3
@echo off
seconv "C:Videosmovie.mkv" subrip --track-number:3 --overwrite
if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1

If the operation fails, check the file path, the selected track, and SeConv’s error output. The reference documents MKV-to-SRT extraction and track selection, but this example has not been verified against a particular file.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

BAT example: save machine-readable JSON results

Add --json to a conversion command to request machine-readable results. The command reference says stdout contains one JSON document on success or failure, so redirect it to a file when a later step needs to parse the result.

@echo off
seconv "C:Subsmovie.srt" subrip --json > "C:Subsresult.json"
if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1

SeConv documents exit code 0 when all matched conversions succeed and 1 when an error occurs. In a BAT file, if errorlevel 1 branches on that failure status. Errors can include invalid usage, unmatched input, parsing problems, a missing OCR engine, or a failed conversion. If another program consumes the JSON, validate the file before treating it as a successful conversion record; the exit code remains the documented success check.

Rank #4
Windows 11 Laptop with i3 Processor 15.6" Work Laptop for College Students
  • 【Efficient Performance】 Powered by Intel Core i3 processor (2 cores, 4 threads, up to 3.4GHz) with 12GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Handles multitasking, office software, online classes, and HD video streaming smoothly. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • Backlit Keyboard & Complete Package】Comes with a cool backlit keyboard. Comes with awebcam, dual stereo speakers (8Ω/1.0W each), DC charger, and user manual – ready for late-night studying, online classes, video conferencing, and daily productivity
  • 【Vibrant Display】 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare screen with 16:9 aspect ratio delivers crisp images and vivid colors – perfect for studying, watching lectures, or entertainment. Thin-bezel design maximizes viewing area
  • 【Fast Connectivity & Expansion】 Equipped with WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 for stable, high-speed wireless. Features 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.1, Type-C (supports PD3.0 fast charging), and a TF card slot expandable up to 2TB – easily connect external monitors, mice, drives, or expand storage for all your files
  • 【Long Battery Life & Portable】 Built-in 11.55V 5000mAh/57.75Wh high-capacity battery delivers approximately 7 hours of mixed-use battery life – enough for a full day of classes and assignments. Lightweight at just 1.63kg (3.6 lbs) and 19.5mm thin, plus a compact packing size – easily slips into a backpack for campus, library, or coffee shop
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Other documented workflows

The command reference also covers several operations that can be incorporated into scripts. Check the installed build’s help for exact supported options and required setup before automating them.

  • Blu-ray SUP OCR: The reference demonstrates selecting Tesseract and English, then removing hearing-impaired text and splitting long lines. OCR engine availability and language data depend on the setup.
  • Timing changes: Documented options include frame-rate conversion and time offsets.
  • Text cleanup: Examples use --fix-common-errors, selected cleanup rules, and multiple-replace files.
  • Discovery and validation: Subcommands include formats, list-encodings, list-ocr-engines, info, and lint. The reference describes JSON modes for machine-readable output.

When to verify a command before automating it

The documented command forms are useful starting points, but the project’s online reference tracks a moving main branch rather than a pinned release. The BAT snippets here are adaptations of those documented forms, not recipes tested against a particular Windows installation. If a command returns an error, start with the installed SeConv version and its built-in help, then check that the executable is discoverable, paths are correct, inputs match, and any OCR dependencies are present.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Do not confuse current SeConv with the older, separate subtitleedit-cli project. Its README describes a .NET 8 CLI based on Subtitle Edit 3.6.9 and different OCR and image-format coverage; those details do not describe current SeConv.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Dell Latitude 5420 14' FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
Dell Latitude 5420 14" FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
256 GB SSD of storage.; Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM; Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.
$285.00
Bestseller No. 3
HP 14' HD Laptop, Windows 11, Intel Celeron Dual-Core Processor Up to 2.60GHz, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, Webcam, Dale Pink (Renewed)
HP 14" HD Laptop, Windows 11, Intel Celeron Dual-Core Processor Up to 2.60GHz, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, Webcam, Dale Pink (Renewed)
14" diagonal, 1366x768 resolution, HD BrightView LED, Glossy NON-TOUCH Display
$245.99

Official references

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.