Rava, softsab, hardsab: what is it? This question arises before each viewer downloading their favorite films and series in foreign languages from the Internet. Hardsub raises the most questions, because this type of release is only gaining popularity in Russia.
What is hardsab?
It should be noted that official video hosting and movie download services rarely use such terms. Different names for the types of release were invented by authors and fans of amateur translations, often ahead of official subtitles in terms of release speed and quality of design.
There are three categories of foreign video releases:
- Softsub. Comes from the words soft (soft) and sub (subtitles). The most familiar way for Russian viewers to watch: video files are downloaded along with external subtitles that are not embedded into the video itself. In the player’s settings, you can change them in size, change colors or fonts, or just turn them off.
- Rav. The RAW format is a raw, “unprocessed” file with customization capabilities. Ravs appear immediately after the release of a series or film, because the translation is not included in them. The user himself can connect external subtitles when they come out by downloading them from the website of translators.
- Hardsab. What kind of hardsub is this, many do not know, since in Russia it is customary to be able to sort through different subtitles and select the ones you need. With the “hard” method, the text translation is recorded on video. You cannot turn it off, change the subtitle view, or set the timing if the lines are lagging.
It would seem, why do we need such an inflexible format? But this type of release has its advantages.
Why do we need a hardsub?
First of all, the built-in subtitles are interesting for groups of translators trying to make the adaptation of the original as convenient as possible for the viewer. Look at beautiful, dynamic subtitles and think what it is? Hardsab will be the right answer in most cases, because with it you can:
- set fixed font sizes and colors;
- connect rare font libraries, including paid styles;
- program special effects and text animation;
- protect authorship of the translation.
The latter problem is especially relevant, as more and more scammers give out free external subtitles created by fans for their work. They erase the lines with the name and contacts of the release group and replace them with links to their own electronic wallets asking them to "support the translators with the ruble." Even cases of selling stolen free transfers are known.
Hardsub video devices
Have you ever wondered that this is a hardsab? You probably only watch movies and TV shows from your computer. Of course, video with subtitles can be watched on a personal computer, laptop or tablet. There are no technical obstacles to this, because players for Windows, Linux and MacOS allow you to customize the translation to your liking.
On the other hand, fans who watch videos from these devices have more reasons to switch to hardsab:
- Smartphones
- Game consoles PSP, Vita.
- Smart TV and other smart TVs.
If you want to watch movies with subtitles that will always remain large, contrasting and pleasing to the eye, hardsub is your choice. On the above devices, the standard set of options for configuration is small, so the built-in translation looks better.
Hardsab and anime translations
What is hardsab in anime? Any release group will answer: beautiful karaoke. The programming of karaoke in the opening song (opening) and the final credits (ending) takes more lines than the effects of the plot of the series. This approach allows the Russian-speaking audience to enjoy a beautiful, dynamic karaoke line in the same way as anime fans in Japan do.
Multi-colored phrases for different characters, special styles and shadows, numerous footnotes and links are another nice feature of the hardsub. It is worth noting that hardsub is the best way to watch anime with a beautiful animated translation. Real-time playback of detailed detailed subtitles with special effects would significantly slow down the processing speed of the information, and thus reduce the viewing pleasure.