Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Transcription software with time coding
Poster: José Henrique Lamensdorf
Post title: Disappointed
[quote][i]Foreword:
For those who haven't seen it elsewhere, Monica and I have publicly expressed opposing views on commercial software and freeware for subtitling.
While I like the free Subtitle Workshop, especially the new v6, and would buy it if it were not free, Monica advocates expensive subtitling programs labeled as "professional".
While Monica is apparently a full-time video subtitler, possibly for feature films and TV, I specialize in corporate video (i.e. institutional, training, etc.).
While the demand for her line of work is high and constant, mine is a series of ups and downs, not a steady and major source of income (though it was for some 20 years).
I think our difference of opinions is most valuable, as we tend to point out the most striking differences, leading our readers to an educated choice.[/i][/quote]
Dear Monica,
As the demand I have for subtitling work has been increasing lately, I am tuned to your station, to check what I'm missing by using Subtitle Workshop. Maybe the day I'll invest an US$1K-ish sum in subtitling software is close... or not!
I used the Uruguayan SW v2.51 for years, and never bothered to read the entire manual. As the Bulgarian v6 came up recently, I decided to force myself into reading its manual: I volunteered to translate it into Brazilian Portuguese (as well as the GUI, of course).
Until they pack my version into the standard package (English/Russian/Bulgarian now), it's available for download from [url= [url removed] ]my web site[/url].
However I was disappointed by the advantages you pointed out, comparing free and professional subtitling software. Maybe you are not comparing yours with Subtitle Workshop, but with countless other subtitling programs I've seen around, which definitely lack these features.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
Here are just a few examples:
- Your client has you cue and translate a video, then decides to remove a few scenes here and there later on. With professional software it is more practical and faster to apply offsets to several subtitles at one time while leaving the rest unchanged.[/quote]
This is easy to do with SW Set Delay feature.
Other programs might require moving the subtitles to Excel for calculation, and then back to the subtitle file.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- Your client wants you to adapt the time codes to their burntin ones no matter how awkward they might appear. This can be done with just a few clicks with professional tools.[/quote]
Same process as above on SW, with other additional features, e.g. if a video timeline is broken with commercials.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- Your client wants you to export to all formats possible. Here are a few examples:
.srt / EBU .stl / .890 / .pac / .scc / .sif / .rtf / .das / .dar / .mtl / .cip / .sbv / .vtt / .usf / .fdx / .html / .fpc / .aqt / .asc / .ass / .dat / .dks / .js / .jss / .lrc / .mpl / .ovr / .pan / .pjs / .rt / .s2k / .sami / .sbt / .smi / .son / .srf / .ssa / .sst / .ssts / .stl / .stp / .sub / .tts / .vkt / .vsf / .zeg / .txt / .xml[/quote]
This happens to all kinds of software. There are proprietary-format files and public-domain ones. I remember the days when the only way to generate a PDF file was by having the full Acrobat package (or other Adobe software that included parts of it).
If the client demands some proprietary file format, the only way is to have the software that generates it. No point in comparing file format lists, as each client will require ONE (or two) formats they can use.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- Your client wants you to provide subtitles in an "image" format.[/quote]
This is beyond the scope here. As long as you can get your subs and some subtitle burning software, it's a matter of generating some adequate length/size chroma key video, and burning the subs on it.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- A few tools also have quick spotting features that allow you to pre spot the titles (with minimum accuracy of course), but still better than nothing.[/quote]
Not sure about SW 2.51, but SW 6 has this feature.
If I had to spot subtitles all day, one feature I would ask for would be a zoomable visual audio soundwave strip on the screen, with a jog/shuttle control, where you could merely click on a spot to set it as the start/end subtitle. Maybe one of these pro packages has it.
Topic: Transcription software with time coding
Poster: José Henrique Lamensdorf
Post title: Disappointed
[quote][i]Foreword:
For those who haven't seen it elsewhere, Monica and I have publicly expressed opposing views on commercial software and freeware for subtitling.
While I like the free Subtitle Workshop, especially the new v6, and would buy it if it were not free, Monica advocates expensive subtitling programs labeled as "professional".
While Monica is apparently a full-time video subtitler, possibly for feature films and TV, I specialize in corporate video (i.e. institutional, training, etc.).
While the demand for her line of work is high and constant, mine is a series of ups and downs, not a steady and major source of income (though it was for some 20 years).
I think our difference of opinions is most valuable, as we tend to point out the most striking differences, leading our readers to an educated choice.[/i][/quote]
Dear Monica,
As the demand I have for subtitling work has been increasing lately, I am tuned to your station, to check what I'm missing by using Subtitle Workshop. Maybe the day I'll invest an US$1K-ish sum in subtitling software is close... or not!
I used the Uruguayan SW v2.51 for years, and never bothered to read the entire manual. As the Bulgarian v6 came up recently, I decided to force myself into reading its manual: I volunteered to translate it into Brazilian Portuguese (as well as the GUI, of course).
Until they pack my version into the standard package (English/Russian/Bulgarian now), it's available for download from [url= [url removed] ]my web site[/url].
However I was disappointed by the advantages you pointed out, comparing free and professional subtitling software. Maybe you are not comparing yours with Subtitle Workshop, but with countless other subtitling programs I've seen around, which definitely lack these features.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
Here are just a few examples:
- Your client has you cue and translate a video, then decides to remove a few scenes here and there later on. With professional software it is more practical and faster to apply offsets to several subtitles at one time while leaving the rest unchanged.[/quote]
This is easy to do with SW Set Delay feature.
Other programs might require moving the subtitles to Excel for calculation, and then back to the subtitle file.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- Your client wants you to adapt the time codes to their burntin ones no matter how awkward they might appear. This can be done with just a few clicks with professional tools.[/quote]
Same process as above on SW, with other additional features, e.g. if a video timeline is broken with commercials.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- Your client wants you to export to all formats possible. Here are a few examples:
.srt / EBU .stl / .890 / .pac / .scc / .sif / .rtf / .das / .dar / .mtl / .cip / .sbv / .vtt / .usf / .fdx / .html / .fpc / .aqt / .asc / .ass / .dat / .dks / .js / .jss / .lrc / .mpl / .ovr / .pan / .pjs / .rt / .s2k / .sami / .sbt / .smi / .son / .srf / .ssa / .sst / .ssts / .stl / .stp / .sub / .tts / .vkt / .vsf / .zeg / .txt / .xml[/quote]
This happens to all kinds of software. There are proprietary-format files and public-domain ones. I remember the days when the only way to generate a PDF file was by having the full Acrobat package (or other Adobe software that included parts of it).
If the client demands some proprietary file format, the only way is to have the software that generates it. No point in comparing file format lists, as each client will require ONE (or two) formats they can use.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- Your client wants you to provide subtitles in an "image" format.[/quote]
This is beyond the scope here. As long as you can get your subs and some subtitle burning software, it's a matter of generating some adequate length/size chroma key video, and burning the subs on it.
[quote]Monica Paolillo wrote:
- A few tools also have quick spotting features that allow you to pre spot the titles (with minimum accuracy of course), but still better than nothing.[/quote]
Not sure about SW 2.51, but SW 6 has this feature.
If I had to spot subtitles all day, one feature I would ask for would be a zoomable visual audio soundwave strip on the screen, with a jog/shuttle control, where you could merely click on a spot to set it as the start/end subtitle. Maybe one of these pro packages has it.
