I'm new with premier. How do i put subtitles to a movie on premiere?. Is premiere the best program for that? i any better program for putting subtitles? I try to do it with premiere but is very tedious job and usualy evry time i do a title is never in the same position Help!!!!
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I need to put subtitles to a movie 1
- Thread starter luim
- Start date
Junior1544
Technical User
Just a thought... If you do it in Premier, the subtitles will always be there... for me at least, I know I don't need them, and find them annoying unless the person is speaking a different language... Being that your looking for subtitles, I would think your going to be putting this on a dvd, or (s)vcd... if so, check the burning software to see if the option to have sub titles is in there...
Just thoughts...
--James
junior1544@jmjpc.net
Life is change. To deny change is to deny life.
Just thoughts...
--James
junior1544@jmjpc.net
Life is change. To deny change is to deny life.
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1
- #3
EdwardMartinIII
Technical User
luim,
Subtitles can be a lot of work, but if done correctly, add a lot to the project.
I'll assume you want to add subtitles without regard to video choice. For example, you have "aliens" speaking "alienspeak" such that the subtitle will always be on screen.
First, make a list of all the subtitles you're going to need. It'll look like this:
SubTitle001: A cafe in Ricksmanworth, 1909
Subtitle002: Why did you come here, Laura?
SubTitle003: I had to -- you left your copy of the 1999 Guiness Book of World Records at my office.
SubTitle004: But Laura, that's not going to be published for ninety years!
SubTitle005: Yes my dear, and I adore your non-sequitur nature
and so on in that fashion until
SubTitle423: Now all of you go home.
If you have Photoshop, this next tedious job will be slightly easier. Make a single image, matching your project specs (say, 720 x 480). Make a layer a text file and pick your biggest SubTitle. Space everything out the way you want it at the bottom of the screen (be sure to keep in mind the video-safe regions, etc.). If you want to be kind to your viewers, give the text some kind of contrasting keyline (for example, white text, but with a thin black keyline will allow the subtitle to stand out, even with a white background).
Make an alpha channel to match the non-captioned image. I do this by keeping a layer of #888888 and doing a select-by-color, then increasing the size of the selection by a pixel. Export that frame as a file, named SubTitle004.pct. Exporting as pict format preserves the alpha channel.
Click back in history until you can modify the text of the caption, then build a new alpha channel and export the new PCT file.
This is a tedious step, but will produce all the subtitles, each with an alpha channel.
Import the files into your project.
Expand your dialogue audio files such that you can see the waveforms.
Place the various slides on their own unique layer (so you can turn it off or turn it on at will) such that each slide appears on top of the appropriate wave form.
When all 423 subtitles are placed accordingly, choose everything on that layer and set the transparency (by pressing CTRL+G) to "Alpha Channel".
There might be easier ways of doing this, but this is the way I use.
Good luck!
![[monkey]](/data/assets/smilies/monkey.gif "[monkey] [monkey]")
Edward
"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
Subtitles can be a lot of work, but if done correctly, add a lot to the project.
I'll assume you want to add subtitles without regard to video choice. For example, you have "aliens" speaking "alienspeak" such that the subtitle will always be on screen.
First, make a list of all the subtitles you're going to need. It'll look like this:
SubTitle001: A cafe in Ricksmanworth, 1909
Subtitle002: Why did you come here, Laura?
SubTitle003: I had to -- you left your copy of the 1999 Guiness Book of World Records at my office.
SubTitle004: But Laura, that's not going to be published for ninety years!
SubTitle005: Yes my dear, and I adore your non-sequitur nature
and so on in that fashion until
SubTitle423: Now all of you go home.
If you have Photoshop, this next tedious job will be slightly easier. Make a single image, matching your project specs (say, 720 x 480). Make a layer a text file and pick your biggest SubTitle. Space everything out the way you want it at the bottom of the screen (be sure to keep in mind the video-safe regions, etc.). If you want to be kind to your viewers, give the text some kind of contrasting keyline (for example, white text, but with a thin black keyline will allow the subtitle to stand out, even with a white background).
Make an alpha channel to match the non-captioned image. I do this by keeping a layer of #888888 and doing a select-by-color, then increasing the size of the selection by a pixel. Export that frame as a file, named SubTitle004.pct. Exporting as pict format preserves the alpha channel.
Click back in history until you can modify the text of the caption, then build a new alpha channel and export the new PCT file.
This is a tedious step, but will produce all the subtitles, each with an alpha channel.
Import the files into your project.
Expand your dialogue audio files such that you can see the waveforms.
Place the various slides on their own unique layer (so you can turn it off or turn it on at will) such that each slide appears on top of the appropriate wave form.
When all 423 subtitles are placed accordingly, choose everything on that layer and set the transparency (by pressing CTRL+G) to "Alpha Channel".
There might be easier ways of doing this, but this is the way I use.
Good luck!
Edward "Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
If you wanna a better way, look into a program called Virtual Dub.
Download that program and then download one of their filters for subtitling:
Download a program called SubStation Alpha. Its an old Subtitling program that is very easy to use.
One thing you'll have to do prior to using these programs is to time where you want your subtitles, that means going into your timeline and finding when a "speech" starts and ends. You will need these time markers so that when you use SubStation Alpha, you just input the start and end times, and type out your translation. READ through the documentation on how to subtitle in SubStation Alpha ( its pretty easy after you figure it out)
Once you're done timing and putting yoru subtitles into a script in SubStation and save the file, export out your Video in premiere as an AVI (any compression you want)
Open up Vdub, open the avi file in Vdub, and then use your Filters to get the Subtitling filter (you did install it? ^_^). Once that is done, thrugh the filter open up your Substation Alpha file. Vdub pretty much handles it from there.
Here is a step by step guide (they offer to time through exporting a wav file from your movie):
Download that program and then download one of their filters for subtitling:
Download a program called SubStation Alpha. Its an old Subtitling program that is very easy to use.
One thing you'll have to do prior to using these programs is to time where you want your subtitles, that means going into your timeline and finding when a "speech" starts and ends. You will need these time markers so that when you use SubStation Alpha, you just input the start and end times, and type out your translation. READ through the documentation on how to subtitle in SubStation Alpha ( its pretty easy after you figure it out)
Once you're done timing and putting yoru subtitles into a script in SubStation and save the file, export out your Video in premiere as an AVI (any compression you want)
Open up Vdub, open the avi file in Vdub, and then use your Filters to get the Subtitling filter (you did install it? ^_^). Once that is done, thrugh the filter open up your Substation Alpha file. Vdub pretty much handles it from there.
Here is a step by step guide (they offer to time through exporting a wav file from your movie):
I've used the VDub method many times, and the subtitles are 100x better than just using the "title" function of premiere. Play around with it (like with a 3 min short clip) once yu get used to it, you'll thank the heavens for such an easier way to to do things.
EdwardMartinIII
Technical User
Hm. Well, I suppose it depends on your definition of "better".
One must still determine where the titles go and what the titles will say and where on screen they will appear. There isn't (as far as I know) a magical type-out-what-you're-hearing plug-in that extracts that information. For a long piece, it's just a lot of work -- regardless of how a person actually builds their titles.
The rest is just tools.
Any tool is easier "once you get used to it" or "once you figure it out".![[lol]](/data/assets/smilies/lol.gif "[lol] [lol]")
I tried taking a look at the tutorial to see if it might provide a nice interface, but I only caught a few glimpses behind the rabbit-like proliferation of popup windows.![[sad]](/data/assets/smilies/sad.gif "[sad] [sad]")
Cheers,
Edward
"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
One must still determine where the titles go and what the titles will say and where on screen they will appear. There isn't (as far as I know) a magical type-out-what-you're-hearing plug-in that extracts that information. For a long piece, it's just a lot of work -- regardless of how a person actually builds their titles.
The rest is just tools.
Any tool is easier "once you get used to it" or "once you figure it out".
I tried taking a look at the tutorial to see if it might provide a nice interface, but I only caught a few glimpses behind the rabbit-like proliferation of popup windows.
Cheers,
Edward "Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
If you're familiar with the subtitling program, its pretty much standard on where the subtitles go. And the program does offer a "mock" screen on where to place the titles, should it be in the lower part, top/ left/right.
Pop-up windows? dont see any pop-ups. but then again, i run a pop-up killer. Its still no excuse to not actually read through the tutorial and/or follow along.
I got through the whole thing in one try, and have subtitled several avi files just going through it once.
Creating a titles in "photoshop" or in Premiere is more time consuming ,especially if you make mistakes, mispell, have the wrong translation, need to change font color, italicize, bold, have a drop shadow here, have a drop shadow there, or change the font face and size. Where as, you just change it in the resulting script (SSA Script), re-run the file through Vdub..and voila, no messy clean up.
Easier and Better weighs in when one way makes you work more and another doesnt.
Pop-up windows? dont see any pop-ups. but then again, i run a pop-up killer. Its still no excuse to not actually read through the tutorial and/or follow along.
I got through the whole thing in one try, and have subtitled several avi files just going through it once.
Creating a titles in "photoshop" or in Premiere is more time consuming ,especially if you make mistakes, mispell, have the wrong translation, need to change font color, italicize, bold, have a drop shadow here, have a drop shadow there, or change the font face and size. Where as, you just change it in the resulting script (SSA Script), re-run the file through Vdub..and voila, no messy clean up.
Easier and Better weighs in when one way makes you work more and another doesnt.
One would also assume that a person who is doing subtitles should have a script to work from (translated or not) that one should input into a subtitling program.
Timing is also of importance to subtitling.
Case in point, I spent 28 hours to subtitle a 22 min program in Premiere and spent including to render it. That's with using Premieres Titles option.
I spent 1 hour to type in translated script in SSA, 1 1/2 hours to time, and 2 hours to get it rendered out and make any corrections.
Which sounds better to you?
Timing is also of importance to subtitling.
Case in point, I spent 28 hours to subtitle a 22 min program in Premiere and spent including to render it. That's with using Premieres Titles option.
I spent 1 hour to type in translated script in SSA, 1 1/2 hours to time, and 2 hours to get it rendered out and make any corrections.
Which sounds better to you?
- Thread starter
- #9
EdwardMartinIII
Technical User
This wouldn't have irked me at all if it had been "A way I've found is" or "This works for me:" instead of "If you wanna a better way".
Six words. Funny, huh?
Which sounds better to you?
The one I'm used to, of course!![[smile]](/data/assets/smilies/smile.gif "[smile] [smile]")
The type-in-each-caption work has to be done, regardless of tool. The timing-each-slide work has to be done, regardless of tool. I'm pretty sure I mentioned this straight up.
Abstracting work that has to be done before "simply running" an application doesn't get the work magically done -- it still counts toward the total.
This tool seems to allow one to basically "batch" some of the final preparation. If it works, great.
Pop-up windows? dont see any pop-ups. but then again, i run a pop-up killer.
If your environment allows you to install whatever software you wish on your computer (mine does not), I might encourage you to look at Mozilla, which can be set to ignore JavaScript commands to open windows.
Its still no excuse to not actually read through the tutorial and/or follow along.
On the contrary. Once a website triggers my employer's content filter, I leave it -- regardless of the content. I have already triggered an entry in a database and will hear about it in my next review. When more popups appeared on the second page, and additional popups appeared upon dismissing popups, I knew that I was at a site where there was no telling what content would be pushed through my browser, and certainly this was not "related" content. At home, I run whatever browser I wish, but this network is more strict. I have to work around that -- no option outside of requesting a unique outside line.
I'm not advocating that any one method is inherently "better". I'm answering luim's original post with the method that I use. I'm trying to make no further assumptions than what exist in that post (such as luim has a translated script, or a machine-readable form of anything).
I did specify "If you have Photoshop..." but I did not automatically assume such prior to that.
I also specified "There might be easier ways of doing this".
"Better" probably depends on what tools the person has and what resources thay have and what skills they have. Different sets of these things make different methods "better" for different reasons.
For several problems I face, it is "better" to pay someone else to do it -- the money is worth the time I get to spend on other things (usually other aspects of the same thing). When I want to noodle out my own fix or really dig into different solutions, then I come here. When I do, I usually see a couple of different ways of doing things. I look 'em over and determine for myself which one is "better".
Cheers,
Edward
Edward
"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
Six words. Funny, huh?
Which sounds better to you?
The one I'm used to, of course!
The type-in-each-caption work has to be done, regardless of tool. The timing-each-slide work has to be done, regardless of tool. I'm pretty sure I mentioned this straight up.
Abstracting work that has to be done before "simply running" an application doesn't get the work magically done -- it still counts toward the total.
This tool seems to allow one to basically "batch" some of the final preparation. If it works, great.
Pop-up windows? dont see any pop-ups. but then again, i run a pop-up killer.
If your environment allows you to install whatever software you wish on your computer (mine does not), I might encourage you to look at Mozilla, which can be set to ignore JavaScript commands to open windows.
Its still no excuse to not actually read through the tutorial and/or follow along.
On the contrary. Once a website triggers my employer's content filter, I leave it -- regardless of the content. I have already triggered an entry in a database and will hear about it in my next review. When more popups appeared on the second page, and additional popups appeared upon dismissing popups, I knew that I was at a site where there was no telling what content would be pushed through my browser, and certainly this was not "related" content. At home, I run whatever browser I wish, but this network is more strict. I have to work around that -- no option outside of requesting a unique outside line.
I'm not advocating that any one method is inherently "better". I'm answering luim's original post with the method that I use. I'm trying to make no further assumptions than what exist in that post (such as luim has a translated script, or a machine-readable form of anything).
I did specify "If you have Photoshop..." but I did not automatically assume such prior to that.
I also specified "There might be easier ways of doing this".
"Better" probably depends on what tools the person has and what resources thay have and what skills they have. Different sets of these things make different methods "better" for different reasons.
For several problems I face, it is "better" to pay someone else to do it -- the money is worth the time I get to spend on other things (usually other aspects of the same thing). When I want to noodle out my own fix or really dig into different solutions, then I come here. When I do, I usually see a couple of different ways of doing things. I look 'em over and determine for myself which one is "better".
Cheers,
Edward
Edward "Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
Edward,
Better is an objective term. Better relates to what is presently offered and what other options are available.
Presumably, if you just want to use native Adobe features, you're stuck with just using "adding titles" and make them as subtitles.
A :BETTER: way is the one I offered. Its better because I know its better. The person who asked, can now see WHY its better for themselves.
Better can mean its faster.
Better can mean its cleaner.
Better can mean its easier.
A better way is always an option.
Sorry if you dont LIKE MY use of better, but I find it BETTER to use SubStation Alpha and VDub to add subtitles to any video file I work with. So which is why i said "If you wanna a better way.."
Because of what you ilustrated above, I did them until I learned how to do it via two other programs. THE better way to me.
Another "better" way of doing this is to get a Titling deck and a GenLock.
ANOTHER better way of doing this is actually having a Closed Caption deck to add a closed caption signal to your video file so that Close Caption TV sets can pick up that signal to show on tv.
Better is always better.
You get irked easily dont ya?
Better is an objective term. Better relates to what is presently offered and what other options are available.
Presumably, if you just want to use native Adobe features, you're stuck with just using "adding titles" and make them as subtitles.
A :BETTER: way is the one I offered. Its better because I know its better. The person who asked, can now see WHY its better for themselves.
Better can mean its faster.
Better can mean its cleaner.
Better can mean its easier.
A better way is always an option.
Sorry if you dont LIKE MY use of better, but I find it BETTER to use SubStation Alpha and VDub to add subtitles to any video file I work with. So which is why i said "If you wanna a better way.."
Because of what you ilustrated above, I did them until I learned how to do it via two other programs. THE better way to me.
Another "better" way of doing this is to get a Titling deck and a GenLock.
ANOTHER better way of doing this is actually having a Closed Caption deck to add a closed caption signal to your video file so that Close Caption TV sets can pick up that signal to show on tv.
Better is always better.
You get irked easily dont ya?
EdwardMartinIII
Technical User
Better is an objective term.
I'll keep that in mind if someone ever claims If you wanna a better way...
You get irked easily dont ya?
"irked"? Hm, no such critter here.
I answered the question and offered an example. I pointed out what work must still be done regardless of integration method. I made no claims as to the superiority of any method, and in fact suggested that there might be easier methods.
I've not varied from my original answer one whit, although I've digressed to stress that "better" depends on the person, their skill level, their tools, etc., which isn't an unreasonable assertion. In fact, you asserted that as well when you wrote Better is an objective term.
I like those five words. So much so that I'll repeat 'em, because I think they're just that important: better is an objective term.
Cheers,
Edward
"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
I'll keep that in mind if someone ever claims If you wanna a better way...
You get irked easily dont ya?
"irked"? Hm, no such critter here.
I answered the question and offered an example. I pointed out what work must still be done regardless of integration method. I made no claims as to the superiority of any method, and in fact suggested that there might be easier methods.
I've not varied from my original answer one whit, although I've digressed to stress that "better" depends on the person, their skill level, their tools, etc., which isn't an unreasonable assertion. In fact, you asserted that as well when you wrote Better is an objective term.
I like those five words. So much so that I'll repeat 'em, because I think they're just that important: better is an objective term.
Cheers,
Edward "Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door
WizyWyg thanks for all those info you gave us. I am new to this and was wondering if you knew of any other places to get substation alpha because the link hasn’t worked for a while. I have also tried to e-mail them with no luck.
If you have the program I would appreciate it if I can get it from you.
Thanks for any help
If you have the program I would appreciate it if I can get it from you.
Thanks for any help
substation alpha? I havn't downloaded it in years because those who make it stopped supporting it (ie updating it). So the last version is whatever is available on their website (oppsd now not even working). I've been using it ever since, because I never needed any help from it.
I'll see if i have the program at home and will upload it to my personal space. If i had known that it wasn't available, I'd made it avaialble since it went offline.
I'll see if i have the program at home and will upload it to my personal space. If i had known that it wasn't available, I'd made it avaialble since it went offline.
okay I do have it (whew), and its version 4.08, the last one released before the site went awol.
It is only a Windows program, but if you are looking for similar subtitling programs for MAC, I can help you look for them.
IF YOU need help or tutorials on how to use SSA and bring the .ssa file into Vdub, post a request in a seperate thread in this forum and I'll post links to the tuts and step by step instructions. Be sure you get the subtitle filter for Virtua Dub.
It is only a Windows program, but if you are looking for similar subtitling programs for MAC, I can help you look for them.
IF YOU need help or tutorials on how to use SSA and bring the .ssa file into Vdub, post a request in a seperate thread in this forum and I'll post links to the tuts and step by step instructions. Be sure you get the subtitle filter for Virtua Dub.
WizyWyg thank you, I have downloaded the program, when I get home I will start using it. I have also looked at the link you gave "step by step guide" at and it seems easy enough but if I have any issues I will post in a new thread.
Again Thank You!
Faris
Again Thank You!
Faris
Hello again WizyWyg, i downloaded the file and tried to unzip it but i get this error from two different computer. any help?
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Extracting to "C:\Documents and Settings\Faris\Desktop\"
Use Path: yes Overlay Files: no
Error in file #1: bad Zip file offset (Error local header signature not found): disk #1 offset: 0
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Extracting to "C:\Documents and Settings\Faris\Desktop\"
Use Path: yes Overlay Files: no
Error in file #1: bad Zip file offset (Error local header signature not found): disk #1 offset: 0
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