Subtitle in shorts video

Gid wrote on 5/20/2025, 7:35 PM

@Emma-Eriksson Hi, that's not an easy one to answer as you're using 16:9 landscape media on a 9:16 portrait project. A whole picture of the Vegas UI would be needed + images of the project & render options used,

One possibility is the generated media size.. but this is normally auto adjusted to match the project & the text can be resized & placed anywhere you want.

If this is done to the size of the text at the top of the text properties window the text does stay within the video area..

This wouldn't be normal so an understanding of 16:9 vs 9:16 & what you had done prior to this is needed.

Maybe you added the media & text then changed the project size from 16:9 to 9:16, doing that the generated media would import as 16:9 & stay like that after the project properties were changed to 9:16 ..

Emma-Eriksson wrote on 5/21/2025, 6:02 PM

Thanks for showing me options. I moved each subtitle but I need to have a better workflow going forward.
Lets say I have this media

and i have subtitles generated from AI. Should I first start with creating the project with following settings?

And when rendering should I then use this?

I just want the best quality for youtube shorts.

Br,

Emma

Gid wrote on 5/21/2025, 9:25 PM

@Emma-Eriksson Hi. I think you need to understand 'Aspect ratio' if you don't already.

The standard aspect ratio for YouTube Shorts is 9:16.

Aspect ratio

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Your media says width 2560 x 1440 which is 16:9

Just like the pictures in your first comment you're mixing 16:9 with 9:16.

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Your project & render options are messed up. (It says 'Custom' which means you made this template)

4k at 16:9 is 3840 x 2160, or if you turn it 90º it is 9:16 2160 x 3840

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If you look at the Project Properties it gives Width & Height.

These should match the render options, & to help you there's an = sign next to the ones that match your project.

If there in't one with an = sign next to it, pick one that is similar & change it by clicking Customize Template, this one (pic below) is correct except the Frame rate is wrong.

MAGIX AVC/AAC MP4 will work for you but if your media is taken with a modern camera it could be HEVC, if so use the option below MAGIX HEVC/AAC MP4.

Right click on the timeline event - Properties to see what yours is.

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Your images show the 16:9 landscape media in the 9:16 portrait video, this may be your desired effect but it isn't ideal.

In the Pan/Crop window right click - Match Output Aspect, this will make the media fill the 9:16 video but it will crop it.

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I don't know about 'subtitles generated from AI' but if the info about Aspect ratios isn't understood your text will most likely not be correct.

Gid wrote on 5/21/2025, 9:42 PM

@Emma-Eriksson Here is a simple Aspect Ratio Calculator I have bookmarked. You can type in the sizes, it will give the Aspect Ratio ie. 16:9 & draw an example.

https://andrew.hedges.name/experiments/aspect_ratio/

Emma-Eriksson wrote on 5/23/2025, 2:04 PM

@Gid Im sorry this is alot to process. If you would be so kind could you tell me what to do in steps.

1. If media is 16:9 do I start the project as 16:9? Or do I start it as 9:16?

And later I can render it as 9:16?

also, isnt 4K better?

Br,

Emma

Gid wrote on 5/23/2025, 2:16 PM

@Emma-Eriksson

If you're creating YouTube shorts start your project 4k 9:16.
Yes you can then render that at 4k 9:16.
The size & Aspect ratio of your media is a little irrelevant, once added to your project it's up to you how you size & position it.
Don't take my images of FHD 1920x1080 or 4k 3840x2160 as suggestions to use either size. I was just trying to explain the difference between 9:16 portrait & 16:9 landscape.