Subtitles

Widetrack wrote on 9/28/2008, 10:18 AM
I apologize if this makes me seem research-impaired, but I occasionally have difficulty making sense out of the DVDA Help files.

I need to put closed captioning on a project. As far as I can figure out, DVDA does not do CC, per se, but does let the user make a subtitle track which I think I can use as CC. Matter of fact, I have put a subtitle track on the project and typed in a few lines.

We have a copy of the script in a MS Word file, but face a time-consuming chore if we have to retype it or even cut-and-paste it into the subtitle track.

The Help file refers to ".sub" files in ways that suggest I might be able to convert my Word file into a .sub file which I can import into DVDA. But I can't find any specifics about this.

Can I create a .SUB file and import it into DVDA?

Can I type Timecode into the sub file to place the clips properly on the timeline.

How do I set the properties of a subrirle track so I can tell my customers how to see the subtitles?

Thanks for any help on this.

Comments

bStro wrote on 9/28/2008, 12:26 PM
Can I create a .SUB file and import it into DVDA?

Yes.

Can I type Timecode into the sub file to place the clips properly on the timeline.

Yes. There are two or three subtitle "formats" that DVD Architect recognizes, each with its own way of indicating when a subtitle event begins and ends. Some list the start and end time only, others list the start time, end time, and length. Some require a blank line between each subtitle event, some do not. I recommend you create a couple subtitle events manually in DVDA, export it to a file (there is an Export Subtitles button next to the Import Subtitles button), and use that file as a template.

I would not, however, recommend saving your SUB file in Word. It's liable to add its own proprietary crap. You could edit the file in Word (or better yet, Excel), but copy and paste it into Notepad and save it there so it's pure text.

Rob
Widetrack wrote on 9/28/2008, 12:38 PM
Rob:

thank you for the help. I did that, and did get it open in Exel. It opens and can be edited, but I obviously cant save an .SUB file out of Excel. I tried.

What file format do I save it in?

How do I make a entry that has 2 lines, one above the other?

What are the oher formats you mentioned that DVDA recognizes?

you can probably see that I'm right in the thick of it and need guidance. Appreciate it all.