Comments

bStro wrote on 9/29/2008, 11:39 AM
A SUB is a plain text file. If you edit it in Excel, choose Text as the file type. Excel is going to save it with .TXT extension, so you'll need to rename the file with a .SUB extension after the fact.

Alternatively, there are programs out there designed specifically to edit subtitle file. They "know" what syntax is used by each subtitle format and include some handy tools to help with the timnig.

Rob
Widetrack wrote on 9/29/2008, 11:57 AM
Thanks Rob.

Would you know the names of any of those programs?

bStro wrote on 9/30/2008, 7:58 AM
Honestly, I've very rarely had a need to do subtitles, so I've done them manually in DVDA on those few occasions. I keep waiting for someone with more experience with subtitles to answer your questions, but I guess they're all on vacation. ;-)

One of the most popular programs is Subtitle Workshop, which has loads of features. I've tried it in the past just out of curiosity, but it also supports several subtitle formats (including about half a dozen different ones that use a SUB extension) and never did figure out which (if any) played well with DVD Architect. You've got more at stake, so maybe you'll have more determination than I to figure out the right format.

Also note that DVD Architects supports a couple other formats than just SUB, so you could try the some of the others offered by Subtitle Workshop. Just export a few examples from DVD Architect, export a few examples from Subtitle Workshop, and see if any of them use the same conventions.

Rob
Widetrack wrote on 10/11/2008, 10:27 PM
rob:

since your last reply, I tried a couple of different approaches, including Subtitle Workshop.

I ran screaming from "Workshop", if only because you need to edit Timecode numbers, which requires lots of clicking and typing. really tedious and slow.

I finally ended up doing ti right on the DVDA timeline:

listen to a line of dialog;
hit spacebar to go to the beginning of the line;
press T to insert a new test box
click on the Text box in the viewer
click on Edit TExt
Type new text
drag edges of text event as needed

Repeat as necessary

Not the most exciting way to spend your Saturday, but it's the fastest I've come across. and dragging the edges of the text event is WAY easier than editing Timecode.
freezer wrote on 10/13/2008, 8:35 AM
If have done a lot of subtitles professionally.
My experience with DVD architect is a little bit ambivalent, because it urgently needs several improvments for the handling of subtitles in production workflows.

@ Widetrack
You definately should try Subtitle Workshop again - it is a great program for doing subtitle work. Take your time to read the manual and you will see how easy and fast it is to create subtitles - much faster than with DVDA.
No need for clicking and typing - just learn the shortcuts and there is also no need to edit timecode numbers.
BTW, don't use Subtitle Workshop 4beta but better 2.51 where everything works like it should.
Widetrack wrote on 10/19/2008, 8:56 PM
Thanks, freezer, but I'm in the final stages of fighting off burnout on this LONG project, and my brain could not handle another learning curve. In fact, long, tedious busy work is about all I'm good for at this point.

I will try next time.

Best.
MSK wrote on 10/21/2008, 9:35 AM
Perhaps this would be helpful:

http://www.custcenter.com/cgi-bin/sonypictures.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1044
Widetrack wrote on 10/23/2008, 12:28 PM
MSK:

thanks for the suggestion. We are getting pretty good with creating our subtitles in DVDA. They're easy to adjust and not that hard to type in --or paste in from a word processor program. also easy to import/export.