Best way/program to create subtitles for DVD?

Hello,

I need to create Spanish and English subs for a film being authored to DVD.

I'd like to create the english subtitles in some program outside of (DVDSP or Encore) and save it to a text file with timecode. Then, have an individual who speaks Spanish translate and write it into that text file.
Not sure if this is the most efficient way but what program for subtitle creation do you recommend?

Thanks

as an FCP user, i tend to prefer FCP to create subtitles.

i use a couple of QuicKeys Macros that make creating the subs very easy in FCP

its no brain-buster, but here is the gist of it:

create a subtitle template in a text generator.
use one of the dedicated subtitling text generators for FCP. I use Text Up Pro from Spherico. Andreas Kiel, who posts here at Lafcpug as Mr. Spherico.

load your Subtitle Template into the Viewer, and go to the Controls Pane.

in the timeline, target a track above your video,
and have that the ONLY auto-select track.

mark an in at the start of a line, play the line, listen to the line, mark an out after the line.

here's the Macro:

• F10 (edit sub to timeline)
• Back arrow go back to start of subtitle)
• Return (Opens generator in Viewer)
• Tab (move you into the text entry field)

type away.

Apple 3 takes you to the timeline and the title updates.

main problem is FCP has no spell check.
other issue is there are no dedicated simple commands to split or join subtitles, you have to copy/paste.


then you can use Title Exchange Pro (also from Spherico) to take your FCP titles track and convert it to just about anything, including DVDSP, or whatever.

HOWEVER

you may want to have a look at some deduced subtitling / transcription apps.
Inqscribe looks good and relatively affordable, and has lots of export options.



nick

oops... i wrote LAFCPUG.

going to have to get used to the new way...
lacpug, lacpug, lacpug


nm

Its been SO hard for me that is for sure. :-)

Michael Horton
-------------------

Joe,

You can use the way Nick described.

Downloading TitleExchange gives you a bunch of free apps as well.

So once you got all your English subtitles in FCP export the sequence as XML - make sure to keep it, you might need it later)
Then use the free gText app to open this XML.
It will give you a list of all your subtitles together with an UUID for every subtitle (the UUID is the same UUID FCP uses internally). There is also an analyze for each subtitle including spell check
Then export this list (it's a text file which can be opened in EXCEL, Numbers, etc.)
Send the file to a translator. He can translate/replace the text BUT the UUID must be the original one for each title.
The translator will send back the translation and you can import this file and your original XML or a current XML(if you have moved/changed titles) of your sequence into gText.
The application will find all matching UUIDs and your English text is displayed beside the translation.
Then you can move the translation to your English text either with one click or review them one by one.
Import the XML into FCP.

And read the help file before you start.

Andreas

Some workflow tools for FCP [www.spherico.com]
TitleExchange -- juggle titles within FCS, FCPX and many other apps.
[www.spherico.com]