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What subtitling free software?
Thread poster: Fatima Noronha
Jose Ruivo
Jose Ruivo  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:45
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Good morning, Dec 11, 2014

Is there any way to control the Subtitle Workshop frame by frame?
Thank you.


 
Max Deryagin
Max Deryagin  Identity Verified
Russian Federation
Local time: 20:45
Member (2013)
English to Russian
Not that I know of Jan 10, 2015

Jose Ruivo wrote:

Is there any way to control the Subtitle Workshop frame by frame?
Thank you.


No, unfortunately not.


 
Nele Van den Broeck
Nele Van den Broeck  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 16:45
French to Dutch
+ ...
To José L. Apr 11, 2015

I tried to burn-in subtitles for the first time yesterday evening and I really had problems with VirtualDub.
I think I had a problem similar to what José R. was experiencing: I noticed that it had to do something with resolution.

I first subtitled my video in Aegisub (first time using Aegisub as well, I'm used to SWIFT but it's just too expensive for me at this moment) using an MP4 file.
I converted the MP4 to AVI, but that apparently caused a lot of quality loss (reso
... See more
I tried to burn-in subtitles for the first time yesterday evening and I really had problems with VirtualDub.
I think I had a problem similar to what José R. was experiencing: I noticed that it had to do something with resolution.

I first subtitled my video in Aegisub (first time using Aegisub as well, I'm used to SWIFT but it's just too expensive for me at this moment) using an MP4 file.
I converted the MP4 to AVI, but that apparently caused a lot of quality loss (resolution going from 1920x1080 to 320x180 and the quality was terrible). I put the AVI and ASS in VirtualDub, ofcourse got terrible video quality...
AND a huuuuge file (1,5GB, yes that's huge)
I made another AVI with 1920x1080 as resolution, and it showed good quality in Aegisub so I was thinking "ok, this will work!) but my AVI was probably too big or something like that, because VirtualDub did not want to open it (whereas other programs did open it).

I started to hate working like that and remembered that you also suggested Any Video Converter.
I downloaded it, used my wonderful MP4 as video, inserted my ASS subtitles, adjusted the wanted resolution, and then... magic happened! The subtitled video came out just the way I wanted (and I did want an MP4).

So: At this moment I really like Any Video Converter and I don't like VirtualDub.
IMO, Any Video Converter is more userfriendly, and I like it that you can't only use AVI, and that you don't have to download other plugins or codecs and so on.

I seem to have understood though, José L., that you seem to prefer VirtualDub?
Why? "Only" because VirtualDub has a preview mode, or is there still another reason?
I would really like to hear your opinion as an experienced subtitler who has probably already burned in a lot of subtitles in videos. Probably there are still a lot of functions with both programs that I did not discover yet.
Collapse


 
Max Deryagin
Max Deryagin  Identity Verified
Russian Federation
Local time: 20:45
Member (2013)
English to Russian
- Apr 11, 2015

Nele Van den Broeck wrote:

I tried to burn-in subtitles for the first time yesterday evening and I really had problems with VirtualDub.
I think I had a problem similar to what José R. was experiencing: I noticed that it had to do something with resolution.

I first subtitled my video in Aegisub (first time using Aegisub as well, I'm used to SWIFT but it's just too expensive for me at this moment) using an MP4 file.
I converted the MP4 to AVI, but that apparently caused a lot of quality loss (resolution going from 1920x1080 to 320x180 and the quality was terrible). I put the AVI and ASS in VirtualDub, ofcourse got terrible video quality...
AND a huuuuge file (1,5GB, yes that's huge)
I made another AVI with 1920x1080 as resolution, and it showed good quality in Aegisub so I was thinking "ok, this will work!) but my AVI was probably too big or something like that, because VirtualDub did not want to open it (whereas other programs did open it).

I started to hate working like that and remembered that you also suggested Any Video Converter.
I downloaded it, used my wonderful MP4 as video, inserted my ASS subtitles, adjusted the wanted resolution, and then... magic happened! The subtitled video came out just the way I wanted (and I did want an MP4).

So: At this moment I really like Any Video Converter and I don't like VirtualDub.
IMO, Any Video Converter is more userfriendly, and I like it that you can't only use AVI, and that you don't have to download other plugins or codecs and so on.

I seem to have understood though, José L., that you seem to prefer VirtualDub?
Why? "Only" because VirtualDub has a preview mode, or is there still another reason?
I would really like to hear your opinion as an experienced subtitler who has probably already burned in a lot of subtitles in videos. Probably there are still a lot of functions with both programs that I did not discover yet.


Nele, just use XVid4PSP 5 for burning. You literally need to press several buttons to burn ASS or SRT subtitles into a video.


 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:45
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
@Nele - VirtualDub x AVC Apr 11, 2015

Nele Van den Broeck wrote:

(deleted, read a couple of messages above


You got it right, I prefer VirtualDub because of the preview feature. Sometimes it takes a long while to render before I can see where I goofed.

On my 11th year in subtitling (28th in translation for dubbing), I've tried a lot of software packages. To my permanent surprise, freeware and cheapware are often better that pricey commercial software.

For instance, I had Pinnacle Studio, now I have Sony Vegas, but I'm gradually coming to the conclusion that, since I'm not into video production, but merely editing some text and graphics on screen, AVS Video Editor (one of the 11 programs bundled for US$ 59) serves me quite well. It has just enough resources for my needs, not a whole cornucopia of them.

For the record, I have found no really good free/cheap DVD authoring program, so I stick to Sony DVD Architect, or the defunct Ulead's DVD Workshop.

However there is a cost in using freeware. As one video freeware developer put it very adroitly long ago, his software's performance surpassed any commercial equivalent at that time. However he didn't have the time/patience to develop a user-friendly interface, nor a hand-in-hand tutorial/instruction manual. Furthermore, there is no tech support that an occasional peer-to-per user forum. Bottom line is that you must know what you are doing, which is best learned by trial and error.

What I mean is that in these 11 years I had PLENTY of chances for trial-and-error, while you are still on your first try with VirtualDub.

Not convinced? Well, I've built all my computers since I moved from the Apple II to a PC-XT, and I repair/upgrade them myself. If you were my next-door neighbor, should you call me to fix your computer? NO! I know my computer inside out. However a teenager nerd will have fixed so many of his/her friends' different computers, that their trial-and-error history will be ominous, if compared to mine.

So when I see anything on the VD preview that I don't like, I fix the SSA pronto, either on Subtitle Workshop or, if it's something SW doesn't handle, I'll edit the SSA file directly using the Windows Notepad. I'll just reload the SSA to VD, and check the results, repeating the process until I'm satisfied.

If I did this with AVC, I'd have to wait until the entire video had been rendered. With VD, I usually get it right on my first shot.

On the other hand, AVC handles ALL video files, while VD only works with limited input and AVI output. Some files, especially MOV, don't convert so well into AVI... and back. So when the client provides me with a MOV and wants a subtitled MOV, I usually face the music, and do it with AVC.

Many colleagues say they use a program named Format Factory. I haven't needed it yet, however you could give it a try.


 
Nele Van den Broeck
Nele Van den Broeck  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 16:45
French to Dutch
+ ...
Discovered that Any Video Converter has a type of preview mode as well I guess... Apr 12, 2015

For anyone who migth want a "type of" preview function in AVC:

I think I have discovered something you might like.
I was experimenting a bit more with Any Video Converter because I received a video to be subtitled that was originally in 5:4 (and my client doesn't like 5:4). I wanted to resize it and knew how to do it with VirtualDub, and was looking how to do it with AVC. I opened "effects" on the bar with the video itself (the magic wand) and there I noticed, as in VirtualDub
... See more
For anyone who migth want a "type of" preview function in AVC:

I think I have discovered something you might like.
I was experimenting a bit more with Any Video Converter because I received a video to be subtitled that was originally in 5:4 (and my client doesn't like 5:4). I wanted to resize it and knew how to do it with VirtualDub, and was looking how to do it with AVC. I opened "effects" on the bar with the video itself (the magic wand) and there I noticed, as in VirtualDub, 2 screens: the original at the left, the one I changed on the right...

It does NOT show the subtitles (or I have not discovered yet how to do that), but you can see other things you want to change there, such as contrast changes, or when you are trying to resize a video,...

[quote]José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:

Nele Van den Broeck wrote:

(deleted, read a couple of messages above


You got it right, I prefer VirtualDub because of the preview feature. Sometimes it takes a long while to render before I can see where I goofed.
Collapse


 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:45
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
Actual WYSIWYG Apr 13, 2015

Nele Van den Broeck wrote:

For anyone who migth want a "type of" preview function in AVC:

It does NOT show the subtitles (or I have not discovered yet how to do that), but you can see other things you want to change there, such as contrast changes, or when you are trying to resize a video...


In fact, if you check most "subtitling" software, I mean for writing and time-spotting subtitles, you'll find they have separate windows/menus to set the specs for "preview" and "output" subtitles.

One important point to consider is "low/high level" subtitle file types. Open any of them on the Windows Notepad to see the difference.

SSA/ASS contain a large number of both general and individual subtitle-specific parameters, so all the burning (or DVD-authoring) software has to do is to read and execute them.

Most TXT files, and SRT as well, contain only the in/out times and the subtitles text. The burning program will take care of that. For instance, the defunct Ulead DVD Workshop (DVD authoring with switchable subtitles) uses TXT, and it will let you set the global parameters, as well as individual parameters for each subtitle. Yes, it DOES give you a true preview, but it doesn't burn the subs on the video, only authors a DVD with up to 30 different subtitle sets.

AVC uses SSA, which is a parameter-rich subtitle file format. Nevertheless, AVC has some settings that allow you to override the parameters contained in the SSA. So you can't be sure of the actual result until you see it rendered.


 
Przemek Kalemba
Przemek Kalemba  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:45
Member (2011)
English to Polish
+ ...
José, I think I need your help Nov 22, 2016

José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:

For the record, I have found no really good free/cheap DVD authoring program, so I stick to Sony DVD Architect, or the defunct Ulead's DVD Workshop.



I have spent endless hours (and eventually had to refuse a project) trying to find a piece of software that would allow me to burn in subtitles and edit their appearance the way the client requested it. This time they insisted on having a ghost box (a dark semi transparent box) around the subtitles. I know EZ Titles allows you to do that but it costs a small fortune and on top of that you need additional specialised equipment to burn them in. This is true for most paid "professional" software.

That's why I totally agree with what you said that more often than not free software can be better (meaning so much easier to use) than all the advanced paid software that's out there.

I have tried Sony DVD Architect and Sony Vegas Pro as you suggested but no luck there either. Could you suggest a piece of software or a bundle that would allow versatile editing and straightforward burning-in subtitles, please?

Many thanks.

[Edited at 2016-11-22 14:49 GMT]

[Edited at 2016-11-22 14:49 GMT]


 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:45
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
Burning software Nov 22, 2016

Przemek Kalemba wrote:

I have spent endless hours (and eventually had to refuse a project) trying to find a piece of software that would allow me to burn in subtitles and edit their appearance the way the client requested it. This time they insisted on having a ghost box (a dark semi transparent box) around the subtitles. I know EZ Titles allows you to do that but it costs a small fortune and on top of that you need additional specialised equipment to burn them in. This is true for most paid "professional" software.

That's why I totally agree with what you said that more often than not free software can be better (meaning so much easier to use) than all the advanced paid software that's out there.

I have tried Sony DVD Architect and Sony Vegas Pro as you suggested but no luck there either. Could you please suggest something?


Serwus, Przemek!

I suggest you use the FREE VirtualDub with Lee Avery's "Subtitler" filter (aka plugin), an additional download and install. If you need the ghost box, you can apply it using the "Logo" filter (included), by drawing it in the right size as a TGA file in any graphic editing software.

BTW, you can apply both in one step, just be careful on which is applied first on the filters list, so the ghost won't be over your subs. Aldo, you'll be working on AVI files, and with SSA subtitles. You'll need a good lossless converter, if your files are in any other format.

Another tip... After you get the finished AVI, if the client wants an MP4, just rename yourvideo.avi file as yourvideo.mp4. If you used a compatible codec (it's usually in the name), it will work fine.

You may find tutorials for subtitling with it (plus megatons of DV info) at http://www.videohelp.com

However... this is not for the weak! As it is solid, authentic freeware, you will have to find the right way to do things there on your own. It would be like flying with the aircraft your neighbor - a retired dentist - invented and built. (Nothing against dentists, but they are quite distant from the flying industry; an ornithologist would be much closer.)

I have both Sony Vegas and Sony DVD Architect, but the "cheap" version, surprisingly named "Studio HD Platinum". Subtitling is exclusive to the (much) more expensive versions of both. More expensive than platinum? The only thing that comes to my mind is paint jet computer printer ink!

Dobre szczęście! (my folks were from Krakow, but this is from Poltran)

Jose


 
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