Subtitles for DCP

[Juan Salvo]

Subs in dcp are different than subs in fcp. Though both are XML.

Check out spherico title exchange pro.

I haven’t used the dcp function. But it does have one.

Good luck.

[Robin Erard]

Hello,

I do a lot of DCPs. I use annotation EDIT for that. You can output subtitle in XML for easyDCP creator +

Best

Robin

réalisateur, scénariste, monteur, étalonneur
http://www.robinerard.ch

[Jonathon Lee]

Yes, Annotation Edit…

zeitanker dot com

It’s very cheap and really powerful. If at all possible go with the default “in projector” font. Using custom font’s is a big pain if you are not really experienced. Also, you will need to check the DCP as the screen preview in A.E. will not be the same as on the DCP as projected. Actually, if you have Easy DCP player+ that will do the job. You may need to cycle through a few versions and tweak the sizing.

Also, in easy DCP creator…. if you have the + version PRE-ENCODE the picture! If you don’t you’ll be stuck re-rendering the J2k essence every time.

best,

Jonathon

[Rick Turners]

Ok,
I’ll try importing our xml from FCP to annotation edit and then export from annotation edit to easy dcp?

Whats the workflow on making use of whats been done in FCP?

Also, does anything special need to be done if its a stereo film, in terms of subtitles?

[Jonathon Lee]

So if you have the latest version of Annotation Edit:

– goto File pulldown menu
– select Fetch from Final Cut

You will need to have the specific timeline open and active. Also, you should have a reference movie ready to to which matches exactly the frame rate, audio velocity and start time of your show. You have to be true 24fps or true 23.976fps… with A.E. you can not interchange pulldown’s. If you are working in 23.976 and you’re dcp is 24fps you will have workflow problems.

After you get the subs sorted out in A.E. you can do an export for DCP…. which will take a couple of attempts most likely — until you get the settings sorted out. You may want to create a shorter version of the shot for testing. In my experience, the first time can be a bit of a torture until you get comfortable with the workflow. It’s not a simple “press go” and it works situation sadly.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, if you are using custom fonts then you will need to get a hold of the whacky and PC only T.I. True Type font utility. It will be less painful if you can go with the default projector font. If there are foreign languages using alternative character sets, then you will need to go the “external font” route.

It took a good couple of weeks to figure out the workflow the very first time I did this. But Annotation Edit is the key for the Indy version of DCP subs.

– Jonathon

[Robin Erard]

Hello,

Step by step. (sorry for my english, I speak french)

1) Export XML from FCP. If you created subtitles in FCP with “subtitles text”, they will be in the XML. Try to put all blocs on the same videotrack.

2) open Annotation edit and import XML.

3) check if the subtitles are all there, and if special signs like “*^`”etc.. are ok. And if the subtitles follow rules and regulations: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/itc_publications/codes_guidance/standards_for_subtitling/subtitling_1.asp.html

4) export a “DLP cinema XML” from annotation edit.

5) In export pref panel. Load the font by selecting the case. Arial 40 should be the reference.

6) choose 1.0 and not 1.1 for DCsubtitles Version

7) export… and enjoy. Be carfull, easyDCPcreator + doesn’t allow offsets for subtitles. It means you have maybe to offset the subtitles in AnnotationEdit.

Best

Robin

réalisateur, scénariste, monteur, étalonneur
http://www.robinerard.ch

[Jonathon Lee]

That’s basically OK.

There are actually several ways to get the subs into A.E. the XML method is OK if AE can read it. I’m not sure what will happen if you have multiple layers. You should not have overlapping subtitle events… so you should not have multiple layers as far as I know.

[Robin Erard]

Hello,

last time I did it, it worked. But sure, it’s better to keep only one track. but sure XML gonna work.

Best

Robin

réalisateur, scénariste, monteur, étalonneur
http://www.robinerard.ch

[Rick Turners]

Ok, we have all of our subtitles from FCP in A.Edit. and it all matches up..

Still not sure how we would deal with the stereo aspect?

We have a program called “Dashwood Stereo 3d text generator” which can generate stereo subs inside of FCP.. but how would we get that out of FCP and into eDCP? Bring it into Annotation edit?

[Robin Erard]

Hello,

I have never tried with 3D films… I think easyDCP creator + gonna tell you if subs are ok or not.

Best

Robin

réalisateur, scénariste, monteur, étalonneur
http://www.robinerard.ch