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What’s the 411 on subtitling in FCP vs DVDSP?
Hi all
I have done my due googling diligence before coming here with my question as always, but am still quite befuddled by the various 3rd party apps and the difference between starting in FCP vs DVDSP, so here goes…
I have a low- (ie, no-) budget project with prospects for international sales, and a bunch of friends in various European countries who are willing to volunteer their translating services (fee deferred until such time as the project sells in a territory which uses their language).
Before I start abusing anyone’s generosity, I want to make 100% sure that I am giving people the most economical and easy workflow in exchange for their kindness.
The first step has to be, obviously, for me to spot and write down all the English lines from the project. Then I would plan to send the resulting file with lines & t.c. info (XML for editing in a spreadsheet?) out in such a form that it is EASILY editable by each translator while preserving the timecode data, and easily re-importable into DVD SP. (Timecode is all I care about – I will leave exact placement of the subtitles, graphics safe area etc to the people mastering the DVD.)
So should I start out in FCP, DVDSP (I have FCS 2), and export to XML, or should I bring a 3rd party app into the loop? Anyone keen on Subtitler?
What is the safest, most open-source vessel/file format to contain subtitle information, for multiplatform delivery? (ie it could be DVD, TV or even theatrical if we hit the right festival).
Any advice much appreciated!
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1 Reply
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There is no perfect solution if there is no budget. You cannot purchase and then equip everyone in the project with the same product.
You will do your subs in DVDSP. It will be a drag. Transcribing and translating is a drag unless you like to do it. Never met anyone who does except closed captioning operators and court reporters.
Here are my usual Web sites for captions and subs. Hope they help but you may have already slogged through this information.
https://www.captionmax.com/faqTechProb.php
https://www.ccaption.com/nccwork.shtml
https://www.robson.org/capfaq/
https://www.channel4.com/corporate/4producers/resources/documents/ForeignLanguageSubtitlingGuidelinesJan06.pdf
https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/captioning_regs.html
https://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/1997/fcc97279.txt
https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/CC_converters.htmlbogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
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