On this page you will find video tutorials that will train you on the steps and methods that we use in the process of typing a transcript and time coding the closed captions to the video. Please begin with the Introduction video found directly below.
In the following video you will create a free account on Amara.org and learn how to use the spreadsheet to take a video into Amara in order to transcript and time code the video.
1. Type the Transcript
In this video you will learn how to type a transcript inside of Amara’s subtitle editor.
FAQ’S:
What do I do if the preacher changes their thought mid sentence?
Rather than type out half of the thought, that never gets completed, go ahead and leave that out. If the preacher begins to say “I was going to tell that man… Brethren all we have is Christ!” It will only cause confusion for the translator to translate the half thought, so you can leave out “I was going to tell that man…”
On Amara it says “Keep subtitle line length less than 43 characters; Add a line break if necessary.” do I always need to keep to this?
No, this is not a guide you must always follow, if we did such we would have too many short lines, going too fast. Though it is the industry standard, it is just not something we can perfectly keep to when creating our closed captions. What you want to strive for is keeping phrases together and preferably going to the next line when the speaker pauses.
How do I save my work?
On Amara you will notice “Save Draft” in the top right corner of the Subtitle Editor, by clicking that you will save your work and then be able to reopen it at a later point to finish it.
Step 2- Time Code or Syncing Subtitles
The following two videos will teach you how to time code, also called sync, your subtitles to the video. This step of the process can be more tedious but over time easily mastered.
The below video will teach you advanced syncing tips.
Tips & FAQ’s
Should I always instantly hide the subtitle right after the speaker finishes their thought?
No, rather than hide the subtitle right after the phrase is finished being spoken, it is helpful to leave it up longer. This allows for the viewer to be sure to read the entire phrase. We want to avoid subtitles that hide too quickly and don’t give the viewer enough time to read them. However if the speaker is saying back to back things with no pause then you will have to hide right after the speaker says their thought in order to go to the next subtitle.
Some Common Mistakes to look out for when typing a transcript:
Have continuity in the capitalization of ‘Him’ when referring to the Lord.
Be careful to not split sentences in odd places
Some words that should always be capitalized:
Christian
Bible
Old and New Testament
Step 3 – Review
This video shows you how to go about reviewing the subtitles on your video.
Step 4 – Submitting File
In this last video I will show you how to submit a link to your finished file.
Training is complete!