Liae

Why Create Sub Title For Your Youtube Videos ?

Nov 5, 2010 Computer and Internet

Having a content in a specific language only makes it harder for others to grasp. Some might be able to understand, perhaps they have had little bit of language skills, others may not.

As we go viral, which to me, means– World Wide. We need to be thinking of the mass. In this mass, have was hundreds of spoken and written languages. What if you created a quality content but someone failed to understand. Whose fault is it ? In my view, it yours fault, because you made your video inaccessible to the mass.

What is a Subtitle ?

It is a plain .txt or other file format based file containing specific time when texts will appear on a video. Please remember, it is not a program to add text to a video.

What are benefits ?

• Having a subtitle will help others understand your content should the not be speaking your language.
• Your video will have broader appeal. Since others can watch it and enjoy too.
• Among other average videos, your videos looks up front. It shows that you care about other people.
• Often, you might be making a work in a different language, but you spoke, and you thought you were right, having a close caption or sub title, others speaking the same language will also be to understand.

Cons:

• If your work is only watched by certain groups of people, they will simply turn off the CC button since they find it distracting — for they ca understand that audio.
• Depending on the length of your video , some software can not handle automatically translation of either English or another language, so you will have to create a Subtitle file by yourself– which consumes some some time.

Comparing The Cons and Pros, It seems to me, we  should not limit our video content in just one language. So, let’s start Subtitling, and here is how to do this.

There  are free versions as well as paid versions, some have advance features making it easier while your editing also making it easier to dumb your wallet too!

The List

• Subtitle Work Shop 2.5 - a free open source program, does a wonderful job.  Hit that clink an scroll down to find this one, download and run it. For newbie needing help to use  this; Here is a few steps to get your file ready for youtube. For Yotube, save your subtitle file in SubViewers 2.0. Step 1> Run the program 2> Click New Subtitle 3> Click on the Video and open it. 4> Play the video and when you need subtitle press Insert Button (the key) then type the text. It’s important to remember that when you subtitle it, use proper punctuations etc because Google’s technology allows any subtitle to be translated to another any language (pretty much!). What does this mean ? Well, if your subtitle was in English, a French Viewers could turn that English to French. Once you are done, save your file. Got to youtube, edit your video, then, click on CC, browse the subtitle file (*.sub). Click Upload, and you are done. For more help on how to add Subtitle in your video, look  for help on Youtube channel.
• Easy Sub Subtitles Synchronizer – is yet another free program you can use. Give it a try. If also lets your fix errors such as remove blank subtitles.
• Note Pad – Using a text based editor and saving the file in required format. File would contain Time Frame, words that you want to pop-out and that’s it.  But it will be a bit difficult if you do this way if your video is large. Watching a video and then adding subtitles would make things easier. By using paling text, you could open the video in a video player, re size two windows and remember the time and add, and go on.
• Online Sub Title Makers – There are also online Sub Titles, try at your own risk.  They usually need your Login and/or provide the video (address of your video as it appears in your video watch page. I have not used this, may be you will find this better. Who knows ?

A lot of Paid subtitle makers are waiting for your wallet.
I am not going to write them down here,
but give you a list, jut google them. Some are very professional, provide additional tools such as fancy titles, animations, etc.

Paid

• Movie title Maker 2.0 – for a $50 buck or less, it offers a lot of features including fancy sub titles.
• Video Editing Softwares – Some Video Editors come with Built in Features for your peace of mind and some extra bucks you would not throw a way. CyberLinks Power Director 8 has Subtitle Creation tool. I have not checkout the others. See if your video editing program has the this option and you are able to export the subtitle file for use with Youtube.

Why Create CC for Your Tube Videos ?

My answer is:
Internet was created to connect the world, bring people together, no borders, no boundaries, just a country called Internet.
If you are to use Internet Service such as Youtube, you would be foolish not to use the Sub Title.

Until next time

– Ruben