HOW TO WORK AS A SUBTITLER (Freelance Translator)

Freelanceverse - Adrian Probst
29 Jan 202416:42

TLDR在这个视频中,自由职业者分享了他作为字幕翻译者的工作流程。他详细解释了制作SRT文件的过程,包括转录、翻译和定位字幕。特别提到了瑞士德语与标准德语的差异,以及如何将视频从瑞士德语转录并翻译成标准德语、法语、意大利语等。此外,他还展示了如何使用Subtitle Edit和OOONA这两个工具来创建和翻译字幕,并强调了字幕服务的多样性和重要性。视频旨在吸引那些对字幕翻译感兴趣的观众,并提供实用的行业见解。

Takeaways

  • 😀 The video is about the subtitling workflow of a freelance translator.
  • 🔍 Subtitling jobs can vary greatly, involving transcription, translation, and spotting subtitles.
  • 📝 The process includes transcribing the source video, translating it into the target language, and then spotting the subtitles.
  • 🎥 The video creator frequently works on subtitling Swiss German videos into standard German SRT files.
  • 🇨🇭 Swiss German is distinct from standard German and is often used in customer-facing videos.
  • 👥 The standard German subtitles are then used for further translation into other languages like French and Italian.
  • ⏱️ The video creator estimates that they can subtitle approximately 5 minutes of video in one hour.
  • 📋 Transcription is done manually to ensure accuracy and confidentiality, and to adjust the spoken language to fit subtitle format.
  • 🛠️ Subtitle Edit is a free tool used for creating and editing SRT files, adhering to industry standards for subtitle formatting.
  • 🔄 The video demonstrates how to use Subtitle Edit to import video, generate a waveform, and adjust subtitle timing and content.
  • 🌐 OOONA is another platform used for subtitling, especially for translation tasks, and it offers a paid subscription service.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is about the subtitling workflow, specifically how to work as a subtitler and the different scenarios one might encounter in this freelance service.

  • Why does the speaker enjoy subtitling as a service?

    -The speaker enjoys subtitling as a service because it is one of their favorite services to provide, and they work on it quite frequently, almost every day.

  • What are the different scenarios for subtitling jobs mentioned in the video?

    -The different scenarios include having a source video without a transcript, requiring transcription, translation, and subtitling; having a video in the target language requiring only transcription and spotting; and having a source video and transcript already spotted, requiring only translation.

  • What is an SRT file and why is it commonly used?

    -An SRT file stands for SubRip Text file, and it is the most common subtitle file used because of its wide compatibility and ease of use.

  • What is the significance of Swiss German in the speaker's subtitling work?

    -Swiss German is significant because it is quite different from standard German, especially in certain dialects, and is often used in videos addressing clients or customers. It needs to be translated into other languages like French and Italian due to Switzerland's multilingual nature.

  • How does the speaker approach transcription for subtitling?

    -The speaker transcribes the video word for word while also making slight changes to the text to fit it into subtitles, as spoken language is different from written language. They condense sentences to the relevant parts, unless a word-for-word transcript is required by the client.

  • What tool does the speaker use for creating SRT files and why?

    -The speaker uses a tool called Subtitle Edit for creating SRT files because it is free to use, does the job effectively, and allows for easy editing and adjustments of the subtitles.

  • What are the industry standards for subtitling mentioned in the video?

    -The industry standards mentioned include a single line maximum of 42 characters, a minimum time duration of 1 second, and a maximum of 5 seconds. It is also recommended to use two lines with the top line being smaller than the bottom one for readability.

  • How does the speaker adjust the timing of subtitles in Subtitle Edit?

    -The speaker adjusts the timing by listening to the person speaking and using the Space bar to start and stop the video at the right moments. They ensure that subtitles fit perfectly with the speech and adjust the timing if a subtitle is too short or too long.

  • What is the second type of subtitling workflow the speaker discusses?

    -The second type of subtitling workflow involves translating the source text, usually from French or English into German, using a platform called OOONA, where the speaker translates the subtitles based on the video and the source text provided.

  • What are some alternative tools for subtitling mentioned in the video?

    -Some alternative tools mentioned are Amara, AegiSub, Subtitle Editor, and SRTEd. These tools offer different features and interfaces for subtitling work.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Subtitling Workflow Introduction

The speaker introduces the topic of subtitling as one of their favorite services, highlighting the variety in subtitling jobs which can range from transcribing and translating to simply spotting subtitles. They emphasize the frequency of their subtitling work and the importance of understanding different subtitling scenarios, such as working with or without transcripts and in different languages.

05:01

📝 Subtitling Process for Swiss German Videos

The speaker details their process for subtitling Swiss German videos, which often involves transcribing into standard German and then spotting the subtitles. They explain the importance of adapting spoken language to subtitle format, condensing sentences to convey the relevant information. The speaker also discusses the practical aspects of estimating job duration based on video length and the decision to charge a minimum fee for very short videos.

10:04

🎞️ Subtitle Editing with Subtitle Edit

The speaker demonstrates how to use Subtitle Edit, a free subtitle editing tool, to create German subtitles for a video. They guide through the process of importing the video, generating a waveform, and adjusting subtitle timing and content. The focus is on adhering to industry standards for subtitle length and timing, ensuring subtitles are neither too long nor too short, and fit the video's dialogue and cuts perfectly.

15:08

🌐 Translation and Subtitling with OOONA

The speaker describes their workflow for translating subtitles using the OOONA platform, which involves translating source text, usually in French or English, into German. They provide a brief demonstration using a sample video intro, showing how to adjust subtitle length and timing to fit the translated text within the video's dialogue. The speaker also mentions other subtitle editing tools available and suggests trying different ones to find the best fit.

💰 Subtitling Services and Conclusion

The speaker concludes by discussing their subtitling services, which they typically charge by the hour to accommodate the time investment required for larger projects like TV series or documentaries. They invite viewers who also offer subtitling services to engage and encourage viewers to subscribe and like the video to support the channel's growth.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Subtitling

Subtitling refers to the process of adding text to video content to represent the spoken language, which is particularly useful for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, or for those who do not understand the language being spoken. In the video, subtitling is the main theme, with the speaker discussing various aspects of subtitling work, such as transcription, translation, and spotting subtitles.

💡Workflow

A workflow in the context of the video refers to the sequence of tasks or steps involved in creating subtitles for a video. The speaker outlines their personal workflow for subtitling, which includes checking video length, transcribing, translating, and spotting subtitles using specific software tools.

💡SRT files

SRT stands for SubRip Text file, which is a common format for subtitles used in video playback. The speaker mentions creating SRT files as their most frequent subtitling job, particularly for translating Swiss German videos into standard German.

💡Swiss German

Swiss German is a group of Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland. It differs significantly from standard German, especially in its dialects, making it challenging for some German speakers to understand. The video discusses how Swiss German is often used in videos addressing customers for its approachability, and the need to translate these videos into other languages like French and Italian.

💡Transcription

Transcription is the process of converting spoken language into written form. The speaker explains that they transcribe Swiss German videos into a standard German transcript as part of their subtitling workflow, which is crucial for creating accurate subtitles.

💡Spotting

Spotting in subtitling refers to the process of determining where each subtitle should start and end in the video timeline. The speaker describes using a tool like Subtitle Edit to spot subtitles by aligning the text with the spoken words in the video.

💡Subtitle Edit

Subtitle Edit is a free-to-use software tool for creating and editing subtitle files. The speaker uses this tool for spotting subtitles and adjusting their timing to match the spoken words in the video.

💡Industry Standards

Industry standards in the context of subtitling refer to the recommended practices for creating subtitles, such as the maximum number of characters per line and the minimum and maximum duration for each subtitle. The speaker mentions adhering to these standards when creating subtitles unless otherwise instructed by the client.

💡Translation

Translation is the process of converting text from one language to another. The speaker discusses translating videos from French or English into German as part of their subtitling service, using platforms like OOONA for translation-related tasks.

💡OOONA

OOONA is a paid subscription platform used for translating subtitles. The speaker mentions using OOONA for translation tasks, where the time coding of the subtitles is provided by the client, and they focus on translating the text.

💡Multilingual country

A multilingual country is a nation where multiple languages are spoken by different segments of the population. Switzerland is mentioned as an example of a multilingual country, which necessitates the translation of videos into several languages like French, Italian, and German.

Highlights

Introduction to the subtitling workflow and services offered.

Explanation of the various forms subtitling jobs can take.

Process of transcribing a source video without a transcript.

Translation of the transcribed content into the target language.

Spotting subtitles to synchronize with the video.

Use of SRT files for subtitling and their prevalence.

Difference between standard German and Swiss German.

Importance of using Swiss German in customer-facing videos.

Transcription of Swiss German videos into standard German.

The role of Switzerland's multilingualism in subtitling.

Method for estimating the time required to subtitle a video.

The importance of not charging for minimal work.

Manual transcription process and its benefits.

Adjusting spoken language for subtitle formatting.

Use of Subtitle Edit for creating and editing subtitles.

Setting industry standards for subtitle formatting.

Technique for aligning subtitles with video speech.

Importance of previewing subtitles with the video.

Adjusting subtitle timing to match video cuts.

Translation of subtitles using platforms like OOONA.

Demonstration of the translation process in OOONA.

Exporting and delivering subtitle files to clients.

Invitation to share personal subtitling experiences.

Conclusion and call to action for channel subscription.