How To Make Your Own Subtitles

To add your own subtitles on your movie clips, you need two softwares. First is a subtitling software to make the subtitles, and second, a video editor. For a subtitler, you can download Subtitle Workshop 2.51. It’s a free software which actually kicks ass when writing subtitles. The download link is HERE. For a video editor, you can use any reputable ones that are on the market. My personal favourite is ULEAD Video Studio. You can also reach out to Pinnacle, which is pretty decent by itself.

Now, first, you must understand how a subtitle file (herein will be known as SF) works. In layman terms, an SF consists of codes that tell when to make a subtitle appear, and when to make it disappear. Think of it as an automated punch-in/punch-out machine for the subtitle. All that you will be doing, is to specify the exact moment a subtitle comes on and off. Simple, ain’t it?

Now on to creating the SF.

1. Run Subtitle Workshop.
2. Go to Movie > Open. OR you can press Ctrl+P.
3. Select your movie clip that you want to make a subtitle for. You will use this to guide yourself on when to make the subs appear and disappear.
4. As soon as you open, depending on the movie clip type, it MAY start playing automatically. Just click the Stop button below the movie track bar, or press Ctrl+BkSpace
5. Go to File > New Subtitle. OR you can press Ctrl+N.
6. When you’ve created a new SF, you will find that a new line has been added on the big white space in the middle. Click on that line and press Delete.
7. Now, play the movie by clicking the Play button. When you reach the point where you want a subtitle to appear, click the Pause button.
8. Look for the icon that is the 5th from the last. It is called the Start Subtitle button. Click it. OR you can press Alt+Z. This action is to signify the starting point of a subtitle.
9. Play the movie again, right up to the part where you want that subtitle to stop. Click the Stop Subtitle button, beside the Start Subtitle button. OR you can press Alt+X. This action signifies the end of your subtitle. You will now see a new line added in the big white space.
10. Go to the bottom of the window to find the text box. Type in your subs. Don’t type out very long subs in one line as there maybe problems in displaying them.
11. Repeat steps 7 to 10 until the end of the movie.
12. To save your SF, go to File > Save. OR you can press Ctrl+S.
13. Select SubRip as the file type.
14. Type out the name for your SF, and click Save

Video Tutorial (slow connection speed may render flash file unloadable)

You can also download the flash file (.SWF) HERE.

Now that you have your SF ready, there are two ways of integrating them into your video.

• Youtube
  After you upload your video into Youtube, there is an option to upload a subtitle file too. Use that option to upload your SubRip file, and you’re done!

• Video Editors
  Most high end Video Editors enable you to add the subs into a movie file. Just load the SubRip file, and customize it to your liking. Then save the movie file in your favourite format.

Please leave any questions or comments below, and I’ll be happy to tend to them as soon as possible.