How to Add Subtitles to Your Recorded Video: A Comprehensive Guide

Adding subtitles to your recorded video can enhance its accessibility and viewer engagement. Whether you're looking to add professionally created subtitles or create your own, this guide will walk you through the process using different methods. Follow these steps to make your video more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.

Method 1: Downloading New Subtitles

If you're in need of subtitles for your recorded video, you can download them online. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Step 1: Find the Movie on Your Computer

First, locate the movie you want to add subtitles to on your computer. Ensure that it is in a separate file. For example, if you are dealing with a file named 'BestMovieEver.avi', your subtitle file should be named accordingly.

Step 2: Search Online for Subtitles

Go to your favorite search engine and search for the subtitles in your desired language. If you are looking for Indonesian subtitles for a movie like 'X-Men: First Class', you might search 'X-Men: First Class Indonesian subtitles'.

Step 3: Download the Subtitle File

From a reliable source such as Subscene, MovieSubtitles, or YiFiSubtitles, download the .SRT (SubRip Subtitle) file. It's important to avoid any suspicious pop-ups and only download .SRT or .SUB files. Be cautious of sites that seem unsafe.

Step 4: Rename and Place the Subtitle File

Rename the subtitle file to match your movie file. For example, if your movie file is 'BestMovieEver.AVI', your subtitle file should be named ''. Place this file in the same folder as your movie file.

Step 5: Use a Video Player

The easiest video player to use is VLC, which handles most file formats. Make sure both your movie and subtitle files are in the same VLC player file folder. VLC will automatically link the subtitle to your video.

Method 2: Creating Your Own Subtitles

For a more personalized approach, consider creating your own subtitles. This can be done through three different methods: using online subtitles tools, creating subtitles by hand, and using your favorite video editor.

Step 1: Understand the Goals of Subtitling

Subtitling is a complex task that involves translating dialogues while maintaining the rhythm and nuance of the original. Consider the following when creating your subtitles:

What is the goal of the dialogue? Determine the emotional intent behind the words. How can you fit the words within the time the character is speaking? How do you handle slang and figures of speech?

Sites like DotSub, Amara, and Universal Subtitler can help you see the movie while you write out the subtitles, eventually producing an .SRT file that fits your movie.

Step 2: Using Online Subtitle Tools

These online tools follow a similar format:

Choose when the subtitle starts. Write the subtitle. Choose when the subtitle disappears. Repeat this process for the entire movie.

Once you're done, download the .SRT file and place it in the same folder as your movie.

Step 3: Creating Subtitles by Hand

If you prefer to create subtitles manually, you can do it using a text editor like Windows Notepad or Apples TextEdit. Follow these steps:

Open a text editor. Ensure you know the proper format for a subtitle. Each title is numbered, with the format: hours:minutes:seconds:milliseconds -- hours:minutes:seconds:milliseconds. For example: 00:01:20:003 -- 00:01:27:592 Start writing your subtitles, ensuring there's one blank line between each title.

Step 4: Using a Video Editor

This method allows you to see the subtitles as you add them and adjust their placement, color, and style by hand. Open your movie file in a video editing software like Adobe Premier, iMovie, or Windows Movie Maker, and pull the film into the timeline. From there, click on your program's subtitle function and add your subtitles one by one. You can also right-click on a title and copy and paste it to keep your settings consistent across multiple titles.

Keep in mind that this method means the subtitles will now be part of the saved video file, but it provides the most control over the final product.

Conclusion

Adding subtitles to your recorded video can significantly enhance its appeal and accessibility. Whether you choose to download existing subtitles or create your own, these methods will help you achieve a professional and engaging final product.

Remember, the process of subtitling requires a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of translation. By following these steps, you can ensure that your video resonates with a broader audience and appeals to viewers with different language preferences.