Adding subtitles

Question

Level 2

176 points

Adding subtitles

Again we have an editor that completely ignores subtitles. Every solution I have tried is miserable - some I paid for - some free.

We release films in digital QT downloads, on DVD, streaming etc. So we are back to hard-coding text in FCPX.

In FCP7 we used a subtitle program that exported xml which then imported to the timeline - havent found a good solution for FCPX yet.

So we started hard-coding in FCPX but in a fulll length documentary its bringing FCPX to its knees. I just tested using lower thirds text and after 5 minutes FCPX is lagging really bad. And I am on a retina top spec MacBook, 16GRam and thunderbolt drives.

This is not good. Surely someone has a subtitles solution in FCPX after all this time?

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 27inch Apple thunderbolt display

Posted on Dec 3, 2012 5:26 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 3, 2012 5:55 AM in response to Jon Braeley

I have read about "Movie Captioner", by Synchrimedia.com

I don't have any experience with this program, but since it has a functional 14-day trial period you could try it out. If you do, then please report back with your impressions.

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Answer 2

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 3, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Jon Braeley

Agree with your general point about the need, and hope third party vendors will step up soon. But in the meantime, is finishing your FCPX project in FCP7 a workable solution?

Russ

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Answer 3

Jon Braeley Author

Level 2

176 points

Dec 3, 2012 6:39 AM in response to Jon Braeley

Even ignoring caption creation programs we are down to hard coding text in FCPX.

But FCPX cannot handle that amount of text - say a 10 minute interview in subtitles. Surely Apple are aware of this.

FCP7 is no longer an option - its is just too buggy now. Lack of support has killed it off.

Needless to say, we are in a panic!

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Answer 4

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 3, 2012 6:58 AM in response to Jon Braeley

Jon Braeley wrote:

FCP7 is no longer an option - its is just too buggy now. Lack of support has killed it off.

Buggy? Sorry to hear that. How and on what OS? Legacy FCP has been rock solid here. I only wish FCPX were half as stable.

Russ

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Answer 5

Jon Braeley Author

Level 2

176 points

Dec 3, 2012 7:27 AM in response to Russ H

I don't want to get into a FCP7 v FCPX here. We used a hybrid of FCP7 and X on our last movie and never want to do that again.

FCPX is super fast and solid for us. We just hit a brick wall with subtitles. But it's a big wall as all our films are in foreign languages.

The fact is that adding basic text is a 'motion file' and cripples FCPX if used in large amounts like subtitles. It is this problem that is stopping us right now.

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Answer 6

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

Dec 3, 2012 7:44 AM in response to Jon Braeley

Jon Braeley wrote:

I don't want to get into a FCP7 v FCPX here. We used a hybrid of FCP7 and X on our last movie and never want to do that again.

Whatever.

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