I'm trying to subtitle two videos that have been timecoded.

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Level 1

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I'm trying to subtitle two videos that have been timecoded.

I have two five minute video clips sent to me from my team in Thailand. The clips are in Thai and so I had them translated with a time code. I imported them into iMovie 10.0.6 and now I want to pull out the soundbites that I like, subtitle them and create a movie. The problem is that there is no timecode on each clip so that I can match the translated timecode to the correct time in the clip. Is this even possible? After extensive googling, the closest I got was to clip on 'IMovie' and then 'Preferences' to select to view the time code. However, when I click on iMovie and then preferences I only get two options: 'Clip' and 'Theater'.

Please advise. Thank you!

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Mar 11, 2015 1:38 PM

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Answer 1

GeeD

Level 6

9,179 points

Mar 12, 2015 4:35 AM in response to RaeGoble

Rae Goble,

You write: "I had them translated with a time code." I assume this means that you know at what times in the clips particular things were said in Thai. I also assume that you must be using iMovie 10. This version is useless for precision timing, the timeline only showing the time of the start of each clip (and then only when not using wrapped timeline).

iMovie 9 and Final Cut Pro (any version) are much better, showing the precise location in time of the playhead so you can put the subtitles at the right locations.

If you have access to either of these I would use them. [note that you can download FCP to try out free for one month from the AppStore].

[You might be able to use Quicktime Player to play the clips at the same time as editing in iMovie - it shows exact time and could identify where in the timeline on iMovie 10 to place the subtitles. You also use it to split the clips at exact times into pieces that can be reassembled in iMovie - but it won't be very easy.]

I hope this helps,

Geoff.

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