How to create subtitles in Premiere Pro?
Creating subtitles in Premiere Pro is an essential task for those who want to improve the accessibility of their videos. Learning how to handle them effectively with timecode and exporting in SRT format may seem challenging, but with the right steps it's quite manageable. Here's a guide to help you understand how to do it.
What is the first step in creating subtitles?
To start working with captions, go to the "captions" workspace in Premiere Pro. This will adjust your workspace to make it easier to include captions:
- Click "captions" at the top of the program.
- This will open a tab called "text" with options to create a new caption track or import an existing one if you already have an SRT file.
How to synchronize subtitles with the timeline?
Synchronizing subtitles correctly is crucial to ensure they match the audio or video they accompany. Follow these steps:
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Locate the start of the dialog or song: Use the timeline to find the exact moment where the dialog or song lyrics begin.
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Create a new caption track:
- Click on "new caption track" and select the CEA-708 format, designed for digital broadcasts.
- When confirmed, a new caption track will appear.
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Add and adjust the text:
- Use the "+" button on the text tab to add a new caption.
- Type the text you want to include in the subtitle.
- Adjust the duration of the subtitle by dragging its border on the timeline. Make sure it perfectly matches the audio.
How to customize the appearance of subtitles?
Customizing subtitles is essential to make them visually appealing and legible:
- Font: Premiere Pro offers several font options, by default it uses Minion Pro. You can switch to a cleaner font such as Montserrat.
- Font weight: Select a semi-volt variant to highlight text and increase readability.
- Uniform style: Although Premiere may not allow you to copy and paste attributes, you can always manually set each subtitle to maintain a consistent appearance.
How to adjust subtitles for better timing?
Accurate timing is key to ensure good synchronization between subtitles and audio:
- Optimize the timing: adjust the beginning and end of each subtitle so that the text appears just when it corresponds with the audio. Avoid very large timing differences, even if they are only a few frames.
- Check constantly: Visualize the project to make sure that all subtitles are properly synchronized.
What are the steps to export the subtitles in SRT format?
Once you have completed the creation and synchronization of your subtitles, it is time to export them:
- Access the export option: From the text tab, use the options menu (three dots) to select "export to SRT file".
- Save the file: Name your SRT file appropriately and save it in a specific folder to keep it handy.
These steps will allow you to not only create and customize subtitles, but effectively export them for use in any compatible player. In addition, I encourage you to download the song lyrics provided in the lecture material and practice more with subtitle creation, for it all comes with practice, and you will soon master this skill!
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