Subtitles Editor - Timeline

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A Timeline page of Subtitles Editor contains commands that lets you create and edit sequences of text lines from the subtitles text.
You can do it manually or import SRT files and have everything done automatically.

 

You can synchronize these lines with the playback time.

When you start the playback of a media file then the software will look into a subtitles database for the title of that file and load its timeline to display.

This timeline contains edited set of lines of subtitles text and each line has an assigned a time when to show that line on screen.

 

These text lines can be shown during media files playback on main software window, mini media player or full screen.
You can set in the software Options whether you want to show the timeline text or not.

 

Ribbon Commands

 

Edit Timeline Group of commands for adding, deleting and manipulating timeline lines


 

Many of us organizes a collection of media files in our disks with some logic.
The most used and  preferred format of media files titles is "Artist - Song name" so we would recommend to use that naming approach.

Sprintbit Media Player will recognize and load the timeline from the database after the currently played media file title!

The same title as you have entered at the Subtitles Database page
 

New

This menu contains the following commands that lets you create a timeline

 

Timeline Type

Only one source subtitles text is needed for a media file, but you can have various of files for the same song or movie.

 
For example you can have two audio files of one song like official CD record and the second audio file of live concert performance, and each of them may sound differently. Each of may be sung by the artist in different tempo. In that case just one subtitles timeline for one particular media title is not enough.
 

This program lets you assign one or more timelines to one media file title.
You can have separate timeline for audio file, separate for video and even your own defined timeline

 

Here you can select what kind of timeline you want to create;

General

This is just a general timeline, it can be used with any title.
So, if you start the playback of a media file and you do not  have any other timelines set then this general timeline will be loaded and used.
It will be shown regardless of media file type, means either you start to play file

C:\My Music\Some Band\Artist - Song name.mp3

or

C:\My Videos\Some Band\Artist - Song name.avi

 

 

Audio

This is an audio timeline, it can be used for audio files only.
So, if you start the playback of a file and a file is audio file type then this timeline will be loaded and used.

 

Video

This is a video timeline, it can be used for video files only.
So, if you start the playback of a file and a file is video file type then this timeline will be loaded and used.

 

Custom Timeline

Here you can also enter a title of your own defined timeline;
To do so, just enter a timeline title into a text box. Now, here are some rules to follow.
Software somehow must recognize what you want to do. As we mentioned before the program recognizes and use timelines after the played media file name (title).

 
You can have on disk for example media files for a song like
C:\My Music\Some Band\Artist - Song name.mp3

and you can have the same song in video format

C:\My Videos\Some Band\Artist - Song name.avi

and also the same song of concert named like

C:\My Videos\Some Band\Artist - Song name (Live 2011).avi

Sow what to do for this concert file:

 

To create a timeline for a file Artist - Song name (Live 1998) enter here into a Timeline Type text box Live 1998 as a timeline title.

Further more, to not have the software confused with the other files on the disk, you must have the file on disk named with timeline title enclosed in brackets ( )

C:\My Videos\Some Band\Artist - Song name (Live 2011).avi

 

From Original Subtitles Text

Click on this button to create a new timeline based on a subtitles text of selected title at My Subtitles list.

Each line of your subtitles text will be added to the new timeline and have already assigned sample start time, which you can change later.
The timeline will be created as the timeline type as you choose or enter at the Timeline Type text box.

 

Empty

Click on this button to create an empty starter timeline with a few sample lines only.

The timeline will be created as the timeline type as you choose or enter at the Timeline Type text box.

You can edit the whole timeline manually

 

Import SRT subtitles

SRT is perhaps the most basic and the most used of all subtitle formats.  It is just a text file with .srt extension.
The SRT file is popular and used by many major programs, you can download a SRT files from the Internet and plenty of websites exists.
These files have the show time already synchronized with movies so you do not have to do it manually here.
 
How to import SRT file into a Sprintbit Media Player :

1. Download desired SRT files from the Internet
2. Add a title at My Subtitles list and select it
3. Set the timeline type for it in Timeline Type text box
4. Select downloaded file in File Browser
5. Click this Import SRT subtitles button to begin and that will be all

In the result the software will automatically convert SRT file into a timeline and add a whole subtitles text to the database as well.
You can now start the playback of your movie and watch it with subtitles. (do not forget to enable subtitles in the software options)

 

Add

This menu contains three commands that lets you add an additional line to existing timeline

 

Add Line

Click on this button to add a new line to the timeline. New line will be added at the end of currently selected timeline. (F9 key)

 

Insert Line Above

Click on this button to add a new line to the timeline. (F11 key)
New line will be inserted above selected position (line) in currently selected timeline

 

Insert Line Below

Click on this button to add a new line to the timeline.
New line will be inserted below selected position (line) in currently selected timeline. (F12 key)

 

Delete

This menu contains two commands that lets you delete lines from existing timeline

 

Remove Line

Click on this button to delete selected lines from existing timeline

 

Delete Timeline

Click on this button to delete whole timeline

 

Delete All

Click on this button to delete all timelines of current song

 

 

Cut

Cut the selected lines, data will be moved through the memory after use Paste command

 

Copy

Copy the selected lines, data will be copied through the memory after use Paste command

 

Paste

Paste lines from memory that has been selected by Cut or Copy command.

 

Move Up

Moves selected lines within the list Up

 

Move Down

Moves selected lines within the list Down

 

Rename

Renames the timeline via dialog window where you can give a new name for selected timeline

 

 

Time Start Group of commands for editing the showing start time of each line


 

Here is an example of a timeline editor:

 

 

In our example when you start the playback then at 00:00:03 time the first line is shown then at 00:00:05 the second line is shown etc.

This system is similar to the known karaoke systems.

 

Set From Playback Position

Click on this button to set the line showing start time from playback position. (F7 key)
 

1.Select the title of file at My Subtitles list.
2.Select the first line at the desired timeline.
It must be done to set a focus on the grid and have keyboard keys work with it.
Also you must select it to let the software know which timeline you want to use.
3.Start playing the audio or video file you want to edit thew timeline for.
4.Follow the lines text from the beginning. Click this button the moment that you hear the first word of text line.
Current playback time will be assigned to selected line, next line will be selected automatically so you can assign next time easily.

 

For better convenience you can also use F7 key. Just listen to the words and hit F7 key to assign the playback time.
If you do not hear a song words for a while hit the F11 key to enter an empty line.
 

Plus & Minus

These two controls lets you adjust select line showing time.
When you click on small plus or minus buttons then you can increase or decrease the time about a few seconds.
The amount of second you can set by entering a value into a text editor of these controls or use small up or down arrows.

Tip: The amount of seconds from the Plus control is used to calculate initial time gaps when you create new timeline using commands from the New menu

 

Subtitles Text Group of commands for editing the text of each line


 

Cut

Cut the selected text from line, data will be moved through the memory after use Paste command

 

Copy

Copy the selected text form line, data will be copied through the memory after use Paste command

 

Paste

Paste text from memory that has been selected by Cut or Copy command.

 

Unlike other Cut, Copy paste commands these commands will not touch the selected line time, only the text will be edited.

 

Move Left Move Right

Click on these button to move selected line one word left or right.

The word will be moved between lines

 

Move Up

Moves selected line text within the list Up

 

Move Down

Moves selected line text within the list Down

 


 

Save To Database

Click on this button to save the changes you have made to the database

Many other Sprintbit Media Player features handles the data automatically but here you must save the changes manually or they will be lost.

We did it on purpose to have better software performance when editing the timeline.

You do not have to use this button constantly but periodically after you finish edit the timeline.

 

Tools

Tools menu has some additional commands:

Find

This command will show a find panel above the Timeline grid. Its simple and straightforward to use, it lets you search for a text in the timeline lines

Rest  of the command in this menu lets you change the lines text case. They are also simple to use, just select the command and the text will be changed immediately.