{"id":96626,"date":"2018-04-03T15:28:53","date_gmt":"2018-04-03T20:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=96626"},"modified":"2018-04-03T15:28:53","modified_gmt":"2018-04-03T20:28:53","slug":"creating-subtitles-davinci-resolve-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/creating-subtitles-davinci-resolve-14\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lowdown on Working With Subtitles In DaVinci Resolve 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

NLEs generally operate similarly, but when it comes to captions, things change. Here’s what you need to know about creating subtitles in DaVinci Resolve.<\/h2>\n

When it comes to working with captions, Adobe Premiere has a great built-in caption and subtitle feature, which we have already covered in depth (with a video tutorial)\u00a0here<\/a>. Resolve, on the other hand, well, I\u2019ve already\u00a0expressed my dismay\u00a0about working with text in this article<\/a>. For all the\u00a0strides Resolve has been making, when it comes to using any form of text, the program lacks the finesse of Adobe’s applications.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, at this moment in time, there\u2019s no caption feature like we find in Premiere. However, with all the consistent updates and fixes we’re seeing, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if we saw this feature sometime over the next year or two. But, using only what’s available now, let\u2019s have a look at how you can create, import, and export subtitles in Resolve.<\/p>\n

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Importing Subtitles<\/h3>\n

You can import subtitles into Resolve; however, they must be in an FCPXML<\/a> file format. To do this, select File > Import AAF, EDL, XML > select FCPXML File<\/em>. The FCPXML file\u00a0will import with the appropriate time code in and out points and text formatting. The problem is that many use the SRT<\/a>\u00a0format for subtitles, and unlike Premiere,\u00a0which allows you\u00a0to import an SRT subtitle file, Resolve doesn’t accept it.\u00a0 Therefore, if you are working with an SRT file, we have to jump ship and use a different tool.<\/p>\n

SubSimple<\/a>, is an online tool from Resolver.tools<\/a> that allows you to convert an SRT subtitle file into an FCPXML. The online tool is incredibly simple to use. You just input your timeline’s FPS and upload the SRT file for conversion.\u00a0There is also a downloadable software version of SubSimple, which costs $29. It offers a batch-run function and, of course, runs offline.<\/p>\n

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Creating Subtitles<\/h3>\n

Creating subtitles in Resolve is\u00a0similar to creating a text title. In fact, it\u2019s actually the same process. You drag a Text Title\/Generator from the effects library onto an empty track and customize the text in the inspector. There are, of course, guidelines for creating subtitles for broadcast, so it’s always best to check with the client for the intended output before you begin working.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

When you need to change the text of the subtitle layer, instead of implementing a new text layer, simply use the blade tool (B) to splice the text layer and adjust as needed. When you use the blade tool on a text layer, like any media file, Resolve sees it as a new clip separate from the original clip.\u00a0 To simplify the alignment of the text, make sure you have the audio waveform ticked in the timeline options and the audio track height set to its highest. It’s easier to arrange the subtitles to the audio’s waveform than the video itself.<\/p>\n

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Exporting<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no “one-click export subtitle” button. Instead, to export, first, create a copy of your working timeline and rename it to avoid confusion.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Delete all the media except for the subtitle track, and then go to file > export AAF, XML<\/em>, and then select the appropriate FCPXML type. If you need to convert the FCPXML file to an SRT file, SubSimple can do it for you.<\/p>\n

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Lewis McGregor is a certified BlackMagic Design DaVinci Resolve trainer.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Looking for more information on Resolve? Check out these articles.<\/p>\n