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  3. Using iOS Video Editor

How to add and edit subtitles (iOS)?

The Subtitles feature in the Clideo iOS app allows you to create, edit, translate, style, and download subtitles directly within your project. You can add subtitles manually, import them from an SRT file, or generate them automatically from speech in an audio or video element. Automatic generation is only available to registered users and requires an Internet connection.

Subtitles created in Video Editor are hard-coded into the exported video and cannot be turned on or off in a media player.

Refer to this article to see the list of supported formats.

Subtitle tracks

When you add subtitles, they appear in the project as a separate subtitle track. Each track contains an original-language version and can also include one or more translations.

A project can have multiple subtitle tracks. For example, to display subtitles in two languages at the same time, use a separate track for each language.

Generate subtitles

To generate subtitles automatically, make sure you have a video or audio element containing speech in the timeline, and do the following:

  1. Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles.
  2. Tap Auto Subtitles.
  3. If your project has several media elements with audio, select whether to transcribe the whole project or a specific media element.
  4. Select the original language of your media element and tap Generate. The button displays the number of credits required for the operation. 

For a more accurate transcription, make sure the audio has minimal background noise and does not contain overlapping speech or multiple spoken languages.

Upload an SRT file

To import an SRT file into your project, do the following:

  1. Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles
  2. Tap Upload Subtitles File.
  3. Choose an SRT file from your device.

If the file contains overlapping subtitle entries, the app will combine them into one subtitle while keeping the line formatting.

If the SRT file is damaged or incorrectly formatted, you will see an error. Fix the formatting, then try uploading the file again.

Transcribe manually

To create subtitles manually, do the following:

  1. Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles
  2. Tap Transcribe Manually.
  3. Replace Add text with your first subtitle text.
  4. Tap + Add subtitle button to add the next subtitle.
  5. Once all subtitles are added, tap Done at the top right.

Manage tracks and individual subtitles

Manage subtitle tracks

Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles. In the options' toolbar at the bottom, tap Tracks, to manage your subtitle tracks.

  • Switch languages: If the track contains several language versions, tap the language version you want to display.
  • Add a track: Tap the + icon, then select how you want to add subtitles.
  • Delete a track/language version: Tap the three dots next to the its title, and then tap Delete.

Manage individual subtitles

You can manage individual subtitles of the selected track.

  • Add: To add a subtitle at the end of a subtitle track, tap +Add subtitle. To add a subtitle between two existing subtitles, tap + Add below at the top (the button is active when there is at least 0.2 seconds of free space before the next subtitle. 
  • Delete: Select a subtitle and in the options' bar at the bottom, tap Delete.
  • Edit: Select a subtitle in the timeline or on the canvas, tap Edit, and enter new text. Tap Done to save the changes.
  • Adjust timing: Drag the subtitle handles in the timeline. A subtitle can only expand into available free space and cannot push neighboring subtitles.
  • Split: Select a subtitle in the timeline or on the canvas, tap Edit, place the text cursor at the required place in the subtitle, and tap Split at the top.
  • Merge: Select a subtitle in the timeline or on the canvas, tap Edit, select the top of the two subtitles to be merged, and tap Merge.
  • Move: In the timeline, long-press and drag a subtitle to move it to another position on the same subtitle track. It cannot be moved to another track.
  • Duplicate: Select a subtitle, then, in the options' bar at the bottom, tap the Duplicate icon. The duplicate will be added to the end of the same track with the same text, style, and duration.
  • Find and replace: In the options' bar at the bottom, tap Edit, then tap the Find and replace icon at the bottom right. Replace matches individually or all at once. Leave Replace with empty to delete the matching text.

Generate subtitles with a translation

To generate and translate subtitles for a media element, do the following:

  1. Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles:
    • If the project has no subtitle tracks: Swipe in the bottom bar, tap Subtitles, and select Auto Subtitles.
    • If the project already has a subtitle track: Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles. Then tap Tracks → the plus button → Auto Subtitles.
  2. If the project has several media elements with audio, select whether to process the whole project or a specific media element.
  3. Select the original language of the media.
  4. Enable Add translation and select the translation language.
  5. Tap Generate. The button displays the number of credits required for the operation.
  6. After processing, a new subtitle track with the translated version will be created. Use the Tracks icon to switch between its original and translated versions.

Add a translation to an existing subtitle track

To add another language version to a subtitle track already in the project, do the following:

  1. Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles.
  2. Tap Tracks and tap + Add translation in the subtitle track you want to translate.
  3. Select the translation language.
  4. Tap Translate. The button displays the number of credits required for the operation.
  5. The new translation will be added and displayed for the selected track. Use Tracks to switch between its original and translated language versions.

Change subtitle style

You can customize how subtitles look. By default, style and canvas position are shared across the entire subtitle track. 

  • Style of the entire subtitle track: Select the subtitle track and, in the options' bar at the bottom, tap Styles. Select a preset or adjust the text, background, and opacity settings. 
  • Position of the entire subtitle track: Select any subtitle on the canvas and drag it to the required position. All other subtitles on the same track will also move.
  • Style or position of a single subtitle: Select a subtitle and, in the options' bar at the bottom, tap the Detach styles icon. You can then adjust its style or position separately.
    • Detached subtitles retain their individual settings if you later change the shared track style.
    • If you remove the detachment, the subtitle returns to the shared track style.

Download subtitles

To download a track or all subtitle tracks from the project, do the following:

  1. Swipe in the bottom bar and tap Subtitles.
  2. In the options' toolbar at the bottom, Tap Download.
  3. If you have several subtitle tracks in the project, select whether you want to download a specific track or all subtitle tracks.
  4. Select the format: SRT, TXT, or TXT with timecodes.
  5. Tap Save, then select where you want to save the file.

Translations are included in the download. If the download contains multiple tracks or language versions, they are saved as separate files in an archive.

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