ProZ.com Translation Forums

Ubiquitiy of TextGrids as a format for transcription? | Between linguists

Peter Law — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:44:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Ubiquitiy of TextGrids as a format for transcription?
Poster: Peter Law
Post title: Between linguists

Thanks for your reply Craig, as a linguist myself also, I thought it was quite a difficult software to be using to do transcription to be honest, since there is no foot pedal integration or other useful tools. They originally asked for €2 a minute, then upped it to €3 a minute, but I was spending about the same time if not more as subtitling, which should be closer to €5-6 per minute for French to English. Not sure where the happy medium lies.

Ubiquitiy of TextGrids as a format for transcription? | Praat is for linguists

Craig Meulen — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:38:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Ubiquitiy of TextGrids as a format for transcription?
Poster: Craig Meulen
Post title: Praat is for linguists

As a linguist, I can confirm that Praat is for real linguistics. Despite the plethora of e-mails I get from agencies starting "Dear linguist", translators are not linguists in that sense!

For several years I used f4 for transcription purposes - it also lets you use a footpedal to help with keeping your hands on the keyboard and kicking the audio back to listen to something again.
[url removed]

Haven't done this work for a while, though, so there might be something better out there now. And I am not sure about how to convert into the Textgrid format.

[Bearbeitet am 2026-02-25 09:39 GMT]

Ubiquitiy of TextGrids as a format for transcription?

Peter Law — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:20:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Ubiquitiy of TextGrids as a format for transcription?
Poster: Peter Law

So I was recently offered a job for "transcription" of some audio files into TextGrid format. I was given some guidelines for expected formatting and then sent on my way. From this point, I ended up going down a massive rabbit hole on how to create TextGrid files, and realised that it was vastly more involved than a simple transcription, and much more akin to spotted subtitling and then some.

I ended up using Praat to transcribe and annotate and spot the transcription. This took absolutely ages, and Praat is really not a particularly intuitive software (it seems more to have been designed for working on short linguistic chunks for formant analysis).

The amount of time I spent on the files meant that I couldn't reach the quality level that I wanted to, and the client is a little miffed about the result, saying other agencies/linguistics were able to do on the same amount of money. Thankfully my client recognised this partly and was able to bump up my payment a bit, but it was still under a decent wage for the time spent on it.

I would have liked to spend more time on it and produce a very good result of course, but couldn't justify from the budget allocated and the technique I used. The fact the end client is a little confused about the level of quality leads me to believe either my agency missold them not knowing how long it would actually take (it is their first time doing it), or that there are better ways to go about processing these types of files. I have come across tools like DARLA and MAUS, but have not had another opportunity to test them yet.

The confusion of the end client makes me think that some part of the industry is very used to working with these and I should be aware of the tools needed, but I got no help from them or my agency. I worry that I could be more efficient, but it would take a lot of work to get there without better tools.

Has anybody got any experience working with these types of files and could point me in a better direction on how to to process them, or is it a steep learning curve to get efficient like subtitling?

Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback | Several spelling agreements

Maria Laura Curzi — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:07:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback
Poster: Maria Laura Curzi
Post title: Several spelling agreements

[quote]Debbie Rodrigues wrote:

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a dissertation proposal in Translation Studies and would love some feedback.

My research question is: How do Brazilian Portuguese SDH subtitles function as narratorial agents on global streaming platforms, and what does their predominance reveal about language hierarchy in audiovisual localisation?

I became interested in this after noticing that platforms like Netflix and Prime tend to offer Brazilian Portuguese SDH as the default Portuguese variety, with little or no European Portuguese option.

Do you think this is a relevant and researchable angle?
From a professional perspective, is this predominance purely market-driven, or are there other factors I should consider?

Thanks in advance! [/quote]

As per what I studied in college when I got my translation degree, throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, all Portuguese-speaking countries (including African countries as well) signed several spelling agreements to implement. Here's the Wikipedia EN page about this: [url removed]

There is a lot of linguistic research about this history and about each agreement. Also, there are many more essays and editorial opinions about which country "won" with this or that agreement.
So, since there is a lot of research about the linguistic 'conflict', it could perhaps be a good place to start.

Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback | Question

jyuan_us — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:10:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback
Poster: jyuan_us
Post title: Question

If nobody has ever touched upon this subject, I wonder how you would compile the literature review section of your dissertation and how you would link that section to your study questions.

[Edited at 2026-02-16 22:27 GMT]

Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback | Unless you start looking

Daryo — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 20:19:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback
Poster: Daryo
Post title: Unless you start looking

As a general point of method, unless you start looking, you surely won't find anything. So no research is a priori 'in the wrong direction'.

OTOH some numbers are already saying A LOT:

Brazil around 214 million people vs Portugal around 11 million people.

Brazil a GDP of around $2,190 Billion vs Portugal with a GDP of around $313 Billion.

There might be other explanations than simple 'size matters' but usually when you go searching for something you would have some intuition about what you could find. Do you have some ideas in which directions to start looking?

Personally, I would be more interested to understand why after spending A LOT on making the best product they can, film makers ways too often **ruin completely their product in the last meter** (not even 'in the last mile'!) by looking for the cheapest subtitling they can find!

Where is the business sense of doing so? Even paying some 'outrageous' (let alone 'decent') rates for a subtitling that would match the quality of the rest of the product would STILL represent 'micro-peanuts' compared to the whole production budget!!

But then, that would probably be more a research topic for economists ... or for a subspecialty to be labelled 'marketing of translation'?

Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback

Debbie Rodrigues — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:45:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Brazilian Portuguese SDH and Language Hierarchy in Streaming Platforms – Proposal Feedback
Poster: Debbie Rodrigues

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a dissertation proposal in Translation Studies and would love some feedback.

My research question is: How do Brazilian Portuguese SDH subtitles function as narratorial agents on global streaming platforms, and what does their predominance reveal about language hierarchy in audiovisual localisation?

I became interested in this after noticing that platforms like Netflix and Prime tend to offer Brazilian Portuguese SDH as the default Portuguese variety, with little or no European Portuguese option.

Do you think this is a relevant and researchable angle?
From a professional perspective, is this predominance purely market-driven, or are there other factors I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

Could you advise professional subtitling app for mac OS? | Thank you Wolfgang

Wlodzimierz WOJCIK — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 18:56:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Could you advise professional subtitling app for mac OS?
Poster: Wlodzimierz WOJCIK
Post title: Thank you Wolfgang

Thank you Wolfgang

Pay Rate for Subtitling TV Show (Old period JP to EN)

Movingpix — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 04:02:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Pay Rate for Subtitling TV Show (Old period JP to EN)
Poster: Movingpix

Hello,

I need advice on pay rate on subtitling dailies.
Any experienced subtitlers (even non-JP), I'd appreciate your feedback.

*Dailies are footage shot on that day, often unedited, and viewed by producers and directors to check for any technical issues, or acting, camera angles etc.

Background
-I live in Canada
-I have exp. in translating Japanese tv scripts into English but NOT subtitling. (we all know subbing is a whole new art).
-I've only translated modern JP language and I don't know much about the samurai language/vocabs.
-I have worked for film/TV as a production assistant before.
-I'm not a union member in film/tv

Issue
A big US production (big budget) will start soon.
I applied w/ my resume - JP language skill, to be a PA in the office. Did not apply to be subtitler.
Post production dept. decided to interview me and they want me to subtitle the dailies.
But the story takes place in 1600 Japan, it's all samurai period language.

From Google, I found out that -
1. The original script was written in English by Americans
2.Sent to Japan and translated to modern Japanese
3.Japanese playwrights used this to write a new script using old Japanese language (poetic)
4. They used this script to shoot the TV show (season 1)

Now, I want to work for this production but this is a tall order!!

First, I understand only 60% of the dialogue at most
Second, I haven't done subtitling professionally (don't know which software etc.)
Third, although these won't be the Final subtitles that audiences see, they must be understandable for non-JP producers.
Third, dailies can be 10 hrs of footage? for one hour show...I can ask them for clarification.

They didn't send me their hourly rate yet but they told me
they want me to work for them and need help in translating subs.

-----------------------------------------------------

I emailed them to thank them and asked for clarification on the role: "Is it strictly translating subs? How long are the working hours?"
I know I will be helping the assistant editor who doesn't understand Japanese.
Another AE is in LA, and she is Japanese.

After I get a reply, I plan to ask,
-How many hours of dailies are there, do you want me to sub all of them? How long will I be given? Am I the only person working on it?
-Can you consider if I can use AI tools? (I heard DeepL is best for JP-EN)

So i know this is very complicated.
But I'd appreciate some suggestion on

1.what rate to negotiate (both hourly of my time or daily flat rate)?
Film industry will not pay me "per min of video length" since they are hiring me as an in-house person.

2.Would you say this is a doable task IF I used AI and I do the human checking?
Now reading forum, I might need a subtitling software but not sure if I will have to do the timing...let's assume I won't.

Note:
My plan is to tell them, "I can only give it a try IF..."

-they give me the modern JP script and original EN script so I know what is going on.
(I was told that what the actors end up speaking on screen can still deviate from the script)

-If the dailies are less than 10 hours and I am given more than 1 day to do it.

-If they let me use DeepL(or some good AI)

===========================================
I asked ChatGPT about what is a good rate, and its answer was:

What they’re asking you to do (in professional terms)

They need you to:
✔ Listen to Japanese spoken in the dailies
✔ Understand 1600-era Japanese
(essentially Early Modern Japanese, very different lexicon, grammar, and pronunciation)
✔ Compare it with the modern-Japanese script
✔ Produce English subtitles or modern Japanese subtitles based on it

This is translation + historical linguistic interpretation + subtitle authoring.
This is a specialist role, not an assistant role.
No one with this rare skillset should be paid PA wages.

Professional translator/subtitler (Japanese → English or JP transcription):
CAD $45–$75/hr (standard professional range)

⭐ Specialized / rare-skill transliteration (historical language, dialects, old scripts):
CAD $60–$120/hr is common and fully reasonable.

⭐ Script translation + subtitle creation (Netflix/Prime-level productions):
USD $8–12 per subtitle minute is industry standard
→ Equivalent to CAD $50–$100/hr depending on speed.

⭐ Studio-based ADR/linguistic consultant for archaic Japanese:
CAD $400–$900/day

Your task is closer to the linguistic consultant / historical dialect translator category than to a normal post-PA.

Conclusion:
"Ask for CAD $75/hour."

=================================

I'd appreciate any experienced subtitlers, any language pair, for some advice.

If you were me, HOW would you proceed?

Thanks!

Could you advise professional subtitling app for mac OS? | Take a look

WolfgangS — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:38:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Could you advise professional subtitling app for mac OS?
Poster: WolfgangS
Post title: Take a look

[quote]Wlodzimierz WOJCIK wrote:

Hello,
have changed my old Macbook and realised that Annotation Edit does'nt work on Sequoia.
Could you advise any professional subtitling app for Mac OS? Good for translation and for editing and good transcriber as well.

Thank you,
Włodzimierz

[Edited at 2025-09-17 09:32 GMT] [/quote]

At [url removed]

P.S.: IIRC, Annotation Edit has been discontinued as the developer passed away.

[Edited at 2025-09-17 13:54 GMT]

[Edited at 2025-09-17 13:55 GMT]

Could you advise professional subtitling app for mac OS?

Wlodzimierz WOJCIK — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 08:54:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Could you advise professional subtitling app for mac OS?
Poster: Wlodzimierz WOJCIK

Hello,
have changed my old Macbook and realised that Annotation Edit does'nt work on Sequoia.
Could you advise any professional subtitling app for Mac OS? Good for translation and for editing and good transcriber as well.

Thank you,
Włodzimierz

[Edited at 2025-09-17 09:32 GMT]

Subtitle Translators Wanted for Short Interviews (Book Project)

Seda KUSCU OZBUDAK — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:16:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitle Translators Wanted for Short Interviews (Book Project)
Poster: Seda KUSCU OZBUDAK

Hello everyone,

I’m writing a book about subtitle translation and the real experiences of subtitle translators around the world. The book will cover professional practices, challenges, joys, and personal stories from the field.

I’m looking for professional subtitle translators who would be willing to share their experiences in a short interview (around 20–30 minutes). Interviews can be conducted via Zoom, email, or any platform you’re comfortable with. You can remain anonymous if you prefer.

Topics include:

How you started working in subtitling

The biggest challenges you face

Memorable projects or funny stories

Thoughts on AI and the future of subtitling

Your advice for newcomers

The goal is to shed light on the subtitling profession from the perspective of translators themselves.

If you’d be interested in participating, please reply here or send me a private message. I’d be very grateful for your help!

Thank you in advance for considering this invitation.

Best regards,
Seda Kuşçu- Özbudak
[email removed]

Where can I learn to do subtitling? | Agree with you and Novian

expressisverbis — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:26:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Where can I learn to do subtitling?
Poster: expressisverbis
Post title: Agree with you and Novian

[quote]Josephine Cassar wrote:

I use Subtitle Edit and Aegisub. However, some agencies have their own system like Oona. I prefer to use Subtitle Edit which is more customer friendly. Note that it's laborious work and not well paid at all. [/quote]

Ooona Toolkit is considered a professional-grade subtitling and localization tool, more complex, and more complete in terms of features.
It's true that subtitling is often laborious and underpaid for a long ago, but thankfully, there are still clients who value quality and are willing to pay fairly for it, just like in translation.
I used to like and work with Spot, a fairly good tool as well.

Lenght of subtitling test | Longish

Joakim Braun — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:17:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Lenght of subtitling test
Poster: Joakim Braun
Post title: Longish

Five minutes is too long, but perhaps not absurdly so - depends on the tempo of the material and the impression the client makes. (Good agencies will generally provide reasonable tests!)

OT: Haven't done subtitling for a long time, but if there's no script I think I'd try AI transcription services. If the audio overlap isn't too bad you'd probably get a fairly accurate dialogue script with different speakers marked and basic time codes for rough navigation.

Then I'd mark up the script by hand dividing it into subtitles and noting transcription errors while viewing the video. With a good transcript that should be faster than putting in subtitles and timing on the fly.

Help with Subtitle workshop 4.0 | SCC FILE FORMAT

mp2024 — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 10:03:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Help with Subtitle workshop 4.0
Poster: mp2024
Post title: SCC FILE FORMAT

Hi, Kuria. I just came across your question about delivering subtitle files in SCC format. Did you ever find a solution for it? I have some potential work that requires SCC files to be created so any advice would be very helpful. Thanks, Mel.

Lenght of subtitling test | It's Worth

Tony Bennjamin — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 08:23:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Lenght of subtitling test
Poster: Tony Bennjamin
Post title: It's Worth

Hi, to my experience, it's worth to subs from a raw video (video without script). You can demand higher price for working with raw video.

Lenght of subtitling test | 5 mins

Josephine Cassar — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:12:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Lenght of subtitling test
Poster: Josephine Cassar
Post title: 5 mins

5 mins video time can mean 750 words which is over the limit. Plus you have to go to and fro to see who's talking to who for grammar-at least in my target language because of agreement of subject/possessives and verbs. Personally I think it's too much. Then you have to do the time codes as well. Maybe a free translation more likely. I would think twice, also because it means that's how the agency is going to treat you further on.

Where can I learn to do subtitling? | Scandals

Novian Cahyadi (X) — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 06:56:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Where can I learn to do subtitling?
Poster: Novian Cahyadi (X)
Post title: Scandals

[quote]Josephine Cassar wrote:
Note that it's laborious work and not well paid at all. [/quote]

The last time I was active in this field, there were still some agencies that paid well. But with the ongoing scandals, I'm not so sure anymore.

Where can I learn to do subtitling? | ...

Josephine Cassar — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 06:41:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Where can I learn to do subtitling?
Poster: Josephine Cassar
Post title: ...

I use Subtitle Edit and Aegisub. However, some agencies have their own system like Oona. I prefer to use Subtitle Edit which is more customer friendly. Note that it's laborious work and not well paid at all.

Where can I learn to do subtitling? | Thank you!

Regina Freitag — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 01:14:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Where can I learn to do subtitling?
Poster: Regina Freitag
Post title: Thank you!

Thank you very much for your replies, Novian and Mahtab!
That's great and interesting device, I will surely look into it.
All the best! :)
Kind regards,
Regina

Lenght of subtitling test

Maria Oropeza — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:06:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Lenght of subtitling test
Poster: Maria Oropeza

Hello!
I have experience in subtitling but it's been a while since I worked in a subtitling project. Long story short I found a job offer and the potential client sent me a 5 MINS video which I have to translate; the length of the FREE TEST seems weird to me. Also, they asked to translate it without giving the original language script and without time-codes either.
Do you consider that this test is worthy?

[Edited at 2025-07-03 14:15 GMT]

Where can I learn to do subtitling? | TranslaStars

Novian Cahyadi (X) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:23:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Where can I learn to do subtitling?
Poster: Novian Cahyadi (X)
Post title: TranslaStars

TranslaStars Subtitling Course. FYI, they're running a 60% summer discount code. I know the instructor, and I can vouch for her expertise.

[url removed]

Though I must also warn you. The subtitling industry is in turmoil right now. A lot of professional subtitlers are having non-payment issues. LinkedIn is full of posts and comments about this.

Where can I learn to do subtitling? | Recommended Online Subtitling Courses

Mahtab Alam — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:26:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Where can I learn to do subtitling?
Poster: Mahtab Alam
Post title: Recommended Online Subtitling Courses

Free Courses
- Stagetext Digital Subtitling Training [ [url removed] ]
A six-part video series on YouTube covering why subtitles matter and step-by-step how to subtitle in YouTube’s free tool.
- OpenLearn: Exploring Languages and Cultures – Subtitling [ [url removed] ]
A self-paced module from The Open University that walks you through timing, length limits, and best practices.
- OOONA Webinars & Toolkit Tour [ [url removed] ]
Free live demos showing you how to use the OOONA toolkit end-to-end for professional subtitling workflows.
Paid Courses

Where can I learn to do subtitling?

Regina Freitag — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:56:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Where can I learn to do subtitling?
Poster: Regina Freitag

Dear colleagues,
I would like to enhance my offering and learn subtitling, preferably online.
Can anyone of you recommend a good platform or website that offers courses and maybe let me know what tools you use for it?
Thank you so much and stay all healthy in the heat!
Kind regards,
Regina :)

Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT | Unbelievable

Novian Cahyadi (X) — Wed, 28 May 2025 05:14:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT
Poster: Novian Cahyadi (X)
Post title: Unbelievable

[quote]Ana Flávia Ribeiro wrote:
I posted after asking for my client, but thank you for scolding me instead of helping LOL how nice of you. [/quote]

Can't believe you missed half of my post.

Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT | ...

Ana Flávia Ribeiro — Tue, 27 May 2025 19:18:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT
Poster: Ana Flávia Ribeiro
Post title: ...

I posted after asking for my client, but thank you for scolding me instead of helping LOL how nice of you.

Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT | Try Subtitle Edit

Novian Cahyadi (X) — Tue, 27 May 2025 03:50:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT
Poster: Novian Cahyadi (X)
Post title: Try Subtitle Edit

Unless your client requires you to use Aegisub, try opening it in Subtitle Edit instead. See if you still get the error.

But if Aegisub is mandatory, try opening the SRT file in Notepad. Then Save as --> Copy_of_your_subtitles.srt. That was one of the solutions in the thread Sarper mentioned.

I also don't think a professional translator should be posting their client's document in a public forum. Not without written permission, at least.

[Edited at 2025-05-27 04:03 GMT]

Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT | ...

Sarper Aman — Mon, 26 May 2025 12:37:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT
Poster: Sarper Aman
Post title: ...

I just couldn't see your file. Here are some tips from ChatGPT, in case you're in hurry. You can upload your file and ask it to pinpoint the parsing errors.

Parsing Error When Importing SRT File in Aegisub

A parsing error usually means the program encountered something unexpected in the file's formatting that prevents it from properly reading and converting the subtitles.

Common Causes:

1. Incorrect Timestamp Format
- Must follow: 00:01:23,456 --> 00:01:25,678
- Common mistakes:
• Using dots instead of commas: 00:01:23.456 ← Incorrect
• Missing spaces or '-->': 00:01:23,456-00:01:25,678 ← Incorrect

2. Missing or Malformed Subtitle Number
- Each block should start with a number:
1
00:01:23,456 --> 00:01:25,678
Subtitle text here
- Errors:
• Missing number line
• Duplicate numbers
• Non-numeric characters

3. Encoding Issues
- File not saved in UTF-8 encoding can cause misinterpretation
- Fix: Open in a text editor and save with 'UTF-8 without BOM'

4. Extra or Missing Line Breaks
- Each subtitle block must be separated by a blank line

5. Corrupted or Incomplete File
- Sometimes caused by partial downloads or save errors

How to Fix It:
1. Open the SRT file in a plain text editor (Notepad, Notepad++, VS Code)
2. Check for formatting consistency
3. Ensure UTF-8 encoding
4. Use an SRT validator tool online

Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT | I saw that already

Ana Flávia Ribeiro — Mon, 26 May 2025 12:13:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT
Poster: Ana Flávia Ribeiro
Post title: I saw that already

Thanks...I saw that already and still have no clue what they are talking about.

I have attached my file just in case someone can actually help me.

Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT | This might help

Sarper Aman — Mon, 26 May 2025 12:10:00 +0000

Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Aegisub Parsing Error When Importing SRT
Poster: Sarper Aman
Post title: This might help

[url removed]