Subtitling Workflow - Task Manager

[neb]

Currently there are two main workflows for Subtitling in Stellar.

1. Working with local Projects - described in this post.
2. Working with Tasks - which will be explained in this tutorial.

Introduction

The Task List System allows Tasks to be assigned to one or more users and distributed anywhere in the world.

• A Task contains all the media and/or subtitle required to do a specific task.
• Any changes to the task files (edits, additions deletions etc.) are automatically synchronized to the central store.

There are two aspects to the Audio Description Workflow with a Task System:

• The creation of a Subtitling Task
• Working on the Subtitling Task

Preparing the Task

Uploading Media File

• To upload a media file you must have Manager or Admin level access for the Company you want to add the media for.

• By Uploading a media file you are making it available to any other user in the same company via the Task Server.

• Uploading a media file will automatically trigger the creation of shot change, proxy video and audio files and audio waveform files.

  • Click on the Manage Resources – Media tab
    
    
  • Click on the Add new media button
    
  • This will show the New Media controls:
    
    

• Local Conversion

  • The video file will be converted, and DRM added is selected, by your own PC or Mac.
    • This may take some time.

• Select the Original media File

  • Use the document browse button to find the media file you want to convert and upload
  • By default the currently loaded media file is selected.

• Enter the Media Name – this is used for sorting and searching

• Enter text for the description, series and episode.

  • These are used for information only.

• Optionally

  • Mark the media for DRM.
    • This will cause the media to be encrypted with Widevine DRM and will require second factor authentication by each user that downloads a Task containing this media.
    • Default – Off

• Enforce Spoiler to video Playback

  • This will cause the media to be watermarked when displayed in Stellar
  • Default = Off

• Display User Info in the Spoiler - Will display the current user information in the watermark.

• Display custom text in the Spoiler - Allows you to add custom text in the watermark.

• Notes – enter free form text instructions for this media file.

Click on the Upload button.

The conversion process will start.

Once the conversion process is finished, the upload process will start.

Once the upload process is finished, you will be able to see the new media entry in the Media Tab.

Creating a New Task

• To create a New Task you must have Manager or Admin level access for the Company you want to create a Task for.
• If you have an Admin or Manager level of Access you will see the Manage Recourses option on the Task screen.

  • Click on Tasks
    

    

  • Select the Tasks option under Manage Resources

  • Click on the New Task button
    

From Remote Media

Media Details

• Click in the Search for Remote Media area and you will see a list of all available media.
  • Start typing to get a filtered list.
    
    

Task Details

• Task Name – Required
• Task Status – Default is Preparing
• Two Factor Authentication – If selected all users will have to authenticate by email or SMS when downloading this Task.
• Assigned users – The current user is added by default – Click in the blank area to select users from all available.
  • Start typing to see a filtered list of users.
  • You can assign any User who has been added to your Companies list of users.
• Notes – enter free form text instructions for this Task.
• You can’t set DRM encryption – but the media may have had DRM set when it was first uploaded.
• Click on the Upload button to create the new Task.

• Hint: To add subtitle or script files to the Task Download it and add the new files.
  • Changes will be uploaded automatically.

Working on a Task

The users which have had a Task assigned to, will receive an email with information on how to start working on their task.

Dear [Username],

You have been invited by [Admin Name] from [Your Company Name] company to participate in a task:

Task Name: Name of the Task
Task Description: Description of the task

Check out the Stellar Task Manager help page for more information:
Task Manager

Sincerely,
Mr Neb

Opening a Task

Once the user has received the email confirming they have been assigned a task, they can go back in Stellar and open the Task Manager Window.

This open the following window.

In the Active Tasks Tab, they will now see the new Task that was assigned to them. All the details of the task will have been received in the previous email.

Loading a Task

To load a task, left click on the download icon .
Hold Shift and then left Click on the download icon to download the task and the associated audio files.

Layouts & User Information

There are two types of layouts that can be set from a Company Manager account. When creating a a new task, after adding a used in the Assigned Users area, you can click them to see their information.

Click on the user that you want to see their information.

This will open the User Information window

You can set the Task Layer for this user by pressing on the Browse Icon then navigate and select the layout you wish to assign.

The system allows different Task Layouts for each of the users who have had the task assigned to.

As a Manager you can also set a preferred Layout for each user.
Task Manger → Manage Resources → Users → click on the pen corresponding to the user that you want to edit.

In the preferred Layout section - press on the Browse Icon then navigate and select the layout you wish to assign.

Task Layout will override the Preferred Layout

Edit Control

Multiple users can load the same task simultaneously. In order to prevent accidental edits, a user has to first take control of a text file before being able to edit. To take control of the file, press on the pen icon.

- No one has control of the task.
- You have control of the task.
- Someone else has control of the task.

You can see who else is currently editing the task by hovering over the pen icon.

Creating a Subtitle File

The first step is to create New Text file to the Project.
Files ->Text Files → New

Click to Expand

The File Browse window will open and you will be able to choose the path where you want to save the new Text File and to change its name. The name will default to the one of the Media that was previously uploaded into the Project.

Click to Expand

In the New Filename entry you will be able to change the name of the text file. DO NOT remove or alter the ending (.srt .pac etc.) in the filename.

In the File Format field, please make sure that it is set to the right subtitle format. You can do that by using the drop down list to pick the right option.

Click to Expand

In the Style Profile entry, please make sure you have selected the appropriate style. To select a profile, click on the File Icon. Read more about Profiles and how to use them here..

Click to Expand

Then press in the area on the upper left side of the window to open the drop-down list.

Click to Expand

Select System Profiles

Click to Expand

Select Subtitle Folder → Select the Appropriate Profile → Press OK

Click to Expand

When you made all the required modifications, you can press on Create the create a New subtitle file file.

Click to Expand

To insert it into the project, press Save.

You should now see the new Subtitle File present in the Timed Text Editor on the right.

Click to Expand

Editing a Subtitle

After creating a new Subtitle File, one title with the incue set at first frame of the existing media will be inserted into the project.

Click to Expand

Moving

Moving on the timeline

Left click and drag while on the timeline

Click to Expand

Move Frame by Frame -
Scroll wheel Up/Down
If available Scroll Wheel Tilt Left/Right - more precision in movement.

Insert

To insert a new Title
Drag the timeline to the exact point where you want the new title to start, the press Ctrl+ Enter.

Click to Expand

Drag the timeline to the exact point where you want the new title to start, Right Click on the timeline → Insert.

Delete

To delete a Title - select the title that you want to delete (drag the cue on top of the title in the timeline), then press Ctrl+Shift+Delete → Yes

Click to Expand

You can also delete any Title by pressing the Trash Can Icon on each Title
Trashcan → Ok
Hold Shift then Click on the Trashcan → Skip the Delete Confirmation Prompt

Click to Expand

Right click on the Title in the Timeline → ** Delete** → Current Title - > Skip the Delete Confirmation Prompt

Click to Expand

Reposition

Reposition / move one title on the timeline - Hover the Title, hold SHIFT and then LEFT CLICK DRAG the title.

Click to Expand

Reposition / Recut All Titles - Hover the Title, hold CTRL + SHIFT and then LEFT CLICK DRAG the title.

Click to Expand

Reposition / Recut titles from this point on - Hover the Title, hold ALT + SHIFT and then LEFT CLICK DRAG the title.

Click to Expand

Reposition / Recut titles from this point on setting incue to current Time Cue - SHIFT + Double Click

Click to Expand

Recut/ Reposition sub from this point on ALL files. - SHIFT + CTRL + Double Click

Click to Expand

Adjust Incue/Outcue

Adjust Outcue - Hover the RIGHT end of the Title, hold ALT + SHIFT and then LEFT CLICK DRAG

Click to Expand

Adjust Incue - Hover the LEFT end of the Title, hold ALT + SHIFT and then LEFT CLICK DRAG

Click to Expand

Set Incue to current Time Cue - this will snap the Incue to the position of the Video Cue - Select the Title, move the Video Cue to the time where you want to set the Incue → Press Alt + Plus (near backspace)

Click to Expand

Set Outcue to current Time Cue - this will snap the Incue to the position of the Video Cue - Select the Title, move the Video Cue to the time where you want to set the Incue → Press Alt + Minus (near backspace)

Click to Expand

![outcuetoTC690x127](upload://6KDplyyvqLLN9yVWkjB0KSmeadz.gif

Export Text File

You can Export a text file from the current Project with or without a format conversion.

Text files include subtitle, caption, AD and Dubbing Scripts and other timed text file formats.

You can Export a file to any location visible on your PC or Mac.

You can select to Export all the contents of the file, then timing information without the text or just the text without the times stamps.

In the case of AD and Dubbing files you can export with or without the associated audio files.

Files → Export → Text File

• Source File – Select from one of the Text Files currently in the Project. Defaults to the currently selected column

• Source File Path – Displays the path and filename of the file being exported. – This field is read only.

• Destination file name – use the Browse button to set a file name, location and file type for the new file.

  • The file name will default to be the same as the source file with ‘-copy’ appended
  • The file type will default to be the same as the source file
    • If you want to convert the file to a different type you can select between any of the supported file types.
      • Note: Not all file types support all styles and content types.
        • Caption files don’t support italics.
        • Many file types don’t support comments
      • It is possible data will be lost in the conversion process.

• Export Mode:

  • Times and Text – the new file contains all the text and timing information from the source file.
  • Times Only – The new file only contains blank subtitles. This is useful for creating a blank template when translating between languages
  • Text only – the new file contains text subtitles but no times. – this is useful if a file needs to be retimed.

• The new file will be stored in the selected location.

Task Synchronization

Since we are not working with local projects, but with tasks, all the progress will be automatically saved in the cloud several seconds after a modification has been done to the task files.

The Task Name will flash bright Yellow when the synchronization was successful and the sync icon will turn green.