Terminology Glossary

The Stellar Suite Glossary

The components that make up The Stellar Suite of localization and accessibility tools.

Term Description
The Nebula Server The Nebula Server is the central point of managing The Stellar Suite. It controls User login, software distribution and updates, metering and billing. No user media, content, text files, audio or other operational information is ever stored on the Nebula Server.
The Yella Umbrella Task Server The Yella Umbrella Task Server is a cloud service available to all users of The Stellar Suite to enable seamless collaboration. Assign tasks to any Stellar user worldwide and enjoy flexible and efficient work distribution and progress tracking. Upload tasks and the necessary media files for streamlined project management. No need to transfer large media files or email text files.
Corporate Task Server A Corporate Task Server is a cloud service only available users and selected freelancers for one company. Combined with The Stellar Suite it enables seamless collaboration. Onboard and assign tasks to any Stellar user worldwide and enjoy flexible and efficient work distribution and progress tracking. Upload tasks and the necessary media files for streamlined project management.
Runs in a Device in the client’s AWS account. Provides The Stellar Manage portal for full management of the workflow of Tasks, Media, Users and much more.
Action Manager An Action Manager provides the portal and control of all automated actions for one company. Work (Jobs) are automatically distributed to as many Action Processors as are available to do specific actions. This can include video conversion, audio mixing, AI service integration and custom actions.
Runs in a Device in the client’s AWS account. Provides the Stellar Automate portal for managing resources and workflow automation.
Action Processor An Action Processor provides the processing power to run work (Jobs) that are orchestrated by the Action Manager. Each Acton Processor and associated Processes can perform a range of actions depending on the configuration. These can include: video conversion, audio mixing, AI service integration and custom actions.
Runs in a Device running in the Client’ computer. Any type, any location.
Library Browser Process A Library Browser Process provides a point of access to a storage volume (Library). A range of file storage systems are supported including local drives, network storage, AWS S3 (and compatibles) and FTP. The Client controls the assignment and access rights to all Libraries.
In combination with Action Processors this allows media files of all types to be processed in any location on any type of storage, all without moving the files.
Runs in a Device running in the Client’ computer. Any type, any location
Stellar Create Stellar Create is the editing tool in The Stellar Suite used for all forms of localization and accessibility content. Create, edit, QC and deliver all forms of localization and accessibility content: Subtitles, captions, transcripts, audio description, spoken subtitles, voice-over, lip-sync dubbing and timed metadata.
Runs in a Device running on each user’s computers.
Stellar Manage Stellar Manage is the management tool in The Stellar Suite and provides a portal for visualising and managing all the work in progress for a company. Tasks, Media, Users, User Groups and a range of metadata are controlled via this Portal.
Runs in your browser.
Stellar Automate Stellar Automate is the workflow automation tool in The Stellar Suite and provides a portal for visualising and managing all the workflow automation for a company. Automated processes, Workflow design and automation, Action Processor and Library Browser configuration and control and system settings and metadata. All Tasks, Media, Users, User Groups and a range of metadata are controlled via this Portal.
Runs in your browser.

Stellar Create Glossary

Stellar is the user tool for authoring, editing, checking and viewing all types of timed text including subtitles, captions, Audio Description, voice over, and dubbing scripts and recording and transcripts.

Stellar runs on Nebula so you have to have a Nebula account and to be running a Nebula Device on your PC or Mac.

You need to have an active internet connection as the local Nebula Device must be in contact with the Nebula System. However none of your media files are ever stored on our servers, you are always in control of your own media.

Once you are up and running you will only need to access Nebula to view and update your account or possibly occasionally to edit some Stellar configurations. There is a full set of Nebula Help pages available should you need them.

NOTE: Projects in Nebula and Stella are not the same thing! See the Project Overview for more information on Stellar Projects and the Nebula help pages for information on Nebula Projects.

Term Description
Device A Device is a mini software server that runs on each machine that is used to run any nebula Processes. Each device is unique and there is a different Device type for PC, Mac or Linux machines. Only one copy of a specific Device (ID Number) can run at the same time. Even on different computers.
Project A Stellar project (different from a Nebula Project) is a collection of files and attributes that have been gathered together for a specific job.
A single Project file references media, subtitle, script and other metadata files into a single collection.
Task A Stellar Task is a Project that has been uploaded to a central Task Server and assigned to a User.
Tasks can be downloaded by any Stellar user who has been assigned the task.
Tasks are stored centrally and all changes are updated automatically.
Files Files are all the parts that make up a Project and include video file, subtitle or script files, shot change and other data files and any associated audio files.
All files are stored on either your local drive or a specified location.
Files may be copied automatically to a Task server if that is how your Stellar is configured.
User A Nebula User who has been added to the Task System.
User Group A group of two or more Users created on the Task System that can be assigned to a Task.
Widget A Stellar Widget is a sub component of the Stellar software and can be enables, disabled and configured to provide a specific function within Stellar.
Which Widgets are active and how they are configured is set by a Layout.
Style Profile A Stellar Profile is a set of style and QC Layers (containing Rules) that are applied to a specific subtitle or script file. This may be the number of characters per row, the maximum number of lines and the font style for a subtitle file, or the default fade levels for an Audio Description file.
Style Profiles are stored centrally per Company and can be accessed by any user with suitable privileges.
There are a set of Read-Only System Profiles that users can use directly or copy to make custom versions.
Profile settings can also be overridden on a specific Project or Task to allow for special cases.
Layers Layers define a set of Rules for how text files (Subtitles, Captions, Scripts or Transcripts) should be created. There are Layers for Reading Speed, Timing, Text Style, Editing restrictions, Audio Settings and QC tests.
Profiles are stored centrally per Company and can be accessed by any user with suitable privileges.
Layers are only used as part of Profiles
Layers are stored centrally per Company and can be accessed by any user with suitable privileges.
There are a set of Read-Only System Layers that users can use directly or copy to make custom versions as Company Layers.
Rules Rules are the individual settings in Layers that control the style, timing and other settings for a text file (Subtitles, Captions, Scripts or Transcripts).
Rules are only set in Layers
Within a Project individual Rules can be overridden just for the specific text file in a single Project.
Settings or Properties The Settings for Stellar are stored in a range of ways depending on the setting.
For example: Rules are only set in Layers
The microphone selected to record Audio Description audio is stored as part of the overall Stellar settings as this is specific to your computer
The position and size of the widgets on screen, and any of their settings, are stored as part of a Layout. This allows you to swap between different Layouts for different type of work.
Subtitle style settings, line length, positioning rules, are stored as part of a Profile that sets the rules for a specific file within a Project.
Hotkeys Hotkeys are shortcut key combinations to access specific function.
For example: Alt+ Up Arrow – Video pause and single step forward
Hotkey Maps Hotkey Maps control what Hotkeys are used for each function within Stellar.
There is a Default Stellar map – See the Hotkeys Help page
Alternative Hotkey maps are provided to simulate other subtitling software products
Users can create personal customized Hotkey Maps to set personal preferences.
Import Importing in Stellar is the action of bringing in files that are not in the \Stellar\ file system and making them available in Stellar. Importing may, optionally, include format conversion of video or text files.
Export Exporting from Stellar is the action of taking a file in the \Stellar\ file system and saving a copy in an external location. Exporting may, optionally, include format conversion text files or zipping of audio and script file sets.
ASR Automatic Speech Recognition. Another term for Speech to Text (STT). This is the process of using AI tools to transcribe the speech from audio to text.
Synthetic Voice Another name for Text to Speech (TTS). This is the process of using AI services to turn text into spoken audio.

Nebula Glossary

  • Nebula is a system for automatically manipulating subtitle, audio description, dubbing and other media files located on any local or cloud storage. All Nebula functions are automatic and can run on a machine or server anywhere.
Term Description
Nebula Server The Nebula Server is the central server that controls all Nebula and Stellar functions. All Process and Project configurations, all user logins and all metering and billing is done by the Nebula Server.
No media of other user files are stored on the nebula Server.
Device A Device is a mini software server that runs on each machine that is used to run any nebula Processes.
Each device is unique and there is a different Device type for PC, Mac or Linux machines.
Only one copy of a specific Device (ID Number) can run at the same time.
Device Template A Device Template is a stored configuration for a Device and for any Projects and Processes configured for that Device. Device Templates are used to simplify the deployment of new Devices.
Project A Nebula Project (different from a Stellar Project) is a collection of Processes with their configurations and other parameters. A Project is assigned to a specific Device and can have cost codes an support levels assigned to it.
Project Template A Project Template is a pre-configured set of Processes and settings that can be quickly reused. Project Templates are used to simplify the deployment of new resources.
Process A Process is the key building block in Nebula. All functions provided in Nebula and Stellar are performed by Processes. Only the use of Processes is charged for.
User A Nebula User has access to parts of the Nebula system to add, edit or remove Devices, Projects, Processes, Templates, Libraries and Users for the company they are a member of. How much access a user has depends on the access level assigned to them.
Company A Company within Nebula has Users, an account and any number of Devices, Projects, Libraries and Processes assigned to it. Users belong to a Company and can only access components associated with that company.