Splitting subtitles automatically

I’ve been doing a lot of subtitle work recently, and have really enjoyed using Annotation Edit, which does pretty much everything for subtitles. Except for one thing I ended up doing way too much- splitting subtitles into 2 lines.

So, I wrote a script that would take an STL, and split each line of text into 2 lines, as close to the middle as possible. To get started, download subtitleSplit.py and unzip.

To use subtitleSplit.py, open up Terminal on a Mac, and run the following command-

python /path/to/subtitleSplit.py -f /path/to/original.stl

This will split each line and spit it out into Terminal. To save this, you can either use the “>” trick, or specify an output file.

python /path/to/subtitleSplit.py -f /path/to/original.stl -o /path/to/new.stl

The default maximum characters per line is 35, but you may need to change that, depending on your text size and font. You can set that with the -m flag.

python /path/to/subtitleSplit.py -f /path/to/original.stl -o /path/to/new.stl -m 45

For coders, this file contains a class called SubtitleSplit, which contains more options than are available through the command line.

Let me know if you run into any problems.

NLE Feature Request: Sequence and Project Variables

In my second installment of crazy things I want in my NLE- Project and Sequence Variables.

A new window would be available in the NLE, called Variables. There, you would create a new variable with the following attributes:

• Type (number, text, file, boolean)
• Scope (Project, Sequence)
• Default value (This would be where you set the values of project variables, and set what sequence variables would display before they are set on the sequence.)

Then, if you want to use a variable, you simply drag that variable from the Variable Window to where ever you want to use them. Variables would need to be built in to the NLE at a very root level, so that variables would be accessible by default from anywhere, including third party plugins.

Sequence variables would be set from within Sequence Settings. A pane would display all the variables in the sequence, and you could set them easily.

Example 1: you need to take the same commercial and make 4 different versions, each with a different phone number that comes up in 2 places.

1. Make a sequence that is completely ready to go, except the phone number.
2. Make a new text sequence variable called PhoneNumber, with the default to (555) 555-5555.
3. Add a text generator to your sequence, and drag the PhoneNumber variable to it. Format the phone number how you want it.
4. Repeat for the second place the phone number comes up.
5. Duplicate the master sequence 4 times.
6. In each one, change the PhoneNumber variable to the correct phone number.
7. Output.

Example 2: You need to output 2 versions of your show- one with titles, one without.

1. Make a new number sequence variable called TitlesVisible with a default of 100.
2. Add the TitlesVisible variable to the Opacity of each of the titles in the sequence.
3. When everything is done, duplicate the sequence, and set the TitlesVisible variable for that sequence to 0.
4. Output each.

Using variables would take a bit of planning and foresight, but could save a lot of time in the long run. It would have to be integrated very well to be useful.

I see this as being very easy to use, yet very flexible. It should allow for variables in variables (so, a text variable could be used inside of a file path).

Would you find this useful? How would you use it?

An NLE Suggestion – Play to in, Play from Out.

I have been working on a series of web videos that are basically cutting an hour speech down to 10 minutes. I’ve been using Premiere for this, and my general workflow is to cut out the fat as I play it through the first time.

I “Mark In” at the end of a good soundbite I want to keep, “Mark Out” at the start of the next clip, and “Extract” to get rid of what I don’t want. I then back up the playhead, and preview the edit. If it’s not perfect, I have to undo, tweak the edit points, extract, and preview again.

After doing this dozens of times, I realized I need a new playback method.

We are already used to “play to out” and “play in to out”, but I’m suggesting “play to in, play from out.” In effect, this would be previewing what would happen if you extract from in to out, skipping over the video between the in and out points.

This would use the same preroll and postroll settings as “play around” does, allowing you to easily preview an edit before actually making it.

And while we’re at it, a “Play to In” function would be useful as well.

Waveform Art Filter

The Waveform Art filter is a thoroughly useless piece of code for Final Cut Pro pre-X, that basically takes your image, and puts a crappy version into your waveform monitor.

Try it out

To try out the Waveform Art filter, download it here, and then copy it to /Library/Application Support/Final Cut Pro System Support/Plugins. It will appear in the Waveform Art folder in your Video Effects.

What it does

Here’s the normal waveform for the built in Circle generator-

And here is the same circle, with the Waveform Art filter applied-

This works best with large text and simple shapes. Complex images don’t translate well, as it is a black and white image, and has rather poor resolution (only 256 horizontal lines). Also, you may want to bring up the display brightness to better see the image.

Threshold

You can also change the Threshold parameter to tweak the image. Here’s a picture of me with the threshold at 60, 90, 120, and 150.

Randomize

There is also a “Randomize” parameter, that attempts to distort the image in the canvas, while leaving an image in the waveform monitor. Due to the constraints of how the waveform works, it can’t be nearly as distorted as I would like. I was hoping to have a jumble of noise that reveals a secret image in the waveform monitor, but I don’t think it’s actually possible. The final image also suffers some quality loss. Here’s the circle with Randomize checked.

Let me know if you actually find a use for it!

Crash Test Trailer wins a Gold Empixx Award

I’m happy to announce that the book trailer I made for “The Outsider’s Guide to the CrashTest Nation” by Rho Mack has won a Gold Empixx award.

The Empixx Awards may not be the Emmys, but I’m still proud to be recognized by other professionals.

BackToTheEdit.com – Non-Editing Essentials for Video Editors

Chances are, your passion for video editing centers around story telling. And, chances are that you find yourself doing less actual story telling than you’d like.

One day, I realized that I was working at a company with “Editing” in the company name, that my business card said “Editor”, but I was spending much less than half my time at work actually editing.

In looking at what I was actually doing as a professional editor, I realized I had picked up a lot of tricks for getting done with the menial tasks. These tricks helped me get back to the edit, and get back to story telling.

I’ve started to share these tips, tricks, and hacks with others, at my new site, Back to the Edit. Check it out, pass it around, and let me know if there are any parts of your job as an editor that you’d like to see sped up.

New Demo Reel Up

I have posted my Summer 2011 Reel, with all kinds of fun graphics and shots that show a bit of my aesthetic side.

I am happy to be back on the market as a freelancer, and while I’ve stayed busy so far, I realized a new reel would keep the work flowing in. I’d love to hear what you think!