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It can seem hard to learn how to Add Captions and Subtitles in iMovie because the way it does it is different from how other software does it. A.sub or.srt subtitle file cannot be read automatically by iMovie. Instead, you have to add text blocks to the timeline by hand.
You can type subtitle text right into the video in iMovie. Start by turning on the subtitles option in the timeline. This will let you add caption text. The titles will show up in the interface and give you a text box where you can type or copy-and-paste text. Apple’s iMovie is a beautiful thing for people who like to edit videos and make movies on MacOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
You can cut and change your footage, graphics, and music with this flexible editing tool, but the original clip will stay the same. In a nutshell, iMovie is a game-changer in the world of film editing, putting it on the same level as Final Cut and Adobe Premiere Pro. In addition to editing, it makes captioning and subtitling easier by making sure videos look professional and have open captions or subtitles (subs).
Steps to Add Captions in iMovie
- Open your project in iMovie.
- Select the clip you wish to caption.
- Go to the Titles menu and select the Lower Third option from the gallery.
- Double-click or drag your selection to the corresponding video clip.
- Select the text box [T] above the viewer and type in the text of your caption.
- Adjust the duration of the caption by dragging the edges or by clicking the [i] button above the viewer and manually entering your desired caption length.
Add Subtitles in iMovie
Add A ‘Standard Lower Third’ Title to the Timeline
This title will offer you the best take at an industry standard-looking subtitle.
Adjust the default style of the title
The default setting for the Standard Lower Third title is left-aligned, with two rows of titles: one bold, one thin. For both rows of titles: center-align the text and match the font styles with the same font, size, boldness, and outline.
Enter the title text snippet from the captions file
While you could hand-type the text, we recommend you copy and paste the text that aligns with the frames you’re working on. Copy a line from TextEdit and paste it into the title block.
Align and trim the title to the dialogue in the audio
Drag and drop your title to the frame that begins the dialogue snippet you’re focusing on. Then, trim the end of the title to match with the end of your dialogue snippet.
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What are subtitles?
Subtitles are texts that are made from the dialogue or commentary of movies, TV shows, video games, etc., and are based on either the transcript or the script of the dialogue or commentary.
They also go by the name of captions. They are usually shown in a pyramid shape at the bottom of the screen. Subtitles have many benefits, but the biggest is that they help people who are deaf or hard of hearing understand what is going on.
FAQ
Is it possible to add Captions in iMovie?
Click on the “Titles” option in the menu at the top of the page. Choose the title that fits best with where you want the caption to be on the frame. Move the title down to the timeline so that the caption is as close to the speaker as possible. Once the caption is in the Timeline, you can get rid of any extra text boxes.
How do I automatically add subtitles to a video?
- Go to YouTube.
- From the top right, click Create Go live.
- Choose Stream from the left-hand menu.
- Within stream settings, turn on Closed captions.
- Choose “Automatic captions” as the captions source.
- Select your video language.
How do I add subtitles and Captions to a video?
- Select a Video File. Choose which video file you want to add subtitles to. …
- Manually type, auto transcribe, or upload subtitle file. Click ‘Subtitles’ in the sidebar menu and you can start to type your subtitles, ‘Auto Transcribe’, or upload a subtitle file (eg. …
- Edit & Download.