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    • Smartcat Subtitle Editor: Guide for LSPs

    In this article, you'll learn how to use the Subtitle Editor in Smartcat to efficiently translate and refine subtitles. We’ll walk you through how to efficiently translate and edit subtitles, saving time and enhancing productivity. If you haven’t yet created a project or uploaded your video and subtitle files, be sure to check out our respective article.

    Step 1: Access the Subtitle Editor

    Open the subtitle file by clicking on the needed one in the “Files” section of your project, as seen here:

    Step 2: Understanding the Editor layout

    There are both languages in two parallel columns in Subtitle Editor, the source text on the left and the corresponding translation on the right shown in so-called “cues”.

    In the Subtitle Editor, we prioritize dividing text into cues with specified durations rather than full sentences. This approach optimizes subtitles for readability, synchronization, and audience engagement.

    Note that the source text is non-editable and serves as a reference for creating accurate translations.

    On the far right, you'll find the preview area and the timeline panel. The preview area lets you see how subtitles align with the video, while the timeline panel shows how subtitles are distributed over time, providing a clear visual representation of their placement and duration.

    Below the preview area is the Settings section, where you can configure parameters such as CPS (Characters Per Second) limits, ensuring consistent quality across the subtitle file.

    Step 3: Edit and review subtitles

    All your work takes place on the right side of the Editor. Here you can add, edit and review translations. To make edits in the cue, simply click on its text and apply the necessary changes.

    If the subtitles are not aligned with the video, you can easily adjust their start and end times to control their duration. Each cue has a CPS (characters per second) value, which indicates whether the reading speed is too high and whether the subtitles may not match the timing and need to be modified. CPS limit value can be changed in the Settings tab.

    If you think a multi-line cue should be split into separate cues, no problem! Simply click the 'Split by lines' button, and it will divide the cue into the exact number of lines you have. Remember, to create multiple lines within a cue, press the 'Enter' button.

    Need to merge cues, delete existing ones, or add new ones? It's easy! Just click the 'Dots' button and select the desired option from the dropdown menu.

    For a faster experience, simply hover over a border and click the 'Insert cue' button.

    Step 4: Track progress

    When you’re satisfied with a cue translation, mark it as processed. Don’t worry — it’s possible to continue editing the cue if you spot areas for improvement, right up until you click the “Mark Processed” file button in the control bar.

    Track your progress by clicking on the 'Progress' button, which will show how much of the file you have completed working on.

    When you believe that the translation of the file is ready click the “Mark Processed” button in the control bar to finish working on the subtitles. Note that you can use this button even if no cues have been marked as processed.