Using timing for one language to set another

[draekes]

Apologies if this has already been asked, I did search semi-thoroughly.

I need to produce subtitles in both English and Arabic.
I have transcripts available for both languages.
The video source material is in English.
I have English .srt produced by Youtube auto timing.

How can I produce Arabic .srt from these things without doing it by hand?

[videobruger]

If they are truely identical, ie numbers of subs you can use Subtitle Edit and use the time code from the english subtitles to the Arabic.

[draekes]

Thanks. I downloaded the program. So this allows me to put in the English .srt and the Arabic transcript and it will generate timed Arabic subtitles?

[videobruger]

Yes. Use File -> Import plain text (Arabic transcript). Then File -> Import time codes. (Select English .srt with time codes)

It'll give a warning if there's mismatch between the numbers of subtitles in the two cases. Then you may have to synchronize part of the Arabic one in SE.

[draekes]

You've been a huge help, thank you.

[draekes]

You're right, there's a mismatch between the numbers of subtitles and lines of the transcript. Doesn't look like this is able to do what I need it to do, which is fine. It was a long-shot anyway.

Is there any auto-timing software like Youtube's that might be able to work with Arabic? Theoretically I shouldn't need the English .srts.

[videobruger]

You can use SE regardless of the mismatch. Find where the timing goes off; highlights the following subtitles; right click and select Visual sync or Show earlier/later (just one of several possibilities)

[Cornucopia]

There are quite a varying range of speeds/pace of different languages, so the timing that works correctly for one language could easily be too difficult to sync correctly with another. Example: French vs. English. Subs aren't as bad as VO, but there would still be times when straight transcription+translation+1:1 timing matching would generate subs that "stumble over each other" or alternately, have weird gaps.

Scott