Opening the Subtitler
The Subtitler opens when you work a Subtitled order — for example by choosing to translate now after placing it, or from the order itself. The screen is split into three parts:- A video preview on the left, with your subtitles rendered live as you edit.
- A list of lines (one subtitle per row) on the right.
- A waveform along the bottom for timing against the audio.
Editing a line
Click a line to edit it. Each line shows the original (OV) text for reference and a field for your translation.- Timing — nudge the in and out times a frame at a time, with overlap protection so lines can’t collide.
- Position — align subtitles to the top or bottom of the frame to keep them clear of on-screen graphics.
- Aspect ratio — pick the frame shape to match the asset (16:9, square, 4×5, vertical, and cinema ratios); the preview reflows so your timing and positioning are accurate for that format.
- Formatting — apply bold, italic, and underline where needed.
Translate faster: Memories and Machine
Two toggles fill lines in for you so you start from a draft instead of a blank grid:- Translation Memories — pulls in approved translations from past orders. It only fills a line on an exact match, so reused wording comes through automatically while anything new stays in the original for you to translate.
- Machine Translations — automatically translates every line as a starting point. Always review it — translation is a judgment call.
Line colors by source
Because lines can come from several places, the Subtitler color-codes each line by where its text came from — a left-edge stripe, with a key at the top of the editor. At a glance you can see what was reused, what was machine-drafted, and what you wrote.
Splitting and merging lines
From a line’s menu you can reshape the subtitles:- Split — divide one line into two.
- Merge Down — combine a line with the next.
- Reset to OV — revert a line to the original and undo a split or merge.
Turn on Translation Memories or Machine Translations before you split or merge — those auto-fills are re-aligned to the new line layout when the structure changes.
Subtitle formats
You can import an existing subtitle file when it matches the line count, and export your work to use elsewhere:- Import —
.srt,.sub, or.ass - Export —
.srtor.ass
| Format | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
SRT (.srt) | SubRip — timed lines of plain text, with no styling or positioning. The most widely supported subtitle format. | Interchange and quick hand-offs. |
ASS (.ass) | Advanced SubStation Alpha — carries fonts, styling, and exact on-screen positioning, so subtitles look and sit exactly as set. Pixwel exports ASS using the language’s translation font (with a tuned variant for vertical/TikTok). | Finished, styled subtitle deliverables. |
SUB (.sub) | An older subtitle format. | Importing legacy files. |
An imported file has to match the current line count so it lines up with the existing timing and structure.
Submitting, review, and approvals
A progress counter tracks how many lines are done. When you submit, Pixwel renders the result so it can be reviewed as an offline and approved. When an order uses a third-party translator with approval required, the roles split cleanly:- The translator finishes their work and clicks Submit for Approval.
- The order owner (or an admin) then reviews in the Subtitler and clicks Approve — or Approve (with changes) if they tweaked anything first.
Automated subtitles
For eligible assets, automated localization opens the Subtitler pre-filled so you only review and adjust before submitting — final subtitled files come back in minutes, labeledAUTOSUB.