How to create subtitles for your video | Kapwing video editor

Introduction

Adding subtitles to your videos can significantly enhance their accessibility and user engagement. In this guide, I'll walk you through creating subtitles for your videos using the online video editing tool, Kapwing. Let’s jump in!

Why Use Subtitles?

You might see many videos with subtitles on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, and you may wonder why they're essential. Here are three compelling reasons:

1. Accessibility: Not everyone can hear clearly. Having subtitles can make your content accessible to those who are deaf or have hearing impairments.

2. Mute Viewing: Some viewers may watch videos without sound, whether they are on public transport or in a quiet environment without headphones. Subtitles allow them to enjoy your video and understand the content.

3. Enhanced Comprehension: Subtitles help viewers grasp the content better, even for native speakers. Watching a movie or a video with subtitles often leads to a more enriched understanding of the dialogue.

Now that we understand the benefits of subtitles, let’s go through the process of adding them to your videos using Kapwing.

Getting Started with Kapwing

1. Sign Up: First, create an account on Kapwing. Signing up removes the watermark from your videos and allows you to save your projects for future editing. Note that the free account limits video duration to seven minutes and file size to 250 megabytes, which is reasonable for most short clips.

2. Upload Your Video: In Kapwing, you can upload your videos directly or paste a link to a YouTube video. For this tutorial, we will upload a short video.

Generating Subtitles

Once your video is uploaded, follow these steps:

• Look at the right-side panel where you’ll see text fields and options to add subtitles.
• You can manually type your own subtitles, let Kapwing auto-generate them, or upload an SRT file with predetermined subtitles. We will opt for the auto-generate feature here.

Kapwing will take a moment to process your video and generate the subtitles. Once it’s done, review the subtitles for correctness. It's important to verify them, as automatic processes may not be flawless.

Playback Controls

On the playback console, you have several controls: play, rewind, fast forward, and a timecode display for your video.

Now, you’ll see the generated subtitles along with their corresponding timecodes:

• Timecode Display: Each subtitle block shows when it will appear and disappear, allowing you to make fine-tuned adjustments using the sliders.
• Editing Options: If you need to delete a specific subtitle or duplicate one, you can easily do so using the provided options.

Customizing Subtitles

On the left side, there are customization options:

• Text Options: Adjust font, size, alignment, color, and background for subtitles.
• Video Options: Choose the aspect ratio suitable for various platforms (1:1 for Instagram, etc.) and decide how the video fits within those parameters.

You can also download your subtitles as an SRT file, allowing for future edits or backups.

Final Steps

Once you’re satisfied with your subtitles, click "Create." Kapwing will process your video, and you’ll be redirected to a page where you can download your final product, make edits, or create copies.

If you enjoyed this tutorial and want to see more about Kapwing or other video-related tips, leave a comment expressing your interest.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding subtitles to your videos using Kapwing is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance viewer engagement and accessibility. If you found this guide helpful, consider subscribing to our channel for more insights into video production!

Keywords

• Subtitles
• Kapwing
• Video editing
• Accessibility
• Auto-generate
• SRT file
• Customization

FAQ

Q: Why should I add subtitles to my videos?
A: Subtitles improve accessibility for those with hearing impairments, enable viewers to watch videos in mute, and help with comprehension of dialogue.

Q: Do I need to pay to use Kapwing?
A: Kapwing offers a free account, but it has limitations on video length and file size. Paid plans allow for more extensive use.

Q: How does the auto-generate feature work?
A: Kapwing uses speech recognition to transcribe your video audio into subtitles automatically, which you can then edit for accuracy.

Q: Can I customize the appearance of my subtitles?
A: Yes, you can adjust the font, size, color, and background of your subtitles in the text options section.

Q: Can I download my subtitles for future use?
A: Yes, you can download your subtitles as an SRT file for backup or future editing.