Can you create your own subtitles with VLC?

[elevenshadows]

I am interested in placing some identifying words or my name in the corner of one of my videos. Can this be done with VLC, or is the subtitle function for importing solely?

1. If it can be done with VLC, can someone please explain how to do this step by step?

2. If it cannot be done with VLC, does anyone know of any simple freeware that can do this (Mac OS 10.3.7 or PC XP)?

Other information: AVI or MPEG-4 file, Mac OS 10.3.7 running VLC Media Player Release 0.8.4a (I have not tried this on a PC yet). I tried getting the subtitles going by opening the file while simultaneously checking "Subtitles" and placing the appropriate font in, but I cannot seem to be able to figure out how to write my own subtitles (or determine whether it is or is not possible.

Thanks!
-Ken

[dionoea]

For local display you can use:

Code: Select all

vlc <input> --sub-filter marq --marq-marquee "Some text"

For stream output you can use:

Code: Select all

vlc <input> --sout '#transcode{vcodec=<something>,sfilter=marq}:std{<something>}' --marq-marquee "Some text"

[elevenshadows]

vlc <input> --sout '#transcode{vcodec=<something>,sfilter=marq}:std{<something>}' --marq-marquee "Some text"

Thank you!

I'm unclear where to place this code, though.
Also, I only place my actual subtitles where it says "Some text"?
What goes in the 2 areas that say "<something>"?

Thanks!

-Ken

[dionoea]

These are VLC command line calls (you use them in a "cmd" prompt in windows or in a shell in other OSes).
You should read the streaming howto chapters 3 and 4 to get command line examples.

[elevenshadows]

Right, I do know that and am reading http://download.videolan.org/doc/stream ... wto-en.pdf right now...but I'm new to this, and this is all making me scratch my head. Despite perusing the Streaming-HowTo section, I'm still not clear where to place the code (or much of anything else, apparently). I almost always think that I can understand something, but this is a puzzling, humbling experience.

I should add that I only want one phrase to show throughout the entire (short) video, so I'm not trying to do anything time-based.

In either case, thanks for your time.

[dionoea]

Is that for local playback only? Or do you want to save to a file?

[elevenshadows]

To save as a file.

Sorry. I'm sure these are really basic questions. I had someone print out Ch. 3-4 for me, but in looking at the .pdf file, I'm not sure I can figure that out!! Ack!! And I'm a recording engineer, so usually figuring out computer stuff comes naturally to me!! Thanks for your help!

[shagroganb]

I didn't understand most of this thread, but do either of you have suggestions for how to write your own subtitles? I have a homemade video I need to add subtitles to, so I need to create a subtitles file. Is there a simple way to do this?

[kiralyfi]

What I am wondering is whether it is possible to just write your own .srt file and then have that linked up to the video through the Tools command. It seems to me that it should work. . .

Trevor
LARC Language Labs