Back to top image

Add Video Context for Subtitle Translation

When translating subtitle files, you should always add a video file for Visual Context. Otherwise, translators will not see any Visual Context in the CAT Tool when translating the subtitles.

When uploading subtitle files in a Media project via the Media tab, you will be prompted to add a URL for Visual Context. If you wish to upload an MP4 or MOV file instead of providing a URL, or if you do not have the video URL available at the time of file upload, please create a job and upload the subtitle file to the job. You can then add the video context at a later stage via the Context Dashboard, as outlined below starting with Step 3.

Adding a Video for Visual Context

  1. Go to your Smartling project
  2. Upload your subtitle file for translation
    • Once the content file has been uploaded, you can choose to authorize the Job and then upload context, or leave it in Awaiting Authorization and proceed to upload context
  3. Next, click the Context tab in your project
  4. Click Upload Context
  5. In the Visual Context dialog, enter the publicly available YouTube, Vimeo, or MP4 URL or select an MP4 or MOV file to upload.Screenshot_2021-09-08_at_21.39.10.png
  6. Next, choose to process the full video by selecting "Use video for subtitle translation" (if you provide a video URL link this option is selected automatically) 
    • Unlike other context types where you can match the context with any strings in a Job or project, video context for subtitles can only be matched with a single subtitle file. This is to ensure accurate matching of video and subtitle strings. 
    • Alternatively, if you want to use this video file as video context for image extraction, select "Convert video to images"
  7. Choose to match context with a specific subtitle file from the dropdown list of all files in the project
    Screenshot_2022-07-12_at_18.00.41.png
  8. Click Upload
  9. A success message will appear at the bottom of the screen, confirming the number of strings that have been matched to the video contextScreenshot_2021-09-08_at_19.51.25.png

What Happens Next?

Once your subtitle video has been added to Smartling, you'll see it listed in the Context tab. You may experience a slight delay with the video thumbnail until the best frame is loaded.

If you are trying to add a video URL link, keep in mind only direct links to an MP4 file, Vimeo, or YouTube video are supported. Your link should look something like this: https://yoursite.com/demos/sample-videos/small.mp4.

Requirements when adding a video link:

  • It must be publicly accessible
  • It can't be a link to a video that's embedded in a web page
  • It can't be a link that previews the video in a browser

Requirements when adding a video file (MP4/MOV):

  • The file size for video files cannot exceed 512 MB
  • Video file resolution cannot be more than 3200x2100 or 2100x3200

Update a Subtitle File or Video File

If you modify your original video or subtitle files, you can update these assets in Smartling for retranslation by deleting the original subtitle files and repeating the steps under Adding a Video for Visual Context. 

  1. In your Smartling project, go to the Files tab and then click the three dots. (If your project is a Media project go to the Media tab)
  2. Select Delete File from the dropdown.
  3. Click Upload Files, and upload your updated subtitle file. 
  4. Next, repeat the steps under Adding a Video for Visual Context

Table of Contents