About fansubbing
I want to post about fansubbing a bit, just in case if fans decide to go the path as a subber! Any help is needed these days after all.
Q: What?! How can a youngster like a you post about fansubbing?!
A: Sorry for that, I'm just posting this from my own view... it's up to you how you will take it!
Introduction
Let's start this post with a short introduction.
Many people while hearing 'subbing' might think that subbing = translating only.
That's not true at all! Translating might be the one of the most important parts of subbing but without timers or typesetters you wouldn't be able to see the subtitles at all.
Fansubbing is free, from fans to fans. People are fansubbing during their free time, let's say they are something like volunteers. (However, it needs to be pointed out that there are also fansubbers who are subbing during work or something else.) Also, there are also cases when subbing groups make profit from fansubbing, to be exact, they earn from ads (like adfly). Well, it's their own way to get money, but I don't really agree with that. I just leave them be.
These people aren't something special compared to other fans, they also have their problems and real lives, so don't be mad at them when something is delayed or when they stop subbing. It was their decision to sub during their free time and also have the right to stop. So please respect their decisions and also DO OBEY THE RULES. It really can be an eyesore when there are rulesbreakers. Tell me how you would feel if someone just wasted your work on which you have worked for 12 hours... &#@#}{}?:!!! Like that, yes. /flips everything
Positions
I bet you have had the feeling when you were watching a subbed drama, you could see these not-so-familiar terms (positions) and thoughts like „What's this position for? I dunno that!“ surely crossed your mind once or more.
I will just include the main ones... I'm years too far to describe these not-so-known but important ones.
1) translator
- one of the most important jobs
- translates the speaker's speech and signs as accurate as possible
- doesn't forget to pay attention to dialects or slangs!
- should know both languages well - should know the language which he/she translates to (preferably mother language) and the one which he/she translates (certificate, intermediate/advanced level)
2) timer
- 'times' the whole video - when someone is speaking, the timer's job is to set the line at that part (conversation)
- can't forget to time signs as well (on-screen text)
- from the start you might find timing as the most boring job or think of it as the most unimportant job, but it's not true at all - without timers, the translations wouldn't appear in the video
- while timing you can hear amazing Japanese (or another language) and learn it gradually
- timing can take the same amount of time as the length of the video (this applies to really good and experienced timers I guess though)
3) typesetter (shortly TSer)
- 'typesets' the timed lines with translations in it
- the task is to adjust the subtitles to the video - subtitles can't be too big, fonts can't be too curly; in other words, to make subs easy, simple and readable
- if there's a sign, the typesetter's work is to change the position of the subtitles etc.
- without typesetters, the subtitles would just look plain (or weird) - you can't feel the atmosphere of the series; for example, when watching a detective drama, most probably you wouldn't like pinky curly fonts
- it might look as a very simple task, but in reality is considered as one of the most difficult tasks (as for me, just choosing a font can take ages)
- has a good knowledge of overriding tags
- makes notes (I guess?)
4) karaoke timer (shortly k-timer)
- a very similar job to timing with that difference that k-timers don't time speaker's speech or signs but they 'time' songs (note: opening/insert/ending songs)
- from first the k-timer times the whole sung line, and after that times the every sung syllable in it; in other words, karaoke timing is the more detailed version of timing
- must be able to read a bit Japanese when karaoke timing Japanese lyrics - their job might include romanizing Japanese lyrics and times the lyrics in Japanese as well
5) karaoke effects-er (shortly KFXer)
- this is a very difficult job as well
- creating a code line for the karaoke timed lines
- programming knowledge is needed, at least partly - if you really want superb KFX, you must have knowledge about programming in Lua (for me and most friends, it's a rather exotic programming language)
- artistry and creativity - the person has to create effects (through codes - makes a line with not-so-understandable codes and apply) for the karaoke timed lines of the song, it has to fit the song's context and feelings
- typesetting is a basically a part of KFX
- this jobs usually goes with timing and k-timing
- learning the syntax might take a lot of years (if you're a beginner, that is)
6) quality control-er (shortly QC-er)
- QCer's work is to check the whole completed script
- fix neccessary parts like translation/timing or typesetting
- it's a very responsible work
- check if there's a scene-bleeding
- applies time post-processing
7) encoder/uploader
- for many fansub groups, hardsubs are neccessary - for this job, encoders are needed
- their job is to attach the subs to the video and then upload it to certain sharing sites
- it takes hours to encode a video, depends on the length or resolution of the video itself
Some fansubbing groups use the term 'English-beta', or beta generally.
There are two types of subs:
a) softsubs - you just need a RAW file and then download the softsubs and open in a player
b) hardsubs - attached subs in the video - encoders needed
Tools
For most of the fansubbers here in the fandom, the most used program is Aegisub. It's free to download, universal tool for all the tasks mentioned above except encoding. Visit Aeigsub's official site here. Aegisub's site also provides many useful pieces of info about how to time/typeset and so on, so check it out!
As for encoding, I prefer meGUI. But there are many who also use VirtualDub.
There are many other tools you can use to sub though, and it's up to you which one you prefer.
Good quality vs decent quality?
I'm just telling this out from my own view, so don't really take this seriously!
Good quality subs are usually released at least more than a week after the aired project. Or even more than week - maybe even months. It's really worth to wait for good subs, because you can then have a good feeling while watching the project. You can enjoy it as much as possible, unlike so-so ones. Decent subs are released within three days. But expect that it was done in a hurry so it doesn't have to be really that accurate. But it's not a rule, it really depends!
Thanks for anon for pointing me out, good quality subs can be also released fastly. It really depends all on the experience, someone is able to translate fast, someone can time fast, and if you put it together, it can turn out to be very good quality subs. So it does really depends on every team member. And one more thing.... A subbing group with a really good cooperation can provide really good and fast subs.
A 'good' fansub group should...
- be organised: a good organisation = less time spent on searching for who's doing this or that or what is in process and so on. In my opinion, it is very useful to have a directory containing important personal data (like name or nickname, timezone, social networking site usernames etc.) which could be accessed by every member of the group
- have a good team: it is better to have a group of friendly people who are willing to help you than having quarrels about who will take this or that project or a person who just aims to the top isn't ideal either
- really focus on the project: it isn't about who will release the sub first or second; what is more important is to have good quality and readable subs; believe me, I have seen so many subbing groups arguing over who will take the project and because of that, they are trying to release it first but this applies to Johnny's fandom most of the time - they don't even know about simple typography rules, sometimes it's wrong grammar (I don't have a good grammar too and that's why I am not doing proofreading and similar jobs), sometimes it's bad typesetting (too big/small font, not fitting fonts), scene bleeding...
This post is to motivate other fans to see that subbing is not as hard as it might look, but it takes a lot of effort and learning! I just want to point out subber's hardworking - it needs a lot of patience and time. And it's really worth it. It's a lot about improving.
If there's a subber who's reading this, please tell me what I need to add to this entry because I have just written all the stuffs from my own view of point!
Q: What?! How can a youngster like a you post about fansubbing?!
A: Sorry for that, I'm just posting this from my own view... it's up to you how you will take it!
Introduction
Let's start this post with a short introduction.
Many people while hearing 'subbing' might think that subbing = translating only.
That's not true at all! Translating might be the one of the most important parts of subbing but without timers or typesetters you wouldn't be able to see the subtitles at all.
Fansubbing is free, from fans to fans. People are fansubbing during their free time, let's say they are something like volunteers. (However, it needs to be pointed out that there are also fansubbers who are subbing during work or something else.) Also, there are also cases when subbing groups make profit from fansubbing, to be exact, they earn from ads (like adfly). Well, it's their own way to get money, but I don't really agree with that. I just leave them be.
These people aren't something special compared to other fans, they also have their problems and real lives, so don't be mad at them when something is delayed or when they stop subbing. It was their decision to sub during their free time and also have the right to stop. So please respect their decisions and also DO OBEY THE RULES. It really can be an eyesore when there are rulesbreakers. Tell me how you would feel if someone just wasted your work on which you have worked for 12 hours... &#@#}{}?:!!! Like that, yes. /flips everything
Positions
I bet you have had the feeling when you were watching a subbed drama, you could see these not-so-familiar terms (positions) and thoughts like „What's this position for? I dunno that!“ surely crossed your mind once or more.
I will just include the main ones... I'm years too far to describe these not-so-known but important ones.
1) translator
- one of the most important jobs
- translates the speaker's speech and signs as accurate as possible
- doesn't forget to pay attention to dialects or slangs!
- should know both languages well - should know the language which he/she translates to (preferably mother language) and the one which he/she translates (certificate, intermediate/advanced level)
2) timer
- 'times' the whole video - when someone is speaking, the timer's job is to set the line at that part (conversation)
- can't forget to time signs as well (on-screen text)
- from the start you might find timing as the most boring job or think of it as the most unimportant job, but it's not true at all - without timers, the translations wouldn't appear in the video
- while timing you can hear amazing Japanese (or another language) and learn it gradually
- timing can take the same amount of time as the length of the video (this applies to really good and experienced timers I guess though)
3) typesetter (shortly TSer)
- 'typesets' the timed lines with translations in it
- the task is to adjust the subtitles to the video - subtitles can't be too big, fonts can't be too curly; in other words, to make subs easy, simple and readable
- if there's a sign, the typesetter's work is to change the position of the subtitles etc.
- without typesetters, the subtitles would just look plain (or weird) - you can't feel the atmosphere of the series; for example, when watching a detective drama, most probably you wouldn't like pinky curly fonts
- it might look as a very simple task, but in reality is considered as one of the most difficult tasks (as for me, just choosing a font can take ages)
- has a good knowledge of overriding tags
- makes notes (I guess?)
4) karaoke timer (shortly k-timer)
- a very similar job to timing with that difference that k-timers don't time speaker's speech or signs but they 'time' songs (note: opening/insert/ending songs)
- from first the k-timer times the whole sung line, and after that times the every sung syllable in it; in other words, karaoke timing is the more detailed version of timing
- must be able to read a bit Japanese when karaoke timing Japanese lyrics - their job might include romanizing Japanese lyrics and times the lyrics in Japanese as well
5) karaoke effects-er (shortly KFXer)
- this is a very difficult job as well
- creating a code line for the karaoke timed lines
- programming knowledge is needed, at least partly - if you really want superb KFX, you must have knowledge about programming in Lua (for me and most friends, it's a rather exotic programming language)
- artistry and creativity - the person has to create effects (through codes - makes a line with not-so-understandable codes and apply) for the karaoke timed lines of the song, it has to fit the song's context and feelings
- typesetting is a basically a part of KFX
- this jobs usually goes with timing and k-timing
- learning the syntax might take a lot of years (if you're a beginner, that is)
6) quality control-er (shortly QC-er)
- QCer's work is to check the whole completed script
- fix neccessary parts like translation/timing or typesetting
- it's a very responsible work
- check if there's a scene-bleeding
- applies time post-processing
7) encoder/uploader
- for many fansub groups, hardsubs are neccessary - for this job, encoders are needed
- their job is to attach the subs to the video and then upload it to certain sharing sites
- it takes hours to encode a video, depends on the length or resolution of the video itself
Some fansubbing groups use the term 'English-beta', or beta generally.
There are two types of subs:
a) softsubs - you just need a RAW file and then download the softsubs and open in a player
b) hardsubs - attached subs in the video - encoders needed
Tools
For most of the fansubbers here in the fandom, the most used program is Aegisub. It's free to download, universal tool for all the tasks mentioned above except encoding. Visit Aeigsub's official site here. Aegisub's site also provides many useful pieces of info about how to time/typeset and so on, so check it out!
As for encoding, I prefer meGUI. But there are many who also use VirtualDub.
There are many other tools you can use to sub though, and it's up to you which one you prefer.
Good quality vs decent quality?
I'm just telling this out from my own view, so don't really take this seriously!
Good quality subs are usually released at least more than a week after the aired project. Or even more than week - maybe even months. It's really worth to wait for good subs, because you can then have a good feeling while watching the project. You can enjoy it as much as possible, unlike so-so ones. Decent subs are released within three days. But expect that it was done in a hurry so it doesn't have to be really that accurate. But it's not a rule, it really depends!
Thanks for anon for pointing me out, good quality subs can be also released fastly. It really depends all on the experience, someone is able to translate fast, someone can time fast, and if you put it together, it can turn out to be very good quality subs. So it does really depends on every team member. And one more thing.... A subbing group with a really good cooperation can provide really good and fast subs.
A 'good' fansub group should...
- be organised: a good organisation = less time spent on searching for who's doing this or that or what is in process and so on. In my opinion, it is very useful to have a directory containing important personal data (like name or nickname, timezone, social networking site usernames etc.) which could be accessed by every member of the group
- have a good team: it is better to have a group of friendly people who are willing to help you than having quarrels about who will take this or that project or a person who just aims to the top isn't ideal either
- really focus on the project: it isn't about who will release the sub first or second; what is more important is to have good quality and readable subs; believe me, I have seen so many subbing groups arguing over who will take the project and because of that, they are trying to release it first but this applies to Johnny's fandom most of the time - they don't even know about simple typography rules, sometimes it's wrong grammar (I don't have a good grammar too and that's why I am not doing proofreading and similar jobs), sometimes it's bad typesetting (too big/small font, not fitting fonts), scene bleeding...
This post is to motivate other fans to see that subbing is not as hard as it might look, but it takes a lot of effort and learning! I just want to point out subber's hardworking - it needs a lot of patience and time. And it's really worth it. It's a lot about improving.
If there's a subber who's reading this, please tell me what I need to add to this entry because I have just written all the stuffs from my own view of point!