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iMovie Subtitle Creation & Customization: Mac, iPhone, iPad Guide.

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A Guide to Incorporating Subtitles & Captions in iMovie (Across Apple Devices)

By Alex Chen
Updated: 2024-03-10
Approx. 7 min read

Contents

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As a video content strategist, I’ve produced an extensive number of videos enhanced with subtitles and captions, both for my personal projects and for clients. This experience has consistently shown me their immense value and impact. While a visually engaging video can capture attention, it’s often the subtitles and captions that convey the core message and its significance. Among the many video editing tools available, iMovie (freely accessible on Apple devices) stands out as a preferred choice for beginners. Its 'Titles' functionality enables users to seamlessly add subtitles and captions without requiring deep technical knowledge. In this guide, I’ll walk you through adding subtitles in iMovie on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

Can iMovie generate subtitles automatically?

Regrettably, iMovie lacks an automatic subtitle generation feature. However, you can manually input subtitles or captions and utilize the 'Titles' tool to integrate them into your video. This tool also offers options to modify font styles, sizes, colors, transitions, timing, and the placement of captions for your movie, slideshow, or video clip.

How to incorporate subtitles or captions in iMovie on a Mac?

Producing compelling video content demands significant time and dedication, encompassing research, scriptwriting, editing, and more. Following these efforts, subtitles and captions are crucial for broadening your content's accessibility and reach. Adding them manually in iMovie on a Mac, while requiring attention to detail, is quite manageable. Here’s the procedure:

  1. Launch iMovie: Open the iMovie application on your Mac. It's usually found in the dock or via Finder > Applications.
  2. Start a New Project: Navigate to 'Projects', click 'Create New', and opt for 'Movie'. Then, import the video file you wish to subtitle.
  3. Select a Title Style: Find and click the 'Titles' icon. Browse through the available styles (e.g., Lower, Reveal, Standard) and choose one that fits your video. You can drag your chosen style onto the clip in the timeline or double-click it.
  4. Add and Time Subtitles: Drag the Title box onto your timeline, positioning it where you want the subtitles to appear. Each text box will be displayed above your video clip with its own timestamp. Enter your subtitle text directly into this box.
  5. Save Your Work: After adding all necessary subtitles, save your video by choosing 'File' > 'Share', then 'File' again. Assign a name to your edited video and click 'Save'.

How to incorporate subtitles or captions in iMovie on an iPhone/iPad?

Similar to the Mac version, adding subtitles and captions to videos in iMovie on an iPhone or iPad is a direct process. Follow these steps:

  1. Open iMovie and Project: Launch iMovie on your iPhone or iPad and tap 'Start New Project'. Select 'Movie' and import your video from your device by choosing 'Create Movie'.
  2. Access Titles: Select your media in the timeline, then tap the 'T' (Text) button located at the bottom of the screen. A variety of Title styles will appear below the timeline for you to select from.
  3. Input and Save: Begin typing your captions; they will show up on the preview screen. Once finished, tap 'Done' in the top-left corner, then use the 'Share' icon to save your subtitled video.

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How to refine and personalize subtitles in iMovie?

iMovie serves as a capable video editing application for Apple devices, equipped with a range of useful features. It also syncs with your iCloud Photo Library, making it easy to preview or add clips to your timeline. To further edit or customize the subtitles you've added on a Mac, follow these instructions:

  • Open your project and click on the Title box (subtitle) you wish to modify in the timeline.
  • Double-click the specific subtitle text to make changes.
  • To access text formatting options, click the 'T' icon in the viewer toolbar. Here, you can adjust font type, size, and alignment.
  • Utilize additional styling options like Italic (I), Bold (B), and Outlined (O) to enhance text appearance.
  • Adjust the duration of subtitles by dragging the edges of the title bar in the timeline to shorten or extend it.
  • After making your edits, export the video to save all modifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I automatically generate an SRT file from a video?

An SRT file is a plain text document commonly used with video files for subtitles. While manually transcribing audio to text is possible, it’s very labor-intensive. Fortunately, there's an efficient solution: the DeepVo.ai AI transcription service. Here’s how to automatically create an SRT file:

  1. Access DeepVo.ai: Visit the DeepVo.ai website on your Mac or Windows PC. If you're new, sign up for a free account and log in. On your dashboard, click 'Upload File' and select or drag your video.
  2. Transcription Process: Allow a few moments for DeepVo.ai to process the audio from your uploaded video. It will convert the speech into text with impressive accuracy (up to 99.5% and supporting 100+ languages). Once complete, find and open your transcript under 'My Transcriptions'. DeepVo.ai also offers AI-powered summaries and intelligent mind maps from your content, which can be great for understanding the video's structure before finalizing subtitles.
  3. Download SRT: On the transcript page, look for the 'Download' or 'Export' button. You'll be prompted to choose a file format. Select 'Subtitle File (SRT)' and then click 'Export'. DeepVo.ai ensures your data is secure with end-to-end encryption.

How do I place background subtitles in iMovie?

To add subtitles with a background in iMovie, click on the video segment where you want them. Then, select the 'Titles' option from iMovie's top toolbar. Input your text, and use the toolbar's formatting options to adjust font, size, alignment, and potentially choose a title style that includes a background element or adjust opacity/color if available for that style.

What's the method for adding subtitles to videos on an iPhone?

Both iMovie and other apps like Inshot can be used for adding subtitles to videos on your iPhone. Here’s a quick rundown for iMovie:

  • Begin by opening your video in the iMovie app; tap the '+' icon to start a new movie project and import your clip.
  • Select the video clip in the timeline, then tap the 'T' (Text) icon found at the bottom of the iMovie interface.
  • After adding your text, it's crucial to synchronize the audio with the subtitle text. To adjust the timing and length of the text caption, tap the title element in the timeline and drag its start and end points.
  • Once you are satisfied with the subtitles, tap 'Done' and then choose 'Save Video' to store it on your iOS device.

Final Thoughts

Now, when you're crafting videos, you're well-equipped with the knowledge of how to add subtitles in iMovie across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. With just a few simple actions, iMovie facilitates the addition of both subtitles and captions. For an even more streamlined process, especially for generating SRT files from your videos, consider using DeepVo.ai. This powerful voice-to-text service automates the conversion of spoken audio into accurate text, which can then be easily downloaded in various formats, including SRT, ready for your video projects. Its AI summary and mind map generation can also be invaluable tools in your content creation workflow.

About the Author

Alex Chen is a seasoned content strategist and tech enthusiast with over eight years of experience in digital media. Alex specializes in creating engaging video content and exploring tools that enhance productivity and accessibility.

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