How to quickly add auto-subtitles in DaVinci Resolve

Subtitles expand your video’s reach, and DaVinci Resolve’s auto-subtitling simplifies the process. Here, we’ll show you how to add subtitles manually and automatically.

Let’s dive in and discover how to enhance videos with the power of DaVinci subtitles.

Adding basic subtitles in DaVinci Resolve manually

Subtitling in DaVinci Resolve starts with a simple but manual process.

Choose a video segment on the timeline and add text blocks for each dialogue or sound cue. This method puts you in control of the DaVinci subtitles’ timing and style. That’s essential for matching the on-screen action.

When working with DaVinci Resolve captions, you can start with a methodical approach:

1. Navigate to the Effects Library.
2. In the search bar, type “Subtitle” to locate the subtitle effect.
3. Drag and drop the subtitle effect onto your timeline to create a new subtitle track.
4. Click on the subtitle in the timeline to access the subtitle editor in the Inspector Panel.
5. In the subtitle editor, you can enter the desired text, such as “Hey everyone.”
6. Adjust the duration of the subtitle by clicking and dragging its edges on the timeline.
7. Reposition the subtitle in the timeline by clicking and dragging from the center.
8. Customize the DaVinci subtitle font, color, size, and spacing through the subtitle editor.
9. To add more subtitles, place the playhead at the desired start point. Then, select Add Newor copy an existing subtitle and paste it at a new location.

This approach gives you granular control over each subtitle’s timing, placement, and style.

While this method is time-consuming, it’s essential for precision. Moreover, it’s an excellent starting point for those new to video editing.

For those with time constraints, DaVinci Resolve offers auto-subtitling features. Let’s explore these next.

Leveraging DaVinci Resolve’s auto-subtitle feature

Auto captions in DaVinci Resolve revolutionize the subtitling process. To harness this, follow these steps:

1. Choose the video clip you want to work with on your timeline.
2. Once you’ve selected the part you want to subtitle, navigate to the ‘Timeline’ tab at the top.
3. Look for and select ‘Create Subtitles from Audio.’

You’ll then find a variety of preset choices that cater to different needs. These include styles compatible with Teletext and the specifications for Netflix.

After making your selections, click ‘Create’.

DaVinci Resolve’s AI will analyze the audio and produce subtitles, saving you the hassle of manual typing.

With presets and customization options, this is a nod to  speed and personalization. A must in your video editing toolkit!

Once it’s done, all the subtitle clips will appear in our timeline in the exclusive subtitle track.

With DaVinci Resolve’s auto-subtitle feature, efficiency meets precision. It opens up a swift path to professional-grade subtitles.

Customizing DaVinci Resolve auto captions 

So, the DaVinci auto captions are generated. It’s common to now make some tweaks for accuracy and visual appeal. To refine these auto-subtitles, the steps are straightforward:

1. Select ALL the subtitles in the timeline.
2. Open the ‘Inspector’ panel located on the upper right side for text editing.

Here, you can modify the text for precision. Maybe you’re correcting a misheard word. Or perhaps you need to improve the sentence structure.

Either way, this panel is where you make sure the subtitles convey your message correctly.

           3. Switch to the ‘Track’ tab within the ‘Inspector’ to manipulate appearance settings.

The ‘Track’ tab is where you ensure your subtitles are easy on the eyes. Change the DaVinci subtitle font styles, sizes, and colors. Consider adding shadows or backgrounds for contrast. 

In the track tab, we can change the appearance of the subtitles. We can do things like increase the DaVinci subtitle font size, add a shadow, change the typeface, and more.

Transcribe audio to text in DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve’s audio-to-text feature converts audio directly into text. It’s useful for uploads, translations, and searches.

Here’s how you can make the most of this impressive feature:

1. Start transcription.Right-click on the timeline’s media and select ‘Transcribe Audio.’ Resolve will then convert spoken words into text, ready to use.
2. Export and search. Post-transcription, the text is exportable. The search function is particularly useful for finding phrases in long videos. It saves you precious editing time.

When we do this, DaVinci Resolve will analyze the audio of our clip. Once it finishes, we will see the entire inscription of our video audio in text.

Here, we can export a DaVinci Resolve text file.

Tips and shortcuts

Elevate your subtitling game in DaVinci Resolve with these useful shortcuts:

1. Key shortcuts mastery. Get familiar with specific shortcuts for subtitle functions. Try adding a new subtitle track (Shift+Cmd+L) or navigating between subtitles (Cmd+Arrow keys). Customizing these to your workflow can significantly cut down on editing time.
2. Cinema mode for focus. Engage ‘Cinema Mode’ to drop the clutter and focus on the subtitles’ timing and accuracy. This interface mode can be toggled using Shift+F.
3. Inspector panel for batch edits. Use the Inspector Panel for simultaneous alterations to many subtitle clips. Select the DaVinci subtitles you wish to change and edit properties like font and color in one go.
4. Save track styles as presets. After fine-tuning subtitle appearance, save the style as a preset for future use. This ensures a consistent look across different projects and saves time on setup.
5. Efficient timeline navigation. Use the ‘G’ key to snap to the beginning of subtitle clips and ‘H’ to jump to the end. This allows for rapid movement through your subtitle track without manual scrubbing.

Improve your production game with professional content

There you go! Now you know how to add subtitles in DaVinci Resolve.

Take your video’s appeal up a notch with premium assets and templates from Envato. With our offer, you get high-quality, customizable options. They seamlessly integrate with your editing workflow.

Making the DaVinci Resolve subtitles automatic is easy. Doing it manually too! Whether you’re fine-tuning for perfection or need a quick solution, DaVinci Resolve caters to all.

And with Envato, your videos will not only be heard, but also remembered! Check out some of the cool assets you can find there to boost your DVR projects:

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