How To Add Subtitles To Videos using Universal Subtitles

In this step by step guide you will be shown how to add subtitles to a youtube video by using Universal Subtitles. Universal Subtitles is a free service.

I have already uploaded my video to youtube. Now we are going to add subtitles to it. This is the video we are going to use.

First of all, copy the link of the youtube video that you wish to add subtitles too.

Click the ‘share’ button. A link to the video will appear. Copy the link.

Next, go to the Universal Subtitles website.

You will see a white box underneath the text that says ‘Subtitle a Video Now’

Paste the link to your the youtube video into this box.

Then click the dark blue ‘subtitle’ button.

The video will be uploaded to Universal Subtitles.

Just beneath the video, you will see a button called ‘subtitle me’. Click that to proceed.

A pop up window will appear asking you wish language you wish to use. Select your preferred language.

You will then be given the option of watching the Universal Subtitles How To videos. I recommend you watch them. They are very short in length and explain clearly how to add subtitles.

On the next page you will see a an option to select a speed mode. I suggest you chose the ‘8 second mode’ if you are a beginner. You can always change it if you feel it’s too slow.

Next, it’s time to type!

Press the green button that says ‘Play next 8 seconds’. It will play 8 seconds of the video with audio.

As the video plays, start typing the text in the white box beneath the video. If you need to, you can reply the last 8 seconds again by clicking on the blue ‘replay last 8 seconds’ button.

If you start to type too much text into the white box, the frame around it will start changing colour to warn you to start a new line.

It will go from yellow, orange to red. If the frame has turned to red you have certainly put too much text into one line. Remove some text, press enter and start a new line.

When you have typed your text and pressed enter, it will appear in a screen below the video and text entry box.

When you have finished transcribing the audio into subtitles, click the grey ‘Done? Next Step, Syncing’ button.

Now it’s time to put any finishing touches to your video such as making sure the audio and subtitles are in sync and you can also double check for spelling mistakes or add any subtitles that you missed.

Play your video. Keep an eye on the text box below your video. When you hear the audio speaking the words that are in the text box, tap the purple button.

Keep watching the white text box, and as soon as you hear the word in the next line of text being spoken, hit the purple button. This is how you will make sure your subtitles are synced to the audio.

If you find you have made a spelling error, or want to add/remove text, just click on the text that you want to amend and you will be able to edit it.

When you are happy that your audio is synced with the subtitles, click the grey ‘Done? Submit your work’ button.

A pop up message will appear, telling you that your changes have been saved. Click ‘ok’.

You will then be asked to log in or create an account. You can also sign in via twitter, OpenID, Google, or Facebook.

And that’s it! You now have your subtitled video and it’s ready to share!

You will have to option to post your video to Facebook or twitter or to email the link. You can also embed the video on your website and you will be given the Permalink too.