TimedSubs

Product Introduction

1. Definition: TimedSubs is a specialized script-first subtitle timing platform and subtitle quality assurance tool. It operates in the domain of post-production and localization workflows, specifically designed to generate timed subtitle files from an approved text script and corresponding voiceover audio.
2. Core Value Proposition: TimedSubs exists to solve the critical problem of script integrity loss in auto-captioning. Its primary function is to protect approved wording by using the script as the immutable source of truth, performing timing alignment against the audio, and delivering validated, export-ready subtitle assets (SRT, VTT, ASS, etc.). The core promise is "Your script. Your voice. Subtitles in minutes."

Main Features

1. Script-First Alignment Engine: This feature uses the uploaded script as the absolute source text. The system's speech recognition technology does not transcribe audio from scratch; instead, it performs forced alignment to match the existing script to the spoken audio timeline. The engine identifies timing points while simultaneously checking for discrepancies between the script and the audio, flagging potential mismatches for review.
2. Pre-Export Quality & Delivery Assurance: Before export, TimedSubs runs a comprehensive subtitle file checker. This automated review system validates technical quality factors including line duration, reading speed (CPS/WPM), subtitle overlaps, maximum line length, and timestamp validity. It provides a clear quality score (e.g., 94/100) and blocks exports for issues like overlapping lines or invalid timestamps, ensuring files are technically sound before handoff.
3. Multi-Format Asset Delivery & Source-Locked Translation: The platform exports subtitles as standalone, delivery-ready assets in a broad set of formats: SRT, VTT, SBV, ASS, TXT, JSON, and ZIP. For multilingual projects, it offers source-locked translation, where translation occurs alongside the fixed source text and timing, awaiting user approval before export. This process protects glossary terms and prevents unauthorized changes to the original script or timing.
4. Team Workflow & API Integration: For scalable operations, TimedSubs provides features for batch review and export, glossary management for protected terminology, and API access (for Studio/Agency plans). The API allows integration into existing delivery pipelines for programmatic project creation, audio upload, processing, and file export.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Script Corruption from Auto-Captions. Traditional auto-captioning services often re-detect and rewrite proper nouns, numbers, and specialized terms, requiring extensive manual correction. TimedSubs solves this by keeping the submitted script intact as the source of truth, ensuring the final subtitles match the approved wording exactly.
2. Pain Point: Undetected Export Errors and Delivery Failures. Subtitle files with hidden timing errors (overlaps, negative durations, poor readability) can cause failures on publishing platforms (YouTube, TikTok) or require rework when handed to clients. TimedSubs provides a pre-delivery quality report and blocks invalid exports, catching problems that typically only appear during final review.
3. Target Audience: This includes Content Creators and Producers with scripted channels, Video Editors and Small Agencies handling client deliverables, Course Production Teams needing consistent terminology, and Localization Operators requiring clean source timing before translation.
4. Use Cases:
   • Scripted YouTube/TikTok Videos: Generating platform-ready SRT/VTT files from a finalized script and voiceover.
   • E-Learning Module Production: Creating caption files that precisely match approved lecture transcripts.
   • Client Handoff for Freelance Editors: Delivering verified, multi-format subtitle packages with quality reports.
   • Localization Workflow Kickoff: Establishing accurate, source-locked timing for translation and glossary application.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation vs. Auto-Captions & Video Editors: Unlike general auto-caption tools (e.g., YouTube's auto-captions, Descript), TimedSubs is not a transcription service; it is a script alignment and QA tool. It differs from video editor captioning (e.g., CapCut, Premiere Pro) by focusing exclusively on the asset creation and validation step, providing a specialized output for downstream use rather than being a feature within an editor.
2. Key Innovation: The "Source-Locked" Workflow. The fundamental innovation is the inversion of the typical workflow. Instead of transcribing audio to text and then editing, TimedSubs starts with the approved text and aligns it to the audio. This "text-first" approach guarantees content integrity. Combined with the integrated pre-export subtitle QA checker, it creates a closed loop of creation, validation, and delivery specifically for subtitle assets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the difference between TimedSubs and regular auto-captions? TimedSubs is a script-first subtitle alignment tool, not an automatic transcriber. Regular auto-captions guess words from audio, which can alter your script's wording, names, and numbers. TimedSubs uses your provided, approved script as the source of truth and only determines the timing for that exact text, ensuring word-perfect accuracy and providing quality checks before export.

2. What subtitle formats does TimedSubs support for export? TimedSubs exports subtitles in a comprehensive set of deliverable assets compatible with major platforms and editors. The supported formats are SRT, VTT, SBV, ASS, TXT, JSON, and a ZIP file containing multiple formats. This allows direct use with YouTube, TikTok, CapCut, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and other publishing tools.

3. How does the source-locked translation feature work to protect my terminology? Source-locked translation maintains your original script and timing as fixed elements. When you translate, the new language appears alongside your source text and requires your manual approval before export. The system uses a protected-term glossary (amount varies by plan) to ensure names, titles, and product terms are never altered during the machine translation process, maintaining consistency across languages.

4. Can I use TimedSubs if I already have a subtitle file that needs checking? Yes. TimedSubs includes a subtitle quality checker. You can paste an existing SRT or VTT file to instantly receive a quality report covering duration, overlaps, line length, reading speed, and other annotated issues, helping you audit and fix files before client delivery or platform upload.

5. Which plan offers API access for workflow integration? API access is available on the Studio and Agency plans. It enables you to integrate TimedSubs directly into your content delivery pipeline for programmatic control over project creation, audio upload, timing and translation processing, export, and usage monitoring, facilitating scalable and repeatable subtitle operations.