I’m working on a project where I want to let users add subtitles to videos on my website in different languages. I’m looking for a way to do this that’s not tied to YouTube’s system.
The main goal is to allow anyone to contribute subtitles in their own language for the videos I post. This way, the content can be more accessible to a wider audience.
I’m comfortable using PHP, but I’m open to other tools or frameworks that might help with this. Has anyone tackled a similar project before? What approach did you take?
I’m especially interested in:
How to manage and store multiple subtitle tracks
Ways to sync subtitles with video playback
User-friendly interfaces for adding and editing subtitles
Any tips, suggestions, or examples would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for your input!
I’ve implemented a similar system using the SubRip (SRT) format for subtitles. It’s simple yet effective, and compatible with most video players. For storage, we used a combination of a SQL database for metadata and cloud storage for the actual subtitle files.
We developed a web-based subtitle editor using JavaScript, which allowed users to easily add and edit subtitles. The editor included a waveform visualization of the audio track, making it easier for users to sync subtitles accurately.
One challenge we encountered was handling different video formats and resolutions. We solved this by normalizing subtitle timings based on video duration rather than absolute timestamps.
For multi-language support, we implemented a language selection dropdown in the video player interface. This allowed users to switch between available subtitle tracks seamlessly.
Remember to implement proper error handling and validation to ensure the quality and consistency of user-submitted subtitles.
I’ve implemented a similar system using WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks) format for subtitles. It’s widely supported and works well with HTML5 video players. For storage, we used a combination of a relational database for metadata and file storage for the actual subtitle files.
To handle user contributions, we built a simple web interface where users could upload or directly edit subtitle timings. We used a JavaScript-based subtitle editor library to make the process more user-friendly.
One challenge we faced was managing version control for subtitles. We ended up implementing a basic approval system where community-submitted subtitles would be reviewed before going live.
For synchronization, most modern HTML5 video players handle this well if your WebVTT files are properly formatted. Just make sure your timing cues are accurate.
I’ve actually tackled a similar project recently, and it was quite the learning experience. We ended up using a combination of technologies to make it work smoothly.
For subtitle storage, we opted for a NoSQL database like MongoDB. It gave us the flexibility to store subtitle data in different languages without rigid schemas, which proved invaluable as the project scaled.
Syncing presented its own challenges initially, but integrating the HTML5 video API with a custom JavaScript controller allowed precise subtitle synchronization, even during seek operations.
The user interface was developed as a custom subtitle editor using React. Although it required significant effort, the result was a seamless editing experience complete with real-time preview and keyboard shortcuts for efficient adjustments.
An additional hurdle was ensuring proper handling of various character sets. Adopting UTF-8 encoding was crucial to overcoming potential issues with diverse language inputs.
I hope these insights help inform your approach to the project.
hey, have you checked out mozilla’s subtitle-octopus? it’s an open-source lib for subtitle rendering and editing. could be perfect for ur project. it handles multiple languages and syncs well with html5 video. plus, u can customize the UI to fit ur site. might save u some coding headaches!