Some translators might time the translations themselves, while some others don't really know how to. The idea of a timer is to give enough time for viewers to see the subs and make sure they're positioned correctly. Matching the subs 100% accurately to the audio is NOT the job of the timer.

The idea is to make the subs READABLE. Remember, you are timing for everyone, not just for fast readers. Adequate time is needed to glance at the subs while watching the video. It's not mutually exclusive that if you read the subs, you're not allowed to watch the video. Anime subs are meant to be enjoyed, not a test of concentration from the viewer. If the viewer needs to rewind often while watching, then the timing is a failure.

Programs

To time, first, you'll need a program to do it. Please get aegisub. It's currently the most functional subbing program there is out there. You should be able to figure out how to load the video, audio and subs on your own.

Helpful shortcuts:

• C/V - Add 300ms lead-in/lead-out
• G - Commit
• Ctrl-3 - Match start time to video
• Ctrl-4 - Match end time to video

I don't know why people were raging about the shortcuts. But you can change the lead-in, lead-out lengths. You'll see the screenshot below under tricks. Personally, I don't recommend using the lead-in and lead-out shortcuts. You won't need it.

The Basics

One line of subs is roughly 50 characters long. Of course the length could vary greatly depending on how many fat characters like 'm' and how many narrow characters like 'i' there are.

The above image is an example of the maximum amount of characters you should have in one screen. The above has about 110 characters.

There are generally two phases to the timing; the audio phase and the video phase. Some people like doing them separately, first by closing in the video and only having the audio graph up then opening the video later, and some others do both at the same time. I do not recommend this, just do it once and get it right the first time.

These rules are based on a bit of subbing theory from commercial TV and mostly common sense. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes pretty natural.

• Rule #1 - Subs may never exceed two lines. There are no exceptions to this rule.
   
• Rule #2 - The minimum time for any given subtitle is 0.7 secs. I highly recommend keeping it at least 1 second if possible. It doesn't matter if the speaker says a single word for only 0.2 secs, because you're supposed to allow the viewer to blink. There is no maximum length, but I do not recommend subs to be longer than 8 seconds.
   
• Rule #3 - Default lead-ins to 0.0 secs. Lead-ins are the blank space of time before the audio starts. Use some lead-in if you need to meet the minimum time rule. Usually about 0.2 secs is good.
   
• Rule #4 - Some lead-out should be added for enhanced readability. For shorter sentences 0.3 - 0.5 secs is good. For very long subs with short audio, you can add as much as 2 secs. One full line of subs is usually around 3 secs, while two full lines would usually be about 5 or 6 secs. Remember base the duration on the length of the subs. The audio is Japanese and the subs are English. Remember they are different languages and they won't always have the same length.
   
• Rule #5 - If a subtitle goes over the scene change for less than 0.3 secs, set the end time of subtitle at the exact time of scene change. i.e. at the keyframe. which are those purple lines. Note that not all scene changes are denoted with keyframes because some scenes fade-out, etc.
   
• Rule #6 - Continuous timing. If the time gap between lines is less than or equal to 0.5 seconds, you will extend the end time of line #1 to the start time of line #2. This is done to avoid blinking/flashing subs.
   
• Rule #7 - For longer sentences, in order to make subtitles more fluid, split subtitles in such way that each sentence has its own line. Split at natural breaks in a sentence such as commas. Refer to a translator if you're not sure where to split.

Remember, use a bit of common sense, always avoid flickering and be generous with the time given to read the subs.

Styling

Sometimes the TSer doesn't actually do the styling, so it's up to the timer to do it instead. I would say there are two main schools: AnimeOne way, and Anime-Keep/Anime-Empire way. Generally, they have a different styling for different situations. Here at m.3.3.w, we use none of the above styles. One style is used for all situations.

The following styling is our current convention:

1. Main dialogue font - normal
2. Non-visible speaker - italics
3. Overlaps - 2nd speaker denoted with a hyphen.
   e.g.
   Person A talking.
   - Person B talks at the same time.
4. Invisible speaker overlap - invisible speaker subs placed on top.

To glue together 2 set of subs which belong to one sentence, use this method with adjoining dots '...'. Leave out the final comma.
(Line A)I wanted to go...
(Line B)...but I couldn't.

A secondary method is to skip the dots '...' completely:
(Line A)I wanted to go,
(Line B)but I couldn't.

Many groups tend to only put the connecting dots on the first line, but skip them for the second. They have a different function from elipses. Please don't do only half of it. Either you have them or you don't.

Alpha Timing

Alpha timing is displaying part of the subs first, with the other half remaining invisible. It appears as the speaker speaks.

To put it simply, I hate alpha timing with a passion. Japanese is spoken in a reverse order compared to English. How one is able to alpha time a reversed sentence completely mind boggles me. Alpha timing is totally banned in m.3.3.w. I believe there may have been alpha timing in hime-sama goyoujin. I do not wish to acknowledge the existence of that, so please let me live in denial.

Tricks

To get keyframe timing and continuous lines easily, set those 2 options above on. To override the snapping hold down the shift key while dragging the timing bar. The snapping is based on pixels on the screen, not duration. Having these two on will let you time like a pro.

When shifting scripts (happens when you switch raws), you can make use of the timing post processor under the timing tab. First, press Ctrl-I to open up the dialogue screen to shift the times. Shift accordingly and make sure all segments are correct. Before OP, after OP, after eyecatch and after ED. Then open the Timing Post Processor under the timing tab. Tick off all options except keyframe snapping. Set all values to 3. Run it. You're done.

Elistists hate the Timing Post Processor. I don't know why. The amount of time you can save by using it is incredible. They love to do everything manually. But this is just timing. It's not rocket science and it's not serious business. People can read it, people are happy. Simple as that.

Examples

Here is an example of how not to time your subs.

Ouran Host Club by Lunar: (I can hardly believe Baka-Wolf is hosting this version)

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Here is an example of how you should time your subs:

Ouran Host Club by Solar: (They're really as opposite as the Sun and the Moon)