Showing posts with label segmenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label segmenting. Show all posts

Flying Solo for the First Time


This week's article is written by a segmenter who shares with us her first experiences segmenting on an on-air channel and what she wishes she could have known back then. Enjoy!




Flying solo for the first time was a mix of...

excitement, panic, joy, and then panic again.


 My first segmenting (on air) project was an emotional roller-coaster. Of course, I jumped for joy when I joined the segmenter team of that channel.

For me, the segmenters on Viki were, and still are, like magicians as they cut a part in such a fast and “relaxed” way.

But when I actually got the chance to segment a part, I was scared and must have had a facial expression like the one in "The Scream" by Edvard Munch.


“The Scream“ by Edvard Munch.
I wondered: "How can the other segmenters be so relaxed while I worry after every segment I cut?" 
My segmenting speed could have been called “turtle speed”. On second thought, even a turtle could have been faster than I was at segmenting. While I cut and checked my segments again and again, the other segmenters cut their parts like butter, a piece of cake. I was totally amazed and impressed by their great skills, but that didn’t help me with my “being scared of messing segments up” problem.

However, thanks to the encouraging words and tips of the channel manager and the other segmenters, I hung on and tried my best. The more I cut, the more I enjoyed the segmenting work.

Looking back at my first segmenting project, I think I know why I got so easily scared during my first solo flight. If I had a chance to write a diary to my "past self" as the "future me" while traveling back and forth through time (Confused yet?? I always felt like that when I watched Faith, which is one of my favourite dramas by the way! The drama is so cool!!), I would write this:

Some Tips TO ME by me...
1) NEVER EVER compare your segmenting speed with someone else's while segmenting. The other segmenters are experienced, so don’t panic just because you are a “newbie”, as everyone was a newbie in the beginning.  
2) Whenever you lose confidence about your segmenting skills, think of these statements as a personal mantra: No one is born a master. Skill comes with practice.
3) If you need more time in order to finish a part, it is not a “drama” at all! If you still worry about your speed, then just segment one of the last parts.  
4) In case you are still too worried about your speed: Close your eyes and imagine you are the only one in the channel and in the timer. But don't forget to keep your eyes open while cutting the segments! 
5) Don’t overdo the checking part. Just cut a segment, check its timing and length and then move on. Don’t obsess over a single segment. But if you are not sure about a certain segment, just ask an experienced segmenter for help or post a note in the team discussion. 
6) The more you segment, the faster you become. It is similar to "Pokemon": You reach the “next level” after collecting some (combat) experience as a Ninja Segmenter. 
7) Last but not least, don't make that "Munch Scream" face while segmenting! Just thinking of it scares me. Just relax and have some fun while you cut! Instead of making that face, sing "Everybody was kung-fu fighting."
Now it is your turn! What would you write to your "past self" as the "future you" based on your experiences as a segmenter? I'm curious about your experiences! What would you do differently? (Believe me, I'm way more confused than you by time traveling. It is definitely not the way I would prefer to travel... ;-))



10:30 PM | Category: | 1 comments

How to correct for mini-gaps and micro-gaps




“History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.” ― Sara Sheridan

For history, it may be okay for there to be gaps due to uncertainties of events that took place. Since many people and issues have existed, it’s impossible for there to be a complete sequence.
However, dramas are usually based on a good story script; thus too many noticeable gaps will reduce the quality of the story. As segmenters, although we can’t prevent any storyline gaps, we can prevent the small gaps between segments which result in a “jerky” effect. When there are small gaps between segments, the subtitles flash in and out rather than smoothly transitioning, and this reduces the enjoyment for our audience.

Our topic of interest today is what gaps are and how we can reduce the flashing of subtitles caused by them. We distinguish between three times of gaps:
Small Gaps - When there is a 0.5 seconds or less distance separating two segments.

 Mini-Gaps - When there is a 0.1 second distance separating two segments. These can usually be seen at 100% zoom and are very noticeable when zoomed in over 150%.

 Micro-Gaps - When there is less than a 0.1 second distance separating two segments. These are rarely seen at 100% zoom and are usually only visible at a 200% or more zoom.
What the different types of gaps look like:

Gaps 2.png
Timer at 100% zoom. Small gaps and mini-gaps are noticeable, but micro-gaps cannot be seen.

gaps.png
Timer zoomed in to show micro-gaps in addition to the small and mini-gaps.

 First, lets figure out how these gaps are created. Different segmenting methods create different problems, but mini and micro-gaps typically come from either the individual segmentation method (creating one segment at a time) or from the Shift + Spacebar continuous method. The only method that is currently 99% gap proof in most browsers is the XXL method.

So what’s the best way to remove the gaps? Think of the ends of each segments as having sticky tape on the ends. The only way to use the sticky tape is to use the keyboard shortcut keys (CTRL + ↑→↓← ) and move the segment to the right and left, pushing the other segment over. Once this segment has been “pushed”, it will join with your selected segment. Now you can move your segment back into its original position and the gap will be removed.
 Please watch the following tutorial for a demonstration:

11:15 PM | Category: | 9 comments

What do Ninjas Eat or Drink when they Contribute on Viki?

If an athlete wants to build up his muscles, his nutritional protocol will probably be rich in protein.

But have you ever wondered what keeps our Ninjas alive for long hours contributing on Viki? Or what a Ninja eats in order to be prepared for some segmenting or subbing work? After all, contributing can be very tedious work which one shouldn't underestimate.


You may have once questioned yourself, "How in the world can anyone be segging and subbing at amazing speed, bringing us new subtitles within hours of upload?"

Today, we are going to share with you what the Ninjas Masters at our academy use to keep their energy high so that they are ready to contribute on Viki in their spare time.

As you may all agree, segmenting, subbing, and editing are time-consuming processes that can take away time from your meals. Therefore, we often find ourselves eating and drinking in front of our computer screens, rather than skipping meals and jeopardizing our health. 


What do Ninjas Drink?


"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee." - Abraham Lincoln
Fluids are a definite must in order for us to stay hydrated and alert. This is a chart of the typical things we drink:

[Please note: It is important that a Ninja is in one's senses as segmenting and subtitling work demands concentration, speed and precision.]

    The possibilities are endless, but all contributors out there, please remember to keep your fluid levels high to prevent dehydration in front of your computers.

    What do Ninjas Eat?


    "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
    - Charles M. Schulz
    Food provides the necessary nutrients to keep our metabolism high and allows us to be energized. Without adequate nutrients, our brains and bodies will fail to function properly, which results in decline of speed and quality of our contributions.

    Even though a ninja might "withstand" certain challenges (like cutting several parts in a row), he/she still needs a certain amount of energy and vitamins in order to cut well. This is a list of the typical things we eat while working:

    • Chocolates in all its facets and "beauty" (almond roca dark, caramilk, kit-kat, twix, Ferrero Rocher, Godiva and Lindor, chocolate toffee covered macadamia nuts)
    • Candy (jelly beans, gummy bears, gum, cough drops)
    • Fruits (apples, strawberries, grapes, watermelons, pineapple, pears, melons, kiwis, bananas, citrus fruits)
    • Jello (with whipped cream)
    • Cookies (chocolate chip)
    • Soup (congee, yam sweet soup)
    • Asian foods (ramen, sushi, tteokbokki, jjajangmyeon, japchae, kimchi, dim sum)
    • Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cheesecake)
    • General snacks (chips, Cheetos, trail mix, pretzels, pistachios, crackers, rice cakes, energy bars)
    • Meat (BBQ beef roasts, roast chicken, BBQ pork buns, curry beef buns, chicken nuggets)


    In conclusion, we want to remind all our contributors to put your health ahead of everything else. Without good health, body, mind and soul, at what cost are you willing to risk for your hobby on Viki?




    9:17 PM | Category: , , , | 1 comments

    Segment Timer and Browsers



    "The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing." ― Joshua Harris

    Every once in a while after reviewing a student’s video, the student will say, “I don’t understand why you told me those segments are late. My volume is all the way up, but when I pause right on the beginning line, I don’t hear anything!” This indicates a difference in segment timing between the two users. It is important to realize this difference in order for the student to effectively learn proper timing.
    What causes timing dissimilarities? At NSSA, we searched for a cause by testing between browsers and across computers. It was determined that the browser in use may be a top candidate for the difference. In our research, we only tested segmenting using HTML5, not Flash, because Flash does not perform well for us in the segment timer. We recommend using HTML5 unless you do not have the capability.
    Currently, the browsers Viki recommends are Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer 9.0+. If you are using another browser, you may receive this alert:
    VikiAlert3_zps190edd71.png

    (Note: One user also had this alert appear while using Internet Explorer 9.0)
    Still, the segment timer in each browser does not perform the same. Here is a summary of what our experiences were with each browser. Windows Vista, Windows 7, and two versions of Mac OS X were used:
    • Chrome - Smoothest segmenting experience without lagging or stuttering. Occasional freezing. Comparable timing across computers.
    • Firefox - Longer load times accompanied by some lagging or stuttering.
    • Safari - Audio lag after un-pausing. Timing differed across computers.
    • Internet Explorer 9.0 - (Tested in Windows Vista) Performed the worst of the tested browsers with frequent freezing and lagging.
    • Opera - Performed somewhere between Chrome and Firefox, with smooth segmenting and less lag compared to Firefox. However, longer load times were experienced. Performance declined after segmenting several parts.
    Following is a playlist of videos which demonstrate some of these experiences:
    We also checked how well each browser supports HTML5 at html5test.com. This overview shows how well HTML5 is supported on browsers and their current and older versions based on several features. The highest score a browser can receive is 555:
    Based on this overview and the experiences we collectively had, we suggest trying Chrome to segment in order to have the best experience and the most similar timing across computers.

     Of course, there may be other computer-related reasons two users may see a segment starting at different times, but considering the browser is a good place to start. Anyone having issues segmenting should also look into the best browser for their computer.

    Let us know in the comments what your experiences are regarding the segment timer and browsers!
    1:57 AM | Category: | 0 comments

    Ten Unforgivable Sins as a Ninja Contributor

    Working on Viki can be both fun and challenging. However, ensuring you maintain good citizenship behavior when you contribute is an absolute must when working on a channel with people from different backgrounds and parts of the world. Below is a list of things that a Ninja Contributor must not commit!

    1. Working on channels without permission when the Channel Manager (CM) is someone other than VIKI
    • Segmenters and subbers are to have the approval of the CM or Moderator before joining and helping out on a channel. You will then be designated as a subber or segmenter.
    • Only channels where VIKI is the sole CM are you allowed to contribute without permission.
    1. Segmenting before an episode is split into parts or leaving your part incomplete
    • Segmenting before splits prevents the episode from being split properly, causes segments to become irreplaceable or go missing, and slows down the progress.
    • Be sure to complete the part you started segmenting and then report the part you segmented. If an emergency comes up and you are unable to finish your part, please let other team members know so your part can be completed. All communication must be done in the Team Discussion tab.
    1. Subtitling into your language before receiving the "Go" signal or using only Google Translate
    • This is for quality assurance purposes so that people around the world can have the best quality translations. If subbing is done before receiving the signal or an online translator is solely used, the translations may not be accurate.
    1. Reserving parts (segmenting two or more parts at the same time on the same or different channels)
    • Don’t be greedy. There is enough “cake” for everyone.
    1. Showing disrespect toward other teammates. This includes:
    • Subbers expressing unhappiness after an editor changes their subtitles for legitimate reasons.
    • Segmenters being upset that their segments were deleted or adjusted by the editors or the Chief Segmenter.
    • Writing up comments of discontent, and directly or indirectly criticizing someone outright in public discussion or comment boards rather than contacting them through private message.
    • Writing hurtful messages or hate-mail to your channel contributor via private message.

    “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” 

    ― Nelson Mandela

    1. Striving for quantity instead of quality
    • Viewers don’t care about the number of the segments you cut, but they do care about the quality of the segments. They will complain about early, late, long, and short segments.
    • Other teammates might have to fix your segments because you were in a rush.
    • Sloppy work takes a long time to clean up. The Quality Checker (QC) of a channel is a volunteer who makes sure the video is edited well, but she/he will not be happy to see an entire part of messy work. [Note: this is not the same as Qualified Contributor (QC)]
    1. Removing a member from your team without notice
    • Removing an active or inactive team member without notice is disrespectful and hurtful, considering the fact that the person was once a teammate and contributor.
    1. Being jealous of others, rather than being sincere in your admiration
    • If you think someone has skills that deserve praise, please be sincere and send them a word of sincere admiration. Try to learn from them and respect them for their skills instead of being envious, directing your energy in a negative context.
    1. Being an arrogant phony, rather than being humble in your own skills
    • Nobody likes a braggart (that much). Try to understand that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Acknowledge the fact that someone else’s strength may also be your weakness.
    1. Don’t shy away if you notice an "injustice," such as someone being treated unfairly or someone committing one of the nine previous sins or beyond, including Viki's own community guidelines
    • Treat others in the same way you want to be treated.
    • If you see an injustice, try to find a peaceful solution. If a solution is deemed impossible, please contact a Viki Community Team Member (Mariko, Brovo, Dee or Yuria) so that Viki can deal with it directly.
    9:07 PM | Category: , , | 0 comments

    Welcome to Ninja Segging & Subbing Academy Official Blog!





    Dearest NSSA Followers:


    We are pleased to announce the launch of our NSSA Blog. Here you will find Segmenting and Subbing FYI and News Updates. Remember to check here regularly to get the latest insider!


    Sayonara for now,

    The Masters of NSSA...p(^_^)q



    12:40 AM | Category: , | 3 comments