How to Speed up the Translation Process
This past few weeks, often we see ourselves on rush to beat our deadline. In the past, I can remember sleepless nights just to finish a single project, but thank God we are able to speed up the process. We held meetings and seminars to iron out the problems. During those meetings, we formulated ways to speed up the process and to increase the quality of our work. Suggestions came in concerning proper distribution of tasks, translation seminars and many more. I tell you they were never easy.
Speeding up the translation process is like a big department store. You need to create different sections of concern. Imagine yourself in a mall looking for some items like clothes, shoes, and bags. There are different sections for children clothes and teen clothes. Very much like transcription and translation. You need to have a different teams working on transcription and translation. As they say, experts on that field. You can be able to train master transcribers able to type at lightning speeds.
In your average bookstore, books are grouped per category. You have a different section for children’s books and adult books and even games for kids. They are grouped per subject and category. Translations can also be grouped per category, basically per language. We have different translators per program to familiarize the translator. We created teams who will be responsible for a specific program. We don’t mix them up so we will not create troubles during deadlines.
We Always Prepare After the Worst
This is just another personal observation.
We all know the effects of the recent typhoons that flooded major parts of Luzon in the Philippines.
I’ve read a couple of news articles blaming the government for what happened. While others blame themselves. I did not write this to blame anyone, but I just want to express my feeling by asking a couple of question and just answer them in our hearts.
Have we done our best to prepare for the worst? Do we practice safety precautions and practice safety procedures? Are we preparing ourselves for disaster and calamities?
Let us start asking ourselves before blaming anyone. Let us start thinking ahead and prepare.
After we’ve witnessed the aftermath of these things, do we just prepare after the worst?
Updates – Passport Delivery Service
We all love shortcuts, the fact that we have instant coffee and instant noodles is because we want it fast and affordable.
Before, if you want to get a passport, it means a whole day of standing in line and waiting, but not anymore. Just recently, Pilipinas Teleserv opened a new option that changes everything.
It’s called DFA Express Passport Delivery Service. Not all Filipinos are aware of the service. The long queues explain everything.
I tried the service third week of August and I had my passport delivered yesterday, September 12, roughly two weeks.
The good:
1. You just need to go to DFA just once for your signature and thumb print.
2. No more waiting, I only spent 30 minutes, if it had not been for my yellowish picture, I’m done in just 20.
Although a bit pricey than the usual, it saves you time and energy for the long queues.
Who’s the True You?
I’ve been wonderin’, back in the old times, there are no such thing as identification cards or I.D.’s. When I say old, I mean the primitive times when paper is not readily available.
Yes, I know that I.D.’s help prove the identity of a person. But now, it seems that I.D.’s are more important than the person who carry them.
I thought about it when my friend had a hard time with a bank transaction. It’s normal for banks to ask for I.D.’s for proper identification, and he did provide his birth certificate for he had nothing. Funny thing is, the teller had this remark: “So, you’re not citizen of this country.” Why? Does having an ID prove you are? I’m just asking.
In our country, your most credible identification is your passport. But let me remind you, you can’t get a passport without providing 2 other I.D.’s. In that case, you need a driver’s license and a company I.D. But what if you don’t have a company I.D.? Yes, that’s a problem. You can’t have a passport. So you need a driver’s license. But there are also requirements on getting a driver’s license. It seems, having one I.D. is a never-ending battle. One document leading to another.
I’m not against I.D.’s, I just don’t like how you get them. Can we just have one universal I.D. to simplify everything? Just a thought. Maybe it’s possible. Between your I.D. and you, I was just thinking’ who’s the true you?
New PSP go
I’ve been looking for a new portable gaming console, and look what I’ve found. The new PSP Go from Sony. Dubbed as the smallest and mightiest PSP.
Gone are the days of big and heavy gaming consoles. Portable gaming is now the new trend.
Check out their website for details.
Dead People are Always Good People
This is just an observation, I really don’t go deep on political issues and other stuff. But the recent events made me write this one. We all know that Michael Jackson died a few months ago, and along with his death, people mourned especially the fans. Even his detractors stopped for a while. Funny thing is, before he died, the news is filled with reports and negative things about the King of Pop.
Same with the late President Corazon C. Aquino, who died recently from colon cancer complications. Before her death, I often hear political issues against the former President. But the tide seemed to turn after her death. People gather up to say prayers, gifts piled up on her residence, her detractors even said sorry after everything they did.
Sad thing is, she can’t hear them now. Why can’t we say sorry while the person is still alive? Why can’t we give gifts and praises while she can hear us?
Why?
Why can’t we just forgive for the sake of peace? Why do we remember the good things they did when they are already gone? Even the most bitter of their enemies seem to remember them in a good way. I can’t help but think, dead people are always good people.
On Updates – The Unlimited Story
Unlimited services, whether food or cellular airtime is dramatically increasing. You can now find unlimited drinks, unlimited internet time, and unlimited call and texting service.
You can read the full post on FILIPINO SUBTITLER’s own domain.
Be Careful With File Conversion
Video file formats can also be a big problem in subtitling. In some cases, if you have a .WMV file and you try to convert it to .MPEG1, chances are the audio will be delayed.
I’m not an expert on video, but converting a lower file format to a higher format can be risky. I am speaking out of experience here. It’s like trying to stretch a 1×1 ID picture into a 10×10 portrait. Imagine the result.
Another thing is when it comes to spotting and translation, the audio doesn’t match the video. It makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s like video streaming quality.
If you experience video conversion errors, try restarting your PC. If it doesn’t work, and the problem is still there, then try converting your files on another PC. You can easily isolate the problem by doing so.
It’s safer to convert from a higher format to a lower one. Just like DVD MPEG2 to a WMV, or an AVI to MPEG.
How to export DVD files using Softni Subtitler Suite?
I had a comment asking how to export DVD files using Softni Subtitler Suite – I posted my answer on my site Filipino Subtitler.
I also provided a link for my post on Exporting DVD files using Softni Subtitler Suite.
