Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/Animation/VoiceOverAssistant

Voice Over Assistant

(Blender python addon)

For voice-over recording, audio tracks are removed from the original video, and actors read a script to match the mouth movements onscreen. In order to do this, the text should be visually as close as possible to the video, and the timing of the text should be malleable.

Voice Over Assistant
Shows text over a video clip, used for assisting audio voice-over recording.

UI location	Sequencer
Usage	Click the Voice Over play icon in the Sequencer. Change the script, onscreen position, and text color.
Version	0.8	Author(s)	Neal Delfeld
Blender	Blender 2.66.0+	License	GPL2+
Category	Animation	Distribution	Extern
Note(s)	Note(s)

Executable information

File name	VoiceOverAssistant.py
Current version download	http://projects.blender.org/tracker/download.php/153/467/35070/24910/VoiceOverAssistant.py
Python modules	bpy.py, blf.py, bgl.py, re.py
Data	You will need a script of text to display. At this point, it should be a simple text file, and all chars will be displayed.

Warning	For the time being, the filename has to be manually entered in the function 'get_script_filename()'
Links	http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/Animation/VoiceOverAssistant
Known Issues	Still getting an error: "UnboundLocalError: local variable 'sub' referenced before assignment"

About the Script File For the time being, the filename has to be manually entered in the function 'get_script_filename()'

Works in the Sequencer, but not in Preview mode (yet). Buttons appear in the Sequencer Header. Should be a Menu, but it's a Panel right now. I would like to make this into an addon, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

TO DO:

• to do
    have the lines enter at the correct time
• to do
    set the number of characters/words visible in a line
• to do
    manually be able to adjust the timing of lines
• to do
    improve loading/playing speed
• to do
    adjust font (face and size) without the huge processor hit
• to do
    import/use/export subtitle/closed-caption formats:
  • WebTT (open source, W3) http://dev.w3.org/html5/webvtt/
  • SAMI (open source, Microsoft) http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms971327.aspx
  • Any others? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtitle_%28captioning%29#Subtitle_formats

ERROR This code still produces the following error. Any ideas? Python script fail, look in the console for now... bpy.ops.text.run_script() Traceback (most recent call last): File "\Text", line 264, in draw UnboundLocalError: local variable 'sub' referenced before assignment location: <unknown location>:-1

Some properties:

• done
    voice_over_is_on = on/off
• done
    voice_over_pos_x, voice_over_pos_y = on-screen position (X,Y)
• done
    voice_over_text_color = text color
• in progress 50%
    voice_over_script_filename = script filename
• on hold
    voice_over_visible_chars = number of characters shown onscreen
  • Probably should be the maximum number.
  • Words are never divided.
• on hold
    voice_over_font_face = font face
• on hold
    voice_over_multiline = allow multiple lines
• on hold
    voice_over_font_size = font size 12-24
  • Huge memory hit to change font size, since all oGL chars have to be redrawn.

See also

1. http://projects.blender.org/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=35070
2. http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/Animation/VoiceOverAssistant
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtitle_%28captioning%29#Subtitle_formats