Where have all the timers gone?

[TaMz]

I'm just wondering this,
cause timing is the easiest one to learn and master (in my opinion),
and when I was actively subbing, there was lots and lots of timers,
but now they seem to have all but vanished.

So where has everyone gone?

There seems to be a high need at the moment,
so all wanting to help the fansub community,
take up sabbu or aegisub or medusa or whatnot and get on helping!
- - - - - - -

A short tutorial for those wanting to learn:
1. Get script + RAW
2. Rip sounds from RAW (using VDub or similiar)
3. Open up your timing prog
4. Open script
5. Open audio
6. Left click on the starting position of the current line
7. Right click on the ending position of the current line
8. Press Enter/Ctrl+G/Alt+G (the "grab times" button in your prog)
9. Repeat 6-8 until script is finished

Of course I can provide a more detailed guide if someone wants for some reason.

[iluid]

This is pretty normal for timers. Timing is clearly the easiest job to learn for most people, but it also (probably) has the highest turnover rate. Timers are the fast-food employees of fansubs. While it’s pretty much unskilled labor, it’s tedious, stressful (especially at first), and very unrewarding, so a lot of people do it for a few months then quit. There seems to be a cycle of about 3-4 months where it alternates between tons of groups looking for timers and tons of timers that can’t find anywhere to work.

[TaMz]

hmmm..
Is that so?

But ya, Encoders, Timers and Translators are the basic buildingblocks of a group,
yet only the Translators and Encoders get points,
and the effect guys also, for some reason Typesetters get lots more points than Timers,
I don't get why so..

Tho in my opinion people should stick to one part and learn that well and not go "oh I'll try timing now, and next week I'll be a Typesetter!" or sumtin,
if you're not gonna stick with the timing, then don't start, same applies for all the other jobs too.

[Nei]

Well face it you don't time yourself anymore either and timing is just a shitty job.
It's not that people don't know how to time (I think), it's just that the task is no fun.

[el]

They went on holiday. I'm covering for them ... <_<

[Access]

Let me just say, the groups that I am privy to; there is no 'shortage'. The shortages are where they have been for the last few years, translators, decent translator-checkers, and to some extent good editors. Timing may be seen as 'no fun', but anyone who is motivated can do it so it's not such a big deal. I must have done about 20+ eps. to date when the need arose, but in those times the debates were along the lines of process order (time then translate or translate then time or some other order altogether). Also basic timing may be a 'no skill' type job, but advanced timers have some knowledge of japanese particles and basic language so they can match the lines or choose breaks appropriately. It's not a necessity, but it can help people down the line like translation checkers or editors.

[DryFire]

As with most positions it seems the people good at them (or sometimes even mediocre) are lacking.


edited for idoicy.

[Starks]

Timing does take a baseline understanding of Japanese sentence structure.

[Prons]

It's really hard finding timers, hell, it seems to be getting hard to find people to voulenteer to learn timing

[Quarkboy]

This reminds me of a song....

Where have all the timers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the timers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the timers gone?
Groups have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the typesetters gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the typesetters gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the typesetters gone?
Killed by karaoke, every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the encoders gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the encoders gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the encoders gone?
Gone to h264 every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the translators gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the translators gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the translators gone?
Gone to their heads every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the leechers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the leechers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the leechers gone?
Watching youtube every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

[TaMz]

Originally Posted by hsim

Well face it you don't time yourself anymore either and timing is just a shitty job.
It's not that people don't know how to time (I think), it's just that the task is no fun.

Actually I do still time,
tho I'm not affiliated with any group,
just doing random stuff to random ppl.

[Kawool]

haha tamz i did not think you would post ...yep timers are endangered species

i could not really explain why , i'm myself fansubbing (typesetting/edits mostly) and well even if i know how to time, its like a torture to do it ! Glad you help me sometimes XD

Anyway i think its just the turn over season, to me the editors are the hardest to keep, its like the easier the job is the faster they quit lol But well shit happens and as long as you can keep subbing its fine...most of the time subs take too much time and thats why ppl cannot stay for long , except for wackos like me (and others i wont mention) haha

[Asura Zanmaden]

Originally Posted by TaMz

I'm just wondering this,
cause timing is the easiest one to learn and master (in my opinion),
and when I was actively subbing, there was lots and lots of timers,
but now they seem to have all but vanished.

So where has everyone gone?

There seems to be a high need at the moment,
so all wanting to help the fansub community,
take up sabbu or aegisub or medusa or whatnot and get on helping!
- - - - - - -

A short tutorial for those wanting to learn:
1. Get script + RAW
2. Rip sounds from RAW (using VDub or similiar)
3. Open up your timing prog
4. Open script
5. Open audio
6. Left click on the starting position of the current line
7. Right click on the ending position of the current line
8. Press Enter/Ctrl+G/Alt+G (the "grab times" button in your prog)
9. Repeat 6-8 until script is finished

Of course I can provide a more detailed guide if someone wants for some reason.

Wow, things must be f*cked up if timers are in demand.

I guess you guys aren't seeing many timers around because more and more people are starting to realize that being a timer doesn't get you the respect or chicks like the other positions do.

Well, at least thats what I think from my experience.

[CelesAurivern]

Originally Posted by Asura Zanmaden

I guess you guys aren't seeing many timers around because more and more people are starting to realize that being a timer doesn't get you the respect or chicks like the other positions do.

Well, I guess its time for people to start changing classes

[SCR512]

Originally Posted by TaMz

for some reason Typesetters get lots more points than Timers,
I don't get why so..

Like it was said earlier, timers are basiclly the "fast food workers" of the fansub world. The whole reason why Typesetters get more "points" is because it's a skill that takes a bit of time to learn and get right. Also, when I say typesetter I'm talking about the shmuck that positioned the sign subtitle 500 times in his SSA script just to get the motion right

[Nei]

I'm agreeing with TaMz on this though, not so easy to find someone willing to time for you :/
likely reasons are in the thread, but there really aren't loads of free timers really .. or they hide

PS: there is a timer seeking work in the help wanted

[Kanna]

Where did all the timers go? To get a life probably.

I can understand why no timers ever show themselves. It's grunt work, it's simple and it takes almost no skill. Well, for simple timing it is anyway.

If any timers are reading this, I suggest you pick up a second or third role within the group so you can get more involved and help with the more important aspects of fansubbing.... like editing.

I've been timing since 2000 and have "quit" at least 3 times if I remember correctly. Now I'm learning after effects and web stuff to keep me from being bored and going insane.

[Grv]

Why does this thread seem to be a "put down the timers" thread? All of you keep going on how it's boring, unimportant work, then wonder why nobody wants to time for you?!

You say timing is unskilled, I disagree. Good timing takes some skill, and FYI timing with just audio is stupid. I myself time/finish edit and generally co-ordinate activities within my own group.

Timing I would say is a very important aspect of a group, attaching more kudos to an encoder say is ludicrous. It's "easy" to do basic encoding, just as it's "easy" to do basic timing. All roles and functions within a fansubbing group take a little time to master.

If you want more timers, quit putting them down.

[asunder]

Good timers are important to any group....I've tried my hand at timing. But I'm just too slow at it and get frustrated at it.

Kanna: are you ^Soujiro^ ? o_o There's a few Kannas in the IRC world.

[Access]

Originally Posted by Grv

If you want more timers, quit putting them down.

Yeah good point, if you want people to stick around, you have to treat them right.
If you treat people poorly, or whine a lot, or are generally annoying, or try to force people to do things they don't want to do, or insist to people their skills are worthless and easily replaced -- if you do any of these things or more; then the 'shortage' is a problem you create for yourself, not a real problem that exists. I don't see evidence of a real shortage, not when it comes to timers at least.