You may have seen the sneak preview of a top requested feature coming with v1.7, the Sync audio and text feature (if you haven’t, check this video: http://youtu.be/pgGMRvBmcK8), and probably is wondering what will you need and how to use that. Although the user guide will bring details on how it works, I thought it would be nice to provide some step-by-steps here, not covered in the guide.
Preparing your audio files:
In order to enable the new feature, you will need a list with the time codes (start and end positions) of each word spoken in your audio file. Several audio software can help you to get this positions. I decided to integrate Kwik with Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/), as it is a free software, available for Mac and PC. The steps below usually work for other applications as well:
- Open the audio application
- Open the audio file with the spoken text to be used in Kwik
- Using the mouse, select part of the wave (this is a manual step and may be repetitive until you correctly select the word you want) for the first word
- You may manually take note of the start and end position (see bottom of the interface) or (preferable), click Ctrl+B (Cmd+B on Mac). You will see a Label Track created, allowing you to enter a label for the selection. Enter the word just spoken
- Repeat the steps until the entire words are captured
- When completed, go to File, Export Labels… and save the file into your project folder
Before using Kwik:
For the Sync feature, Kwik uses a Flash component in one of its windows. In order to properly use the Flash Color Picker component available in the new Sync window, you need to configure the Flash Security Settings panel. When prompted to do so (if you missed that or you never got the prompt, go to http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager04.html and do it from there), follow the instructions below:
- In the Flash Security Settings panel, go to Global Security Settings tab;
- In the Always trust files in these locations:, select Edit locations… then click Add location…
- Click the Browse for folder… button, then point it to your plugin folder:
- Windows: Program Files->Adobe->Adobe Photoshop->Plugins->Panel->Kwik
- Mac: Applications->Adobe->Adobe Photoshop->Plugins->Panel->Kwik
- Confirm the action
After that, you will be able to pick a color for your highlight audio/text syncing feature.
Using the Sync feature in Kwik 1.7:
With your project opened:
- Select a text layer with the contents that are going to be synced with the text;
- Go to the Toolbox category in Kwik’s menu and click the new Sync audio and text feature;
- The following window appears:
- When checked, Use native system font (do not import external font files) will use a native font from iOS and/or Android system. If disabled, during export you will need to locate the external font file to be imported into your project folder. Kwik will handle the process of importing the font to the build folder, as well as creating all external files needed;
- Font options Padding sets the distance in pixels between words.
- Font options Offset sets the distance in pixels between lines.
- When checked, the Use page Read Me audio file automatically syncs the text with a previously set Read Me audio type file. If unchecked, browse and set an audio file to be synced with the text.
- Kwik reads the content of the text layer and set the words in the table under the Edit words to enter time codes. With the words imported, you will need to inform the start/end time of the word mention into the audio file. Considering you have created and export your audio labels, click the Import from Audacity button (you are also able to manually double-click and enter the data), and the time codes will automatically be pre-populated;
- Text highlighting color sets the color of the word highlight when the audio time code matches the one in the above table. In order to properly work, you must set the Flash Settings as mentioned above.
If you preview your project after this step, you will notice an icon at the left side of your text. This is needed as the button that enables users to repeat the audio sync. In order to remove this button you need to create your own button and attach the new Play Sync action to it.
That’s all folks! After setting Flash component security for the first time and learning how to use Audacity, the next projects will be as easy as click just the Sync feature and Import from Audacity button.
If you like the feature, don’t forget to send a tweet to http://twitter.com/#!/ElectrcEggplant and say thanks to David Fox!