Sunday, 7 April 2024

The Easiest Way to Get YouTube to Auto-Sync Your Video Script

Easiest Way to Auto-Sync Captions on YouTube - cyan background with a screen grab of the YouTube captions screen over top

Auto-Syncing Subtitles on YouTube

Subtitles are things that are often overlooked on YouTube vids, and as good as AI is getting at creating auto-generated subtitles for vids, there is nothing quite like having personally uploaded, accurate ones for quality control.

However, I have found they can be a little tricky, and doing them manually by hand takes forever!

One way of doing this is paying a company to create a subtitle file from your video and just uploading this. However, for those of us on a budget, this is often a cost we simply cannot afford.

Luckily, YouTube offers great tools to help us out.

The most useful of these for me, is the Auto-Sync option.

Below I'm going to share the most useful tip I have discovered on how to get this option to work quickly and exactly how I want every time.

What you will need to use this method:

  • the script of your video
  • YouTube Studio

Method for Flawless Auto-Sync Subtitles


Preformat the script file:
  1. Open your script file in the word processor of your choice - as long as it has a search and replace option.
  2. Add a new paragraph at every point you definitely want a new subtitle - YouTube will auto break longer paragraphs, but it can be very random how it does it and sometimes with large scripts it fails.
  3. This is the important step - search and replace all single paragraph marks with two paragraph marks so paragraphs have a space between them. This will make auto-syncing work like a charm because it will take each paragraph as its own subtitle and has to do way less work.
Inputting the Subtitles:
  1. Open your uploaded video in YouTube Studio and click the subtitles option.
    Image of YouTube Studio open on a single video
  2. Choose the Auto-Sync option.
    YouTube Studio Subtitles dialog with red arrow pointing to the Auto-sync option

  3. Copy and paste the double spaced script into the Auto-sync box and wait while the AI automatically syncs the subtitles to the sound in your video. It should only take a little while (this varies on what time of day it is and how busy the system is).

What to Do If the Auto-Sync Fails


Occasionally the auto-sync fails - it just hangs and never manages to create the subtitles correctly or gives the message "Auto-sync is taking longer than usual" and still never gets there. I have found there are usually one of two reasons for this:
  1. The video has not finished the checking process. In that case I close the subtitle window using the X and choose the "discard changes" option. This means we can start the process over again once the checking of the vid is done and the processes won't interfere with each other.
  2. It's a large script file and it just can't do it. I use the same method of leaving and discarding changes, then I check my file to make script file to make sure there's nothing in it that could be pasting in incorrectly and try again. It usually works the second time.

What to Do If There Are Existing Subtitles and Auto-Sync is Not There


If there are already subtitles on the vid but we wish to add a whole new set, either because they are incorrect or incomplete, we need to first remove the existing subtitles before we can use the Auto-Sync option.

Hence we need to open the subtitles window as usual and choose the clear subtitles option. There are three vertical dots next to the EDIT AS TEXT option at the top of the subtitles screen. Click this and a drop down will appear with the "Clear Subtitles" option. This will delete all subtitles on the vid, so as a precaution, I would download the subtitles first from the same menu. Then if you decide you want them back again for any reason you can just reupload the file.
YouTube Studio Subtitles dialog with a red arrow pointing at the clear subtitles option.


Once I discovered the double spacing the paragraphs trick I have not had a subtitle set fail to sync correctly, whereas before it could be a bit hit and miss. I use it for my shorts and my long form and I hope this info will be able to help someone else out if they are having problems.

If you have tips for dealing with some of YouTube's quirks, I would love to hear them in the comments.



Check Out My Fiction YouTube Channel

Tales with Tasha - YouTube

Each week we have a theme and so there will be something for all tastes.
  • 🎤Micro stories and jokes for all the family as YouTube Shorts Monday - Sunday- for fun quick viewing
  • 🕮A longer story every now and then for story time, over coffee or before going to bed

Tasha's Social Media

📚Join My Newsletter📚


Receive 2 FREE eBooks just for signing up and a free short story once every month on Free Fiction Friday.


Two books covers - one with a woman firing guns above the title "Assassin's Blood" the other with a woman screaming and glowing with the title "Curse of a Banshee"

List hosted on MailChimp, information will only be used for Newsletter contact, and we do not send spam.

Sunday, 25 February 2024

Delicious! Stuffed Potato & Parmesan Waffles

Delicious! Stuffed Potato and Parmesan Waffles - picture of a stuffed waffle on a plate with a cheese pull in front of a dark background.

Stuffed Potato & Parmesan Waffles

Gluten Free & Vegetarian

This is a partial repost, but also an updated recipe from back in 2020. The original recipe is for plain potato & parmesan waffles, but my lovely twin just gifted me and my hubby a stuffed waffle iron, so of course we had to try it out. These are so very delicious, I had to share.

As I mentioned, the original recipe is based off of Nigella's Garlic & Parmesan waffles from her book, "At My Table". This is just a different take on the recipe, with a stuffing of red peppers and mozzarella.

Makes 3x 5''(12.7cm) waffles

A serving for me was 1 waffle, but my husband ate 2 easily, so scale up to fit your needs

Ingredients

For the waffle batter (Gluten Free)
  • 400g / 2 cups mashed potato (left over mash works well, or I used cooked frozen mash this time)
  • 4 tbsp (60ml) butter
  • 8 tbsp (120ml) milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 45g/ ~3/8cup finely grated Parmesan (or hard Italian cheese vegetarian equiv)
  • 4 tbsp cornflour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp Dried Rosemary (I like the grind it in a pestle and mortar or spice grinder to make it distribute better and release its flavour)
  • salt & pepper to taste
For the stuffing
  • half a ball of mozzarella (vegetarians check the packet to make sure you have a veggie version)
  • half a large red pepper (capsicum) - I use jarred roasted peppers (I hate the skin on fresh ones), but if you are using fresh you will need to fry the peppers off before use, unless you want crunchy almost raw pepper in your waffle - which is an option for a texture change.

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter (I microwave it for 30s then stir until completely melted, but you can do it in a saucepan) and leave to stand to cool down.
  2. Preheat the waffle iron.
  3. Prepare the filling by chopping the mozzarella and pepper into small pieces.
  4. Microwave your mash if using frozen or allow to come to room temp if using leftovers, and, using a fork or something similar, break up the mash so that it is light pieces, not one lump.
  5. In a large bowl whisk together the cooled butter, eggs and milk.
  6. Add in the potato a little at a time, whisking it in each time. I used a flat manual whisk, but you could use an electric hand whisk, or a bowl mixer if you prefer.
  7. Add the Parmesan, cornflour, baking powder, rosemary, salt and pepper and beat until smooth(ish).
  8. Lightly oil the waffle iron.
  9. Place a few spoonfuls of batter in the bottom of the waffle iron - enough to just cover the raised areas. After a couple of second it will begin to puff up a little.
  10. Take 1/3rd of the filling and place in the centre of the waffle batter, leaving half a cm or so around the edge.
  11. Carefully spoon batter over the filling, sealing it in and filling the waffle iron to a little over 3/4 full.
  12. Close the waffle iron, invert it, and cook for about 7 mins total or until golden brown - different waffle makers will vary. After 7min check the cook and let it go a little longer if necessary.
  13. Tip out of the waffle from the maker onto a plate (I discovered tipping was way easier than trying to lever it out with a spatula - just be careful not to burn yourself).
  14. If making lots, pop the cooked ones in a low oven until ready to eat.

Depending what meal we are making these for, they go well with eggs or some suitable veg on the side (I imagine garlic roasted tender stem broccoli would be amazing). A piquant sauce on the side is also a nice flavour combo (Sauce Shop Honey Chipotle BBQ sauce is what I had with mine where as Rob ate his without anything on the side).

Stuffed Potato and Parmesan Waffles on a grey plate, with a cheese pull.

This is a very versatile recipe, so if you don't like the amount of cheese or want to use a different herb/spice, just go ahead and play. It one to have fun with.

Check Out My Fiction YouTube Channel

Tales with Tasha - YouTube

Each week we have a theme and so there will be something for all tastes.
  • 🎤Micro stories and/or silly jokes as YouTube Shorts Monday - Sunday- for fun quick viewing
  • 🕮A longer story every now and then for story time, over coffee or before going to bed

Tasha's Social Media

📚Join My Newsletter📚


Receive 2 FREE eBooks just for signing up and a free short story once every month on Free Fiction Friday.


Two books covers - one with a woman firing guns above the title "Assassin's Blood" the other with a woman screaming and glowing with the title "Curse of a Banshee"

List hosted on MailChimp, information will only be used for Newsletter contact, and we do not send spam.

Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Free Spine Tingling Horror Book for Halloween + Listen to it on YouTube Too!

Mirror Mirror: A Haunting Tale of Horror in front of a dark background with dark tendrils and cyan light coming through. Also a book cover with a women looking in a mirror and a shadow creature looking back.

Free Horror Book for Halloween

Happy Halloween one and all.

As has become a tradition for me and Soph at Wittegen Press, we like to give away a free book for Halloween (link and instructions at the bottom). It started when we heard about Neil Gaiman's All Hallows Read way back in 2012, where the idea is to give books as a Halloween treat.

Soph and I created eBooks to give away from 2012 to 2021. We took a little break in 2022 for family reasons, but now I am back to continue the tradition!👻 (Soph's been too busy at work this year to join in, poor thing - hopefully she'll have more time next Halloween).

This year the book is called Mirror Mirror: A Haunting Tale of Horror, which is the first story, and it also contains The Crosses We Bear.

A chill runs down your spine as you enter your refurbished home in Mirror Mirror. Little do you know that glancing in a mirror will spell doom for you. 

In The Crosses We Bear, meet Lyle and Susan, two ad executives who are about to discover that a remote Scottish hotel is only the beginning of their terrifying journey. Follow their story of facing terrible things in the dark as they confront the horror they find.

I also decided it would be fun to read Mirror Mirror over on my YouTube channel. I hope I come off as sufficiently spine tingling 😱 - although not too creepy or YouTube will bury my vid 😉.

The book is available from all the usual eBook sites, but to get it FREE you need to pop to Smashwords - and use this coupon code on checkout: HA85H

The offer is valid until 01 Dec 2023 - so grab your copy before it runs out.

🎃Please be aware the stories this year are not kid friendly - they are for older trick or treaters who enjoy a bit of horror.🎃

I do love writing a bit of dark horror from time to time. It balances out my usual desperate need for a happy ending I suppose 😉. Hope you enjoy the stories and have a fabulous Halloween.

If you are looking for more spooky horror, all the previous years books can be found here.



Check Out My Fiction YouTube Channel

Tales with Tasha - YouTube

Each week we have a theme and so there will be something for all tastes.
  • 🎤Micro stories as YouTube Shorts Monday - Sunday- for fun quick viewing
  • 🕮A longer story every now and then for story time, over coffee or before going to bed

Tasha's Social Media

📚Join My Newsletter📚


Receive 2 FREE eBooks just for signing up and a free short story once every month on Free Fiction Friday.


Two books covers - one with a woman firing guns above the title "Assassin's Blood" the other with a woman screaming and glowing with the title "Curse of a Banshee"

List hosted on MailChimp, information will only be used for Newsletter contact, and we do not send spam.

Saturday, 23 September 2023

Exciting Paranormal Murder Mystery to watch & download for free!

Survival of the Fittest: Werewolves & Witches & More - book cover with a female sheriff and gold lightning over a white background with more gold lightning.

Survival of the Fittest

I am celebrating my 100th week on YouTube and hence have created a longer story vid as well as all my shorts this week. It’s a paranormal murder mystery. Enjoy!


Watch to the end to find out how to get a free copy of the eBook too.

Survival of the Fittest: Werewolves & Witches & More


On the surface, a quiet sleepy town, but it has ancient and deep secrets. Lil, the sheriff of this small, supernatural backwater, is the only thing standing between the cheerfully oblivious humans and the powerful supernatural beings that live alongside them. When a body washes up on the shore of the lake, Lil must face off against the supernatural conflict that threatens to tear her town apart. With the stakes higher than ever, can Lil uncover the truth and solve the murder of the werewolves’ alpha before it’s too late?

Also available to buy from Amazon, Smashwords & Others.

Amazon Kindle Smashwords Apple Books Kobo Nook


Check Out My Fiction YouTube Channel

Tales with Tasha - YouTube

Each week we have a theme and so there will be something for all tastes.
  • 🎤Micro stories as YouTube Shorts Monday - Sunday along with jokes and parody movie reactions - for fun quick viewing
  • 🕮A longer story every now and then for story time, over coffee or before going to bed

Tasha's Social Media

📚Join My Newsletter📚


Receive 2 FREE eBooks just for signing up and a free short story once every month on Free Fiction Friday.


Two books covers - one with a woman firing guns above the title "Assassin's Blood" the other with a woman screaming and glowing with the title "Curse of a Banshee"

List hosted on MailChimp, information will only be used for Newsletter contact, and we do not send spam.

Tuesday, 8 August 2023

Short Narrated Stories - Funny Fantasy - Tales with Tasha wk93

Purple lightning over a white background, snooty looking yellow and gold dragon with one eyebrow raised, Tales with Tasha - week 93 - Funny Fantasy

Tales with Tasha Week 93
Funny Fantasy

Last week at Tales with Tasha the aim was to make everyone smile with Fantasy Comedy Stories. Mostly I was in a mood for cute magical creatures and these are the shorts I came up with.

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy them.🥰

Defender of the Weak?

Some critter are not quite what they appear to be - this can be a good thing.


Pet Pet Pet

Dignity and diplomacy are not always viable bedfellows...


WARNING! Don't Touch!

When it comes to a witch's familiar there are certain expectations.


Protect The Puppy!

It's not your fault you didn't know he was a werewolf!


No! Bad Boy!

Dragon Whisperer, yeah right, more like glorified babysitter!


Don't Be DECEIVED!

Don't pet the unknown magical creature, even if it is cute!


Save Me NOW!

Outed by a unicorn!




Check Out My Fiction YouTube Channel

Tales with Tasha - YouTube

Each week we have a theme and so there will be something for all tastes.
  • 🎤Micro stories as YouTube Shorts Monday - Sunday - for fun quick viewing
  • 🕮A longer story every now and then - for story time, over coffee or before going to bed

Tasha's Social Media

📚Join My Newsletter📚


Receive 2 FREE eBooks just for signing up and a free short story once every month on Free Fiction Friday.


Two books covers - one with a woman firing guns above the title "Assassin's Blood" the other with a woman screaming and glowing with the title "Curse of a Banshee"

List hosted on MailChimp, information will only be used for Newsletter contact, and we do not send spam.

Thursday, 3 August 2023

Free Fiction Friday July 23 (a little late)

Young man in modern day clothes, looking right, with a purple electrical storm behind him. Words: Natasha Duncan-Drake Mages: Magic & Mayhem, a Contemporary Fantasy Short Story

Free Short Story

Mages: Magic & Mayhem

Young man in modern day clothes, looking right, with a purple electrical storm behind him. Words: Natasha Duncan-Drake Mages: Magic & Mayhem, a Contemporary Fantasy Short Story

Join Dante, a rising actor, as he is suddenly thrust into a world of magic while taking a much-needed break from the pressures of his career. Unprepared for the dangers and secrets that come with it, he is faced with a mage in his debt and newfound knowledge he does not know how to deal with.

Dante must navigate a turbulent underworld full of power and possibility. Will Dante be able to survive in a world where magic is now part of his life and more powerful than ever?


Free to all the subscribers of my newsletter (no spam, I promise), in fact, at the moment, mostly just the free fiction emails 🥰.

Go here to sign up and the details of how to get your free copy are in the final welcome email.

If you would just like to pick up a copy it is 99c and available from:
(more coming soon)



Check Out My Fiction YouTube Channel

Tales with Tasha - YouTube

Each week we have a theme and so there will be something for all tastes.
  • 🎤Micro stories as YouTube Shorts Monday - Sunday- for fun quick viewing
  • 🕮The occasional longer story perfect for story time, over coffee or before going to bed

Tasha's Social Media

📚Join My Newsletter📚


Receive 2 FREE eBooks just for signing up and a free short story once every month on Free Fiction Friday.


Two books covers - one with a woman firing guns above the title "Assassin's Blood" the other with a woman screaming and glowing with the title "Curse of a Banshee"

List hosted on MailChimp, information will only be used for Newsletter contact, and we do not send spam.