Identify whether the error is global or local
If every caption is shifted by a similar amount, inspect the source/export alignment. If only one phrase is wrong, inspect that section’s cut and text. Do not repeatedly regenerate the entire project when a localized edit caused the mismatch. Keep one known reference sentence so you can compare later changes consistently.
Review cuts that changed duration
Removing a pause or sentence changes the timeline around it. Check the caption immediately before and after the join. A word may still appear over a frame where the speaker has not said it yet, or remain after the context has changed. The error matters even when the spelling is correct.
Prefer readable groups over frantic flashes
Word-by-word emphasis may suit some material, but a viewer still needs time to understand the phrase. Watch at normal speed and phone size. If the text disappears before you can comfortably read it, simplify the treatment or keep a fuller phrase visible. Do not impose an arbitrary universal words-per-second target without considering the material and audience.
Confirm the delivered file
An editor preview and downloaded export can differ in playback conditions. Inspect the actual final file before handoff and keep a record of any remaining uncertainty. If drift persists, preserve the source and a short reproducible description for support. Avoid sending private client footage as a troubleshooting attachment without permission.
Separate playback lag from encoded timing
If timing seems wrong only in one preview, compare the downloaded file in another ordinary compatible player before changing every caption. Record whether the offset is present throughout or grows over time. Those observations make a support request more useful. Do not claim a particular codec or device is the cause without evidence, and do not overwrite the source while testing a different export.
Sources used for this page
These records support the facts and comparisons above. Merchant-controlled records are labelled so you can separate product claims from independent evidence.
- Submagic documented editing workflow — Merchant documentation · care.submagic.co · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-25