User Guide

Getting Started

Welcome to Real Life Subtitles! This guide will help you get up and running in minutes.

Installation

1. Download Real Life Subtitles from the App Store
2. Open the app on your iPhone or iPad
3. Grant microphone access when prompted
4. You're ready to start captioning!

Your First Caption Session

1. Select Your Language: Tap the language dropdown at the top to choose your speaking language
2. Press Record: Tap the large record button to start capturing audio
3. Start Speaking: Your words will appear as captions in real-time
4. Stop When Done: Tap the stop button to end your session

Understanding the Interface

• Caption Viewport: Main area where captions appear in real-time
• Control Strip: Record/pause/stop controls and timer
• Language Selector: Choose your input language with country flags
• Quick Adjust Card: Rapid access to size, bold, and background plate toggles
• Settings Button: Access full settings and customization options
• Help Button: Quick access to in-app help and guides

Live Captions

Real-time speech-to-text transcription with industry-leading accuracy.

How It Works

Real Life Subtitles uses Apple's advanced Speech Recognition framework to convert your speech into text with minimal latency. The system analyzes audio in real-time and displays captions as you speak.

Selecting Languages

We support over 50 languages and dialects:

• English: US, UK, Australian, Canadian, Indian, and more
• European: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian
• Asian: Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Korean, Thai, Vietnamese
• Middle Eastern: Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish
• And many more!

Changing Language Mid-Session

You can switch languages at any time:

1. Tap the language dropdown (shows country flag)
2. Select your new language from the list
3. Continue speaking - the new language takes effect immediately

Caption Display

Captions appear with automatic word-wrapping and smooth scrolling. Recent text stays visible while older captions scroll up naturally.

Free vs Pro

Free users get a daily quota of caption minutes - perfect for occasional use or trying out the app.

Pro users get unlimited caption sessions with no daily limits.

Full Screen Mode

Maximize captions for your audience with optimized landscape display.

Entering Full Screen

Tap the expand icon in the top-right corner of the caption viewport. Your device will automatically rotate to landscape orientation.

Full Screen Features

• Optimized Layout: Large, centered text for maximum visibility
• Auto-Scrolling: Captions scroll automatically as you speak
• Clean Interface: Controls fade away to keep focus on captions
• Custom Styling: All your caption style preferences apply in full screen

Exiting Full Screen

Tap anywhere on the screen to show controls, then tap the minimize icon. Your device returns to portrait orientation.

Best Practices

• Use full screen when presenting to an audience
• Position your device where everyone can see it clearly
• Adjust text size beforehand using the quick adjust controls
• Enable background plate for better readability in bright environments

Live TranslationPRO

Break language barriers with real-time AI-powered translation.

How Translation Works

Pro users can speak in one language and display captions in another. The app transcribes your speech, then uses OpenAI's advanced translation technology to convert it to your target language in real-time.

Setting Up Translation

1. Open Settings from the main screen
2. Navigate to Translation section
3. Toggle "Enable Translation" ON
4. Select your Input Language (what you'll speak)
5. Select your Output Language (what captions will display)
6. Save and return to the main screen

Supported Languages

Translation works between any combination of our 50+ supported languages, including:

• English ↔ Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
• English ↔ Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic
• Spanish ↔ French, German, Italian, Portuguese
• And thousands more language pairs!

Translation Quality

Translation accuracy depends on several factors:

• Audio Quality: Clear speech produces better transcriptions
• Language Pair: Common language pairs (e.g., English-Spanish) have higher accuracy
• Context: Simple, clear sentences translate more accurately than complex idioms

Use Cases

• International Business: Present in English while displaying Spanish captions for your team
• Language Learning: Practice speaking while seeing translations in your target language
• Multilingual Events: Make conferences accessible to attendees who speak different languages
• Content Creation: Create subtitles in multiple languages for videos

Caption Styling

Customize caption appearance for any situation.

Quick Adjust Controls

Available to all users, these controls provide rapid access to common styling options:

• Size Slider: Adjust text size from small to extra large
• Bold Toggle: Make text bold for emphasis
• Plate Toggle: Add a semi-transparent background behind text

Advanced StylingPRO

Pro users unlock complete styling control in Settings:

Typography

• Font Family: Choose from System, Rounded, Serif, and Monospace
• Font Size: Precise control from 12pt to 72pt
• Font Weight: Light, Regular, Medium, Semibold, Bold, Heavy
• Text Alignment: Left, Center, Right

Colors

• Text Color: Full color picker with presets
• Background Color: Choose plate color and opacity
• Contrast Checking: Automatic warnings if text is hard to read

Effects

• Text Outline: Add colored outlines around text
• Drop Shadow: Create depth with customizable shadows
• Background Style: None, Plate, Rounded Plate, Pill

Position & Spacing

• Vertical Position: Top, Middle, Bottom
• Padding: Control space around text
• Line Spacing: Adjust space between lines

Accessibility Considerations

When styling captions for accessibility:

• Use high contrast color combinations (white on black, yellow on dark blue)
• Choose larger font sizes (at least 24pt for audiences)
• Enable background plates to ensure readability in any lighting
• Avoid decorative fonts - stick to System or Rounded for clarity

Session HistoryPRO

Never lose a transcription - save, organize, and export everything.

Auto-Save

Pro users enjoy automatic session saving. Every caption session is saved with:

• Complete transcript with timestamps
• Session duration and date
• Language used
• All metadata and settings

Viewing History

1. Open Settings from the main screen
2. Tap Session History
3. Browse your saved sessions sorted by date
4. Tap any session to view the full transcript

Managing Sessions

• Star Important Sessions: Tap the star icon to mark sessions for quick access
• Search: Find sessions by searching transcript content
• Delete: Swipe left on any session to delete
• Filter: View all sessions or only starred ones

Exporting Sessions

Export your transcripts in multiple formats:

TXT (Plain Text)

• Simple text file with your transcript
• Compatible with any text editor
• Available to Free users (current session only)

SRT (SubRip)

• Industry-standard subtitle format
• Includes timestamps
• Compatible with video editors, players, and YouTube
• Pro users only

VTT (WebVTT)

• Modern web subtitle format
• Supports styling and positioning
• Perfect for HTML5 video and web content
• Pro users only

Exporting Process

1. Open Session History and select a session
2. Tap the Share icon
3. Choose your export format (TXT, SRT, or VTT)
4. Select where to share: Messages, Mail, Files, or other apps

Settings

Fine-tune every aspect to match your workflow.

Audio Settings

• Microphone Sensitivity: Adjust how sensitive the app is to your voice
• Profanity Filter: Automatically censor profane words in captions
• Prevent Screen Sleep: Keep your screen on during recording sessions

Caption Settings

• Default Language: Set your preferred starting language
• Auto-Capitalize: Automatically capitalize sentence beginnings
• Show Timestamps: Display time markers in captions

Accessibility

• Large Buttons: Make all interface buttons bigger
• Reduced Motion: Minimize animations for users sensitive to motion
• Tap to Pause: Pause recording by tapping the caption viewport
• Haptic Feedback: Enable vibration feedback for button presses
• High Contrast Mode: Increase contrast for better visibility

Export SettingsPRO

• Default Export Format: Choose TXT, SRT, or VTT as default
• Include Metadata: Add session info to exported files
• iCloud Backup: Automatically backup sessions to iCloud (coming soon)

Subscription Management

View your current plan and manage your subscription:

• Current Plan: See if you're on Free, Pro Weekly, or Pro Lifetime
• Usage Stats: Track your caption minutes (Free users)
• Upgrade: Quick access to upgrade to Pro
• Manage Subscription: Change or cancel your plan through iOS Settings

Pro Features

Unlock the full power of Real Life Subtitles with Pro.

What's Included in Pro

Unlimited Caption Sessions

No daily limits. Create as many caption sessions as you need, whenever you need them. Perfect for professionals who rely on captions throughout the day.

Live Translation

Speak in one language, display captions in another. Powered by OpenAI's advanced AI, supporting translation between any of our 50+ languages.

Advanced Caption Styling

Complete control over typography, colors, effects, positioning, and more. Create the perfect look for any scenario.

Session History

Every session automatically saved with full transcripts, timestamps, and metadata. Never lose a transcription again.

Professional Export Formats

Export to SRT and VTT formats for use in video editors like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, and DaVinci Resolve.

Priority Support

Get faster response times and dedicated assistance from our support team via email.

All Future Updates

Upcoming features like iCloud sync, team collaboration, and more export formats - all included with Pro.

Choosing Your Pro Plan

Pro Weekly - $4.99/week

Best for: Users who need flexibility or want to try Pro long-term

• 7-day free trial
• Cancel anytime
• Perfect for project-based work

Pro Lifetime - $49.99 one-time

Best for: Regular users who want the best value

• One-time payment, no recurring fees
• Lifetime access to all Pro features
• All future updates included
• Saves $260/year vs Weekly

Upgrading to Pro

1. Tap the Upgrade button when you reach your free limit
2. Or access from Settings → Subscription → Upgrade to Pro
3. Review the Pro plans and choose what's right for you
4. Complete purchase through the App Store
5. Pro features activate immediately!

Managing Your Subscription

To change or cancel your Pro Weekly subscription:

1. Open iOS Settings
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Tap Subscriptions
4. Select Real Life Subtitles
5. Cancel or change your plan

Your Pro access continues until the end of your current billing period.

Tips & Tricks

Expert advice to get the most out of Real Life Subtitles.

Improving Accuracy

• Speak Clearly: Enunciate words without over-pronouncing
• Find Quiet Spaces: Minimize background noise when possible
• Position Your Device: Keep your iPhone/iPad within 3 feet of your mouth
• Use a Microphone: External mics (like AirPods) can improve accuracy
• Pause Between Sentences: Brief pauses help the system process complete thoughts

Presentation Pro Tips

• Test Before You Present: Do a practice run to check caption accuracy
• Adjust Text Size: Make sure captions are visible from the back row
• Use Full Screen Mode: Maximize caption visibility in landscape
• Enable Background Plate: Ensures readability on any background
• Connect to a Projector: AirPlay your screen to display captions large

Translation Best Practices

• Speak in Complete Sentences: Gives AI better context for translation
• Avoid Idioms and Slang: These don't translate well between languages
• Speak at Moderate Speed: Too fast can reduce transcription accuracy
• Use Simple Grammar: Clear, direct sentences translate more accurately

Content Creation Workflow

1. Record Your Video: Capture your video content normally
2. Play Audio Through Speakers: Play your video audio
3. Caption with Real Life Subtitles: The app transcribes the audio
4. Export as SRT/VTT: Save the captions file (Pro only)
5. Import to Video Editor: Add captions to your video project
6. Fine-Tune and Export: Adjust timing if needed and export final video

Battery Saving Tips

• Reduce Screen Brightness: Lower brightness when not presenting
• Close Other Apps: Free up system resources
• Disable Translation When Not Needed: Translation uses more processing power
• Use Low Power Mode: iOS Low Power Mode still works with the app

Keyboard Shortcuts (iPad with Keyboard)

• Space: Start/pause recording
• Esc: Stop recording
• Cmd+F: Enter full screen mode
• Cmd+,: Open settings

Troubleshooting

Solutions to common issues and questions.

No Audio / Captions Not Appearing

Solution:

1. Check that you've granted microphone permission: Settings → Privacy → Microphone → Real Life Subtitles (ON)
2. Make sure you're not in Silent Mode (check the physical switch on your iPhone)
3. Restart the app completely (swipe up and close, then reopen)
4. Check if another app is using the microphone (close other audio apps)

Poor Caption Accuracy

Solutions:

• Ensure you've selected the correct language for your speech
• Move to a quieter environment if possible
• Speak more clearly without rushing
• Check that your microphone isn't covered or blocked
• Try using an external microphone (like AirPods)

Translation Not Working

Solutions:

1. Verify you have an active internet connection (translation requires internet)
2. Check that you're a Pro user (translation is a Pro feature)
3. Ensure translation is enabled in Settings → Translation
4. Confirm input and output languages are different
5. Try restarting the app

App Crashes or Freezes

Solutions:

1. Update to the latest version from the App Store
2. Restart your device
3. Free up storage space (app needs space for processing)
4. If issue persists, delete and reinstall the app (your purchases are saved)

Can't Export Sessions

Solutions:

• Verify you're a Pro user for SRT/VTT export
• Check that you have storage space available
• Try exporting to Files app first, then share from there
• Ensure you have internet connection if sharing via email/messaging

Subscription Issues

For purchase problems:

1. Verify you're signed into the correct Apple ID
2. Check iOS Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions to see if subscription is active
3. Try "Restore Purchases" in Settings → Subscription
4. Restart the app to refresh subscription status

For refunds:

1. Open the App Store app
2. Tap your profile icon → Purchase History
3. Find Real Life Subtitles and tap "Report a Problem"
4. Follow Apple's refund request process

Full Screen Issues

Solutions:

• Ensure Rotation Lock is OFF (swipe down from top-right, check lock icon)
• Try rotating your device manually after tapping full screen
• Exit and re-enter full screen mode

Still Need Help?

If you're still experiencing issues:

• Free Users: Visit our community support
• Pro Users: Email support@reallifesubtitles.com for priority assistance
• Include: iOS version, app version, detailed description of the issue, and steps to reproduce