Minbar Caption Documentation

Minbar Caption is a desktop video editor for lectures, khutbahs, reminders, podcasts, poetry and nasheeds. Import an audio or video file, generate timed subtitles, add translations, style the result, and export — ready for YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram. No video editing experience required.

This guide covers the Windows, macOS and Linux desktop interface.

The production workflow

Every project follows the same five steps, mirrored in the editor's tabs:

1. Media — import the recording (audio or video) and place it on the timeline in the Video editor.
2. Subtitles — create and align the transcript subtitles with the recording, manually or with AI, in the Subtitles editor.
3. Translations — optionally add one or more translations and adapt them to each spoken passage in the Translations tab.
4. Style — apply a ready-made preset or customize every visual detail in the Style editor.
5. Export — render the final video, subtitles, YouTube chapters, or project package in the Export tab.

The editor at a glance

Once a project is open, five tabs organize the whole workflow:

• Video editor — manage assets, download media, and build the timeline.
• Subtitles editor — caption the recording word by word or with AI.
• Translations — add, review, and refine translations.
• Style — browse presets and customize typography, layout, and effects.
• Export — configure and launch your exports.

AI-powered features

Minbar Caption ships with a family of AI tools that remove the manual work where you want it gone:

• Transcription — automatically detect spoken text and subtitle boundaries and word-by-word timings from a recording. Review the generated subtitles before exporting.
• AI translation assistants — trimming, review, bolding, and word-by-word translation mapping.
• Text AI - correct transcripts, rearrange subtitles, detect references, and translate speech.

Where to start

• New to Minbar Caption? Start with Download & Installation.
• Already installed? Jump to Getting started.
• Want to understand the AI pipeline? See Transcription.

Getting help

If the written guide does not cover your case, join the Discord community or inspect the GitHub repository.