The speed of subtitle narration is adjusted automatically so that it fits from the start of each subtitle until just before the next subtitle begins (for the last subtitle in a step, until the end of that subtitle). If there is a shape still within that span, the still time is included in the length. If the sentence is long for that length, the speed goes up and it sounds rapid. If it is hard to follow, review the following in order.

Reference: Subtitles and text read-aloud

Find subtitles that are too fast

You can check which subtitles are too fast in the Subtitle list of the video editor. Press [Check narration speed], and subtitles whose narration does not fit will show “Fast ○x.” If there are no fast subtitles, a message to that effect is shown. Even if you change the subtitle timing or a shape's still after checking, the display updates right away. For subtitles whose Step text you have rewritten, check them again.

The multiplier shown is the speed when the shape still time is also used for narration (see “Fix 3: Add a shape still within the step” below). Subtitles that can be read fully within the still time are not counted as too fast.

Fix 1: Leave a gap before the next subtitle

This is the most reliable method. Move the start of the next subtitle later to secure the length that can be used for narration.

Narration uses the time up to just before the next subtitle starts. So, even if you extend only the end of a subtitle, the speed does not change unless the start of the next subtitle changes. For the last subtitle in a step, narration can use the time up to the end of that subtitle, so extend the end of the subtitle later.

Fix 2: Split the sentence into shorter parts

If one subtitle contains several sentences, all of them must be read within that one time slot. If you split subtitles by sentence, each sentence gets its own time slot, so it does not get crowded.

If you have already written the step text, choose [Create subtitles] in the Subtitle list of the video editor, then choose [From the step text]. This creates subtitles in which the text is split by sentence and assigned to the sections of the step. If the step is only one, you can also create them from the button in the Text pane. Because the text is not crammed into one time slot, the subtitles are less likely to sound too fast.

Fix 3: Add a shape still within the step

When you insert a shape (such as an arrow, circle, or spotlight), a “Still Duration” is added that pauses the video at that position. Narration does not stop during the still and keeps going. The still time is also counted as time to read that subtitle, and the narration audio is generated accordingly, so the rapid speech eases by that much.

Subtitles that were crammed are read more slowly by the length of the still time, and the longer the still, the closer the speed gets to normal (it never becomes slower than normal). Place the shape while the subtitle that is too fast is on screen (until just before the next subtitle begins). If you place a shape where you want to draw attention to a caution, you also secure room for narration at the same time.

Reference: Change the “Still Duration” when inserting a shape (how many seconds to pause during playback)

Fix 4: Switch to text read-aloud

If the Step split is short and you cannot shorten the sentence or adjust the time slot, you can use text read-aloud instead of subtitle narration. Text read-aloud is not synced with the video, so no speed adjustment is applied and it is read at normal speed. The video keeps repeating until the narration finishes.

You switch between [Description] and [Subtitles] using [Narration target], which is in the Audio settings that appear when you select a step in the video editor. Since this is set per step, you can also set only the steps that sound too fast to [Description]. The default for creating an SOP from material can be specified in “Step conversion settings.”

How to apply this to existing SOPs

The behavior of using the still time for narration also applies to SOPs that have already been created. For steps where a shape still falls within the subtitle narration range, the narration audio is recreated automatically the next time you open the SOP online. On a device where the SOP was saved offline, the previous audio plays until you open it online again.

Adjustments to the speed and volume of the narration audio itself take effect from the point when the audio is recreated. Operations such as rewriting and saving subtitles, adding a shape still or changing its length, changing the Original language, registering in the Pronunciation Dictionary, and running Bulk replace on text will recreate the audio. Audio created earlier plays in its existing state until it is recreated.