The Start Page

When you open SyncDepo and log in, you will be presented with the start page. From here you can create a new synced deposition, open an existing one, view your sync queue, or exit the program.

The start page

Creating a New Synced Deposition

To create a new synced deposition, click the "New Sync" button on the start page.

Start by clicking the "Choose File" button and select a txt transcript file from your computer.

new sync page screenshot

A note on transcript formats

Syncdepo accepts standard legal transcripts in ASCII TXT format. Lines must be numbered, and any extra information in margins (timestamps, etc.) should be removed.

Once you have selected a transcript, the transcript will appear in the righthand side, in the preview area. A number of fields will appear to the left of the preview. SyncDepo will attempt to automatically detect the witness name and fill out the name fields for you. The rest of the fields must be filled out before the sync can be created.

new sync page screenshot

Warning

It is very important to double check the "Line #'s Start at Page" and "Lines per Page" fields. If these fields are incorrect, the final sync file will also be incorrect. Choose the first page with line numbers (even if it is a cover page or table of contents). Lines per page must correspond with the number of the last numbered line on each page, which is most commonly 25 or 22. It is good practice to check the preview to see if the page and line numbers matche the original TXT file.

Video Format

SyncDepo only accepts mp4 video files. If a deposition has multiple video files, you must combine them into one mp4 video file before syncing. Handbrake or ffmpeg are free and easy to use tools to get your video files into the correct format.

When you are ready, click the "Continue" button. A confirmation dialog will appear. Once you click "Confirm" the transcript and audio will be uploaded to SyncDepo's servers, and the sync will begin. Hours will be debited from your account when you press "Confirm", so make sure your transcript looks correct in the preview.

new sync page screenshot

Sync Queue

The sync queue

When a depo is submitted for syncing, it will appear in the sync queue. The sync queue shows the status of each sync. A status of "Queued" means that the sync is waiting to be processed. A status of "Syncing" means that the sync is currently being processed. A status of "Complete" means that the sync is finished and ready to be downloaded. A status of "Error" means that there was an error during the sync process. If you see an error, please contact SyncDepo support.

Once your sync is submitted, you are free to close the application, and syncing will continue on our servers. When the sync is complete, it will be available for download. Syncs normally complete within 5 minutes. Once a sync is complete, you can download the SyncDepo sync file. This file contains the transcript and the timings for each line. Save this file to your computer. After downloading, the sync will automatically open the sync file in the sync editor.


Editing Sync Timings

To view a sync and edit the timestamps, click the "Open Sync" button and browse to the '.syncd' file you wish to open. When you open a sync, SyncDepo will attempt to find the video file you originally submitted. If the path has changed, you can remap the video path by clicking the "Choose file" button.

Warning

SyncDepo will not be able to find the video file if it has been moved or renamed. If you move or rename the video file, you must remap the video path. Syncdepo does not not store your video files on our servers, and we will not be able to recover your video file if you delete it.

To check a line for accuracy, click the line in the transcript viewer on the right side of the window. The video will automatically seek to the corresponding timestamp. You can press play on the video to see if the timing is correct. If the timing is off, you can adjust the timing of the selected line by clicking adjustment buttons below the video. Clicking each button will alter the timestamp for the selected line by the selected value. As the video plays, the current line will be highlighted in yellow in the transcript viewer.

Manual Mode

You can also adjust the timing of multiple lines by entering Manual Mode. In manual mode, listen to the deposition and press the "." (period) key on your keyboard when you hear the end of each line. The current time will be stamped on the next line.

Exporting Sync Files

Once you have finished editing the sync, you can export the sync file. Click the "Export" button to select which format you wish to export. SyncDepo supports the following export formats:

Format File Extension Description
Subtitle .srt Standard Subtitle file for use in most media players.
OnCue .xml For use with OnCue trial presentation software
TrialDirector 360 .dvt For use with TrialDirector 360 trial presentation software
Timestamped Plaintext .txt Standard ASCII text file with timestamps on margin
SyncDepo Viewer Package (Folder) Includes all of the above files as well as an easy to use browser-based viewer program for attorneys to review the deposition

Once you have selected an export format, click "Export" to save the file to your computer. If you selected the "SyncDepo Package Folder" format, you will be prompted to select a folder to save the package to.


The SyncDepo Viewer

SyncDepo allows you to export a distributable package folder, which includes all sync files, the video file, and a browser-based viewer program. You can send this folder to attorneys for them to review their deposition video. Below is a screenshot of the package contents:

The Viewer program is a simple HTML page that can be opened in any modern web browser. To open the viewer, double click on the Viewer.html file in the package folder. Below is a screenshot of the viewer program.

Using the SyncDepo Viewer, users can quickly navigate to any line in the deposition by clicking that line in the transcript. The video will automatically seek to the corresponding timestamp. Users can also search the transcript by typing in the search bar. Clicking on a search result will immediately seek to the part of the video where that search result is spoken.