Contents
Help Center
SyncDepo Help Center
Everything you need to sync, QC, export, and deliver your video depositions.
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, view your settings, or exit the program.
Creating a New Synced Deposition
To create a new synced deposition, click the "New Sync" button on the start page.
Start by clicking the "Select Transcript File" button and choose a TXT transcript file from your computer.
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.) must be removed.
Once you have selected a transcript, the transcript will appear in the preview area. Fill out the required metadata fields to continue. SyncDepo automatically detects the witness name, volume, date, and lines per page, but you can edit the fields as needed.
SyncDepo will also try to automatically detect the videographer's read-on. Lines before the read-on appear in light gray. If the detection is incorrect, right-click a line and select "Mark as Read-On."
Check these two fields
Double-check the "Line #'s Start at Page" and "Lines per Page" fields. If these values are incorrect, your final sync file will also be incorrect. Choose the first page with line numbers and ensure the preview matches the original transcript.
Selecting video files
Once you've filled out the metadata, click next to start adding your video files. You can add as many video files as you want — but make sure they are in the correct order, and that none are missing!
When you are ready, click "Confirm." Once submitted, your sync job will be added to the Sync Queue, and you will be directed to the Sync Queue page.
Recommended Video Format
To make uploads fast and ensure your video plays correctly in SyncDepo, please record (or export) your deposition video using these settings. Most modern cameras, recorders, and editing software support all of them.
| Setting | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| File type / container | MP4 |
| Video codec | H.264 (sometimes labeled "AVC") |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 ("1080p" or "Full HD") |
| Frame rate | 30 fps |
| Video bitrate | 2,000–4,000 kbps (2–4 Mbps) |
| Keyframe interval (GOP) | 2 seconds (60 frames at 30 fps) |
| Audio codec | AAC |
| Audio bitrate | 128 kbps |
| Audio channels | Stereo |
| Audio sample rate | 48 kHz |
| Fast start | Enabled (often labeled "optimize for web"; -movflags +faststart in ffmpeg) |
A one-hour deposition recorded at these settings is typically 1–2 GB.
Why these settings?
- 1080p at 30 fps is plenty. Depositions are mostly a single seated witness — higher resolutions (4K) and frame rates (60 fps) produce much larger files without improving the record.
- H.264 + AAC in an MP4 container is the most universally compatible format. It plays everywhere — SyncDepo, court video systems, TrialDirector, web browsers — without conversion.
- Smaller files upload faster and get synchronized faster. A 5 GB file can take 10× longer to upload than a 1.5 GB file of the same deposition.
- A 2-second keyframe interval makes seeking more accurate. Encoder defaults are often much longer.
- Fast start improves video load times.
Please avoid
- 4K resolution — unnecessary for a talking head and slow to upload.
- 60 fps — doubles file size with no benefit for deposition footage.
- H.265 / HEVC — not all systems can play it back reliably.
Audio matters most
The transcript synchronization depends on clean audio more than anything else. A well-placed lavalier or boundary microphone on the witness, recorded at a healthy level (peaks around -6 dB, no clipping), will produce dramatically better sync results than any video setting choice.
If your camera or recorder doesn't offer these exact settings, choose the closest match — or contact support@syncdepo.com and we'll help you find the right options for your equipment.
Sync Queue
Submitted depositions appear in the sync queue. The Sync Queue is split into two sections — the "Pending Jobs" section and the "Submitted Jobs" section. Pending jobs haven't been uploaded to our servers yet, and can be canceled without using any credits. Jobs go through three steps in the pending section before being submitted:
- Pending: The job is waiting for other pending jobs to be submitted before starting.
- Extracting: The audio is being extracted from your deposition videos for use in the syncing process.
- Uploading: The audio and transcript are being uploaded to our servers for syncing.
Once Submitted, jobs will begin syncing. Once done, the status will be changed to "Complete", and the download button will appear.
Queuing jobs
You don't have to wait for jobs to be submitted before adding a new job, you can add as many jobs as you'd like to the Sync Queue — they will submit themselves in the order you add them.
You can close the application once all queued jobs move to the Submitted section — processing continues on our servers. Completed syncs are available for download, typically within five minutes.
Editing Sync Timings (QC)
To review or adjust timings, click "Open Sync" and choose the .syncd file you want to edit. If the original video file moved, use "Remap Media Files" to update the location.
Warning
SyncDepo does not store your videos. If you move or delete a video file, you must remap it.
Click any transcript line to jump to that timestamp in the video. Adjust timings with the controls below the video or via the right-click menu. As the video plays, the active line is highlighted.
Colored timestamps reflect confidence: green indicates highly confident, yellow is less certain, red means a timestamp could not be determined. Edited timestamps turn blue so you can track manual adjustments.
Manual mode
Manual Mode is the fastest way to QC your sync. Enter manual mode by pressing the m key or clicking the toggle. In manual mode, listen to the depo and press the . key at the end of each line to mark the start of the next line. Jump to the next problem line with n, mark a line as non-video with x, and use the ↑ and ↓ arrow keys to move between lines. Press Esc to exit manual mode.
Exporting Sync Files
When your sync is QC'd, click "Export" and choose the desired format. SyncDepo supports the following formats:
| File Extension | Application | Description |
|---|---|---|
| .xml | OnCue | Synced Deposition for OnCue Presentation Software |
| .cms | TrialDirector 6.8, NextPoint | Compound Media Storage File |
| .dvt | DepoView, TrialDirector 360 | Digital Video Transcript file |
| .mdb | Sanction, TrialDirector, OnCue | Database file for various presentation applications |
| .srt | Most Video Players | SubRip Subtitle format |
| .xmef | LexisNexis CaseMap/TextMap | TextMap Transcript File (with linked exhibits) |
| .ptf | LiveNote | LiveNote ptf transcript file |
| .lef | LiveNote, Westlaw Case Notebook | LiveNote Evidence Format |
| .vid | LiveNote, Westlaw Case Notebook | LiveNote video sync information |
| .pts | TrialPro | TrialPro Post-Production Timestamp File |
| .txt | Plaintext | ASCII Plaintext file with timestamps added to margins |
SyncDepo Package Folder
The SyncDepo Package Folder is the recommended way to distribute your synchronized depositions to others. The package folder includes all of the above files as well as the HTML viewer file and a launcher exe that launches the SyncDepo Viewer — our new fully featured viewer application.
| File/Folder | Description |
|---|---|
| assets | Contains logo files for use in the viewer application. |
| loadfiles | Contains all the load files needed for use in presentation software, as well as the .syncd file for use in the SyncDepo Viewer. |
| media | Contains a copy of each video file. |
| LaunchViewer.exe | Opens the sync in the fully featured SyncDepo Viewer Application, if installed. |
| .vol file | Required for opening the package in DepoView |
| .dvt file | DepoView File |
| .txt file | Plaintext file with timestamps added to margins |
| Viewer.html | A lightweight browser based viewer with basic features |
SyncDepo Viewer Application
The SyncDepo Viewer is a fully featured application that is installed separately, for viewing SyncDepo Syncs. With the SyncDepo Viewer, users can search, highlight, and export mp4 video clips, as well as designations lists and CCS files for OnCue or TrialDirector.
Viewer.html
The SyncDepo HTML Viewer lets you deliver synchronized proceedings to any computer with a browser. The Viewer.html file is a super lightweight browser based viewer that comes bundled with every SyncDepo package.
Settings
Manage your custom branding, storage locations, and UI settings from the Settings page.
