Short, honest answers

What does VoxBridge Studio do?

It creates and translates subtitles for videos across multiple source and target languages. Tutorial videos are a highlighted use case, but not the only one. Optional Hungarian dubbing is a separate feature and currently targets English-to-Hungarian use.

Does it only work from English to Hungarian?

No. The subtitle and translation workflow supports multiple source and target languages, including English, Hungarian, Romanian, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, Hindi, Arabic, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Dubbing is currently experimental English-to-Hungarian only.

Can deaf or hard-of-hearing users benefit from VoxBridge Studio?

Yes. VoxBridge Studio can create readable subtitles from the spoken content of video or audio files, so the content can be followed without relying on audio. This can be useful for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, and for anyone who cannot or does not want to rely on sound. Important: subtitles intended for public, educational, or accessibility-related use should be human-reviewed and corrected when needed before publishing.

Are my video or audio files uploaded anywhere?

Local mode does not upload your video or audio for processing; recognition, translation and export run on your own computer. If you choose Cloud BYOK, the needed recognition or translation requests are sent to the provider you configure with your own API key. Internet may also be needed for setup, model download, license activation or update checks.

Is the app fully offline?

Not fully. Setup, model download, trial license request, license activation and update checks may need internet access. Local mode processes video and audio on your own computer. Cloud BYOK is an explicit provider-based option, not the default local path.

What is Cloud BYOK?

Cloud BYOK means “bring your own key”. You use your own Groq API key for cloud ASR, or your own Gemini/Groq key for cloud LLM translation. VoxBridge Studio does not provide a hosted cloud account or hidden checkout for these providers; provider usage, limits and costs belong to your own provider account.

Are API keys stored?

By default, API keys are session-only. If you explicitly enable “Remember API keys on this PC”, VoxBridge Studio stores them through Windows Credential Manager. Keys should not be stored or shared as plain settings, logs or config-file values.

Why does it need a stronger machine?

Local processing runs on your own computer, so translation and speech recognition can need a lot of RAM or VRAM. On weaker hardware, start with translategemma:4b and a short test. The 4B model is a compatibility first-test model, not the quality baseline; translategemma:12b and translategemma:27b are heavier.

How is this different from an online subtitle generator?

Online services are often faster and more convenient, but they usually require uploading the file. VoxBridge Studio keeps a local-first path for people who want to work on their own machine, and also offers Cloud BYOK for users who intentionally choose their own provider key.

How is this different from YouTube automatic captions?

YouTube automatic captions are mainly useful for videos already on YouTube. VoxBridge Studio is designed for your own video and audio files, including material that is not public or that you do not want to upload to an online platform.

How long is the trial?

The trial license is requested by e-mail, lasts 7 days and does not require a credit card. During the trial, you can create or translate subtitles for up to 120 minutes of video, across up to 15 videos. A single trial video can be up to 60 minutes long. Subtitle burn-in can be tested for up to 3 exports. The goal is to verify the workflow on your own machine before purchase.

How does the trial start from the portable ZIP?

Download VoxBridgeStudio-latest-portable.zip, extract it into a separate folder, then request a trial license by e-mail. The key is sent after manual processing and activated inside VoxBridge Studio after starting it from the extracted folder. Do not run it directly from inside the ZIP.

Where does the trial key come from?

The trial key is requested by e-mail through the website. It is not generated inside the app. During alpha testing, keys are sent manually, so the reply may not arrive instantly. After receiving the key, activate it inside VoxBridge Studio.

What are FFmpeg, Ollama and TranslateGemma?

VoxBridge Studio is the main Windows app. FFmpeg helps read and process video/audio files. Ollama runs local AI models on your computer. TranslateGemma is the local translation model used through Ollama. Cloud BYOK is separate: it uses your own Groq or Gemini API key instead of a local TranslateGemma model for selected provider paths.

Does it need Ollama?

For Local mode translation, yes: Ollama and a downloaded TranslateGemma model are needed. Cloud BYOK can use provider-backed recognition or translation with your own Groq or Gemini API key instead. When choosing a local model, check hardware needs too, not only the download size. If you are unsure, open the setup guide.

Does it need FFmpeg?

Yes. FFmpeg is part of the video and audio workflow. If it is not found automatically, you can set the path manually in the app.

What does the first-run setup assistant check?

It checks Local or Cloud BYOK readiness: FFmpeg, Ollama, the local model, provider/key state where relevant, license state and first-test readiness. It is the first step when something does not start.

What should I use as the first test video?

Use a short, 1-3 minute, non-private clip. The first test should only confirm that the workflow runs on your machine.

What does a language-coded subtitle filename mean?

The output subtitle can include a language code next to the video name, for example VideoName.hu.srt, VideoName.de.srt or VideoName.ro.srt. This helps media players and Plex-style libraries recognize the language.

What happens if no Ollama model is installed?

The translation workflow cannot start without the selected model. Install a supported model first, then rerun the first-run setup checks.

Why are model downloads large?

Local translation models are downloaded to your computer because Local mode runs translation locally instead of on a cloud server. The download size is only part of the requirement; while running, the model also needs enough RAM or VRAM.

Which model should I choose on a weaker PC?

If your PC has around 16 GB RAM or 4 GB dedicated VRAM, start with translategemma:4b and a short test file. This is a first-test and compatibility recommendation, not the quality baseline. translategemma:12b and translategemma:27b are heavier and may be slow or fail on weaker machines.

Which model is recommended: translategemma:4b, 12b or 27b?

translategemma:4b is a 3.3 GB first-test/fallback model for weaker machines; it is not the quality baseline. translategemma:12b is the 8.1 GB recommended local base model, but it is not recommended below 16 GB RAM and is a better fit with 24 GB RAM or 12 GB+ VRAM. translategemma:27b is the 17 GB quality mode for strong hardware and should show an explicit warning before use; avoid it below 32 GB RAM.

What is the support bundle?

The support bundle is a diagnostic export that helps troubleshoot setup, provider, model, license or run-state issues. It can include logs, settings, queue state and platform metadata, but it should not be described as including your private source video or audio content. Do not send license keys or private media unless support explicitly asks for a safer minimal reproduction.

What are the result panels?

Recent app builds separate successful, partial and failed run outcomes more clearly. When output exists, the app can help open the output folder, the first SRT, or a preview so you can check the result before moving to a longer file.

Why should I test subtitles before dubbing?

The subtitle workflow is faster to validate, works across more language directions and forms the base of the process. Hungarian dubbing is a separate experimental English-to-Hungarian feature.

Does it work with existing subtitles?

Yes, sidecar subtitles are preferred when available.

Can it generate Hungarian voice-over?

Yes, optional Hungarian TTS voice-over is available, but it is currently an experimental feature for English source language and Hungarian target language. During the trial, it has a short test allowance of up to 10 minutes.

Is there license activation?

Yes. During alpha, the trial license is requested by e-mail and sent manually. After the trial, a purchased license can be activated with a license key and connected to device information and order details.

How many machines can be activated?

The personal license is for 1 active machine. The technical foundation uses a device identifier, so machine-change or activation issues are handled over e-mail.

What is the launch price?

The personal license price will be finalized after the trial period. The trial license is requested by e-mail, lasts 7 days with no credit card, and includes 120 subtitle minutes and up to 15 videos.

What support comes with the purchase?

Support is e-mail based, with no separate guaranteed SLA. The main goal is quick help for trial, activation and technical issues.

What if I have a problem during the trial?

First rerun the first-run checks, then check FFmpeg, Ollama, model or Cloud BYOK provider/key status. If the issue remains, use the support page and include the support bundle if it is safe to share.

What is the first support step if the trial does not start?

Open the setup guide again, check FFmpeg, start Ollama and confirm the local model if using Local mode, or check the provider/key if using Cloud BYOK. Only then create a support bundle.

Can interrupted processing continue later?

Yes. The current alpha workflow can resume an interrupted queue and avoid restarting videos that already finished.

What output files can it create?

Language-tagged SRT subtitles, optional Hungarian audio, optional new MKV files and run reports.

Does it support Plex-style subtitle names?

Yes. Subtitle names can follow the video filename with a language code, for example VideoName.hu.srt.

What does the desktop app interface look like?

A dark, tabbed Windows interface with Files, Open folders, Subtitles, Audio and Advanced tabs, status chips, a progress bar and a log panel.

What download package do I get?

The current alpha version is delivered as an unsigned portable ZIP package, not as a signed installer. Extract it into a separate folder, then start VoxBridgeStudio.exe from the extracted folder. Windows SmartScreen may show a warning.

Why is it delivered as a portable ZIP?

The portable ZIP is a simple first-trial format: it does not require a traditional installer, and it can run from a separate extracted folder. This works well for a 7-day trial, but the alpha package is unsigned, so continue only with a package downloaded from the official VoxBridge Studio website.

Do I need a credit card for the trial?

No. The trial license is requested by e-mail, and only your e-mail address is needed. The point of the trial is to check whether the workflow works in your own environment before payment.

What should I avoid sending to support?

Do not send private videos, license keys, API keys or screenshots with personal data if the issue can be checked with a short test file or support bundle.