Latest update date: February 19, 06

Video translation is key to expanding the reach of your videos, and it's best to have the video prepared and fully knowledgeable for the video to be translated. Since video translation is a complex translation project, you can plan, prepare, and create the video in a way that makes the translation process go more smoothly.

General Tips for Video Translation Projects

  1. Provide a script, preferably a time-coded script.
  2. Before translating, please make sure the video has been completed to save time, cost and hassle.
  3. Determines whether there is text on the screen and, if so, whether the text should be translated.
  4. If there is text to edit on the screen, a source file or video source text will be required.
  5. If your video will be hosted by a larger broadcaster, be sure to check its rules regarding screen text and accepted translation types. For example, Netflix and BBC both have their own publicity rules. If you want to meet certain prepayment criteria, please notify your translation service company, so you don't need to do this again!
  6. Note that each language will have different lengths – if you are recording in English and translating into Spanish, the sentence length can be as long as 25%. So don't edit your English video too tightly and let us know where to translate.
  7. Provide length limits if you have one.
  8. Let your provider know if you have extra footage to use.
  9. Insert music into the final product video
Video Translation Tips
Good Tips For Video Translation

>>> See more: Film; Video Clip; Subtitle; Voiceover Translation

Multi-Language Dubbing

Voiceovers are great for documentaries and training videos and all videos with images – viewers can watch translated videos without having to read distracting subtitles.

There are four dubbing styles, and they are also applied to the new version of the video in the new language: lip-sync, dub, trainer style, and UN style:

  • The "dubbing" option doesn't match the original speaker's lip movements, but it's still important to capture emotions, speaking style, and watch for signs of change in the video. The dub can completely replace the original sound.
  • Lector style is Netflix's preferred dubbing method because both the original and the translated audio are heard together, but the original audio is presented at a lower volume to make it easier to follow the translated audio.
  • Finally, UN Style is like Lector style in that two sounds are played simultaneously. However, UN Style has the original language appear just in time, at full volume, before introducing the translated audio while Lector style has both sounds starting at the same time.
  • UN-style dubbing is often used for documentaries and speeches to protect the authenticity of the work.
Multi-Language Dubbing
Multi-Language Dubbing

Multilingual dubbing tips and best practices

  • For any project, the most important tip is to remember that it takes different times to say the same thing in different languages. This is especially important for projects that translate English to Spanish or German. If English speakers speak fast, speakers recorded in the new language will need to speak faster to ensure that everything is said in the same amount of time. If possible, ask the actors on the screen to speak at normal speed. If there are no actors on screen, it's still useful to add pauses to catch up with the target language audience's voice.
  • Decide in advance if any music will be covered – if you want to translate that part, you need to choose voice actors who can sing and speak.
  • Always send a low-res version of your video to the translation company so they can fully understand what's going on in the video to plan, quote, and request a video translation accordingly.

>>> See more: 6 Difficulties When Translating Video Clip Subtitles into Vietnamese

Multi-Language Subtitles and Subtitles

Subtitles are becoming more and more popular in all industries. Using multilingual subtitles is an easy, cost-effective and fast method of translating videos. Useful subtitles for many people:

  • People who are deaf and cannot hear.
  • For organizations that read video language, it's best to use that language.
  • People who do not understand the language of the video and need to translate the subtitles.
  • People are in noisy places.
  • People turn on or increase the sound in inappropriate places.
  • Maybe no one on the social media platform has voice enabled or wants to have it turned on.
Multi-Language Subtitles
Video Subtitle Translation

Subtitles are also known as timed text. When creating subtitles, keep the following points in mind.

  • Consider the speed and organization of the spoken information – if the speaker speaks very quickly, it may be difficult for the reader of the subtitles to keep up. If there are translated subtitles or need to match the audio of the original language, the translated subtitles will be the same as the original subtitles.
  • On-screen text and graphics can affect traditional caption placement. Ideally, the location of the subtitles should be predetermined and kept clear during the production and editing of the original product.
  • If you prefer the subtitle style, please let the translator know before translating the whole file! If you work with larger broadcasters, they may have specific font requirements. Make sure to double check to provide information on time and to avoid rework and delays.
  • If there is music in the video, please let the translator know if you should add notes around the lyrics.
  • Another stylistic option is subtitle alignment. Most are centered or left aligned. If you have multiple speakers, it's best to choose left-aligned. If only one person speaks consistently then priority is in the middle.
  • Decide if you want each speaker's subtitles to have their own color.
  • Before starting a project, determine if you need subtitles, as each subtitle requires a different file format.
  • Do you want to separate the translation from the video and turn it on and off?
  • Do you want them to record audio notes and voice prompts? If so, do you want them to use parentheses?
  • If you want the translation service company to add subtitles to the video, please specify their expected output specifications and ensure that the files you provide allow them to meet the specifications. specified.
  • It is important to understand the requirements that you will verify after translating the video.

>>> See more: The Best Video Subtitle Translation Tool, Clip Currently

Above are the notes when translating videos, hope this information will be useful to you!

Translation Experience

5 / 5 - (2 votes)