Audiovisual translation:
your multilingual content
in sound and image!
Subtitling: saying it in writing
Subtitling consists of synchronising the text to the dialogue and displaying it in the lower part of the video image. Despite being the least expensive technique for localising your audiovisual content, it nonetheless requires cutting-edge expertise and a solid understanding of its specific issues.
The process of creating and embedding subtitles is a meticulous task, including time code management, adjustments and, in some cases, handling languages with complex alphabets or special characters (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese or Japanese, to give just a few examples).
Version internationale meets all your strategic needs, offering standard captioning, based on a transcription of the spoken dialogue and narration in the video, or what is know as closed captioning, which meets the needs of deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers, by including sounds and sound effects that help give a better understanding of what is being seen on screen. Lastly, we can deliver the digital audio files in the format of your choice.
Narration, your voice in every language
Narration consists of adding an external voice to the video, often known as an off-screen voice. It is a narrative device that has long been used in films, documentaries and adverts, and more recently in video games, online product demos and motion design formats, which are ubiquitous in online content.
Recording narration in multiple languages first involves transcribing and then translating the source content in order to record a new audio file in the target language(s). The original narration is then ‘overwritten’ by the new one, translated into the desired language.
While it may seem easier and cheaper to add subtitles, you should carefully consider your content and its purpose. In particular, narration allows for a better immersive experience and gives users the feeling that they are viewing content created especially for them, in their own language, rather than a simple adaptation of the original. It’s up to you to decide.
Voice-over, an alternative to dubbing
An alternative to dubbing, voice-over enables you to add a voice in a target language on top of the original voice. The latter becomes background sound, so the original version is kept. A voice similar to the original is usually chosen for a more natural experience.
While a high-quality translation is an essential prerequisite, post-production must also be handled very carefully. Timing the voice-over slightly after the original and adjusting the sound so that the voice is clearly audible while making sure the background sound can still be heard must be well orchestrated. The sound engineer also manages the voice actors performing the text. In some cases, an artistic director guides the actors as they perform, although this practice is mostly used for dubbing projects. Using voice-over as a narrative device is particularly recommended for corporate and commercial audiovisual productions when dubbing is not suitable for the format.
Dubbing, added comfort for non-native audiences
Compared to voice-over, dubbing aims to replace the voice of the original speakers completely with those of the target language actors. Although narration and voice-over are generally preferred in the corporate world (more for reasons of format suitability than financial considerations), advances in artificial intelligence are making this option increasingly more accessible, allowing viewers to be naturally immersed in their native language.
In the creative sectors, dubbing lends itself perfectly to live-action and animated films, with the latter easier to dub as they usually offer greater synchronisation between sound and image. In addition, the professionals now have access to high-performance tools, so you need not worry about the somewhat less-than-perfect results of certain films you may have watched in decades past.
If you have an audio or video localisation project,
please don't hesitate to get in touch to find out more!
Our audiovisual expertise in the following sectors
IT and New Technology
Collaborative projects to localise your IT solutions
Marketing and Communication
A nuanced exercise with strategic implications
Health
The need for flawless quality assurance
Science and Technical
Proficiency in specific terminology
Education and Training
Translation of e-learning modules and training content
Energy and Environment
Supporting changes in the sector on a global scale
Industry
A multilingual strategy for your partners and clients
Institutions and NGOs
Translation at the service of helping people
Law and Finance
Accuracy is key to mutual understanding