Better Than Subtitling

Voice over translation stands out compared to subtitling. When relying on subtitling, a viewer has to focus his or her energy on keeping up with the words on the screen. In doing so, that same viewer may purposefully ignore or unintentionally miss other components of the video like background details, body language, and other information that is communicated visually. When it comes to encountering new information for the first time, especially in eLearning training modules, it can be difficult to comprehend new information without the support that visual clues in the video were intended to provide. On the other hand, using voice over translation ensures that what the listeners hears seamlessly complements what they view.

Subtitling is also problematic given the fact that different languages result in text expansion and contraction. Depending on the language that the video content is being translated into, the subtitle may either make the screen look very text heavy or may not fit on the same screen. Given the fact that much of eLearning may contain technical or content-specific language, it can cause additional text expansion or contraction by 20, 30, or even 40%. If the words on the screen unfold at a different pace than the original video content, the message may become garbled and other subtler aspects of video, like the tone and mood, may also be lost.

Stands Out Over Transcripts

Especially in instances of eLearning, the benefits of voice over translation versus transcripts are clear. Imagine watching a video in one language while trying to read in another at the same time. Talk about information overload. Unfortunately, some companies choose not to utilize voice over translation. Instead, they share their video content in English along with written transcripts in another language. Using a transcript that is written in a speaker’s native language while trying to follow a video in English is problematic for both the company and the client. Instead of offering access to clear content, the learner is left with guesswork and assumptions, as it can be very difficult to infer tone and determine pacing using only a transcript. In contrast, when voice over translation is utilized, native speakers create eLearning and other videos that are customized to end learners. By using voice over translation, companies can offer training and other eLearning in a multilingual format with nativity and authenticity. This translation ensures that the content and tone of the video are preserved, allowing learners to consume new information in a way that is comfortable and helpful to them.

Added Benefits of Voice over Translation

Voice over translation, regardless of which style is utilized, ensures that the translated material still aligns with the original video content. Specifically, when voice over content is done in a studio setting, the translation team has access to professional sound equipment. Post-production work includes cleaning audio files, as well as normalizing loudness and compressing the dynamic range. By adjusting the difference between the loudest and softest sounds and making other edits through post-production work, the sound quality of the finished product is unparalleled.

Additionally, the linguist and director can partner together to ensure that the voice aligns with the tone of the original content. If the original video content was created for a heavy-duty tool or rugged outdoor gear, the director will select a linguist whose tone, pitch, and pacing complement the product. The professional sound-quality and complementary style of the translation place voice over translation a league ahead of subtitling and transcripts.

Final Thoughts

Voice over translation is an important aspect of sharing information with audiences around the globe. Depending on the original video, different styles of voice over translation may be utilized. No matter which technique is used, voice over translation offers clear benefits compared to subtitles or transcripts. In addition to presenting information in a manner that is much clearer and more authentic, voice over translation can also ensure that mood, tone, and other indirect messages are preserved.

The post Why Voice Over Translation Matters: Top Benefits for Global Reach appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

1.  Understand the benefits of professional video translation.

Working with a professional video translation company is important. Not only does it ensure that you will receive a quality product that contains accurate information, but it can actually provide a considerable amount of cost savings as well. Professional video translation includes an efficient workflow that takes the guesswork out of translation. The team will help your company decide on the best translation approach – from subtitles to voice-over recording – and provide turnkey services to allow you to focus on other aspects of growing your company while your work is translated. As you take your content across the globe, you want a quality reputation to grow with it.

2.  Keep a global perspective.

Everyone has to start somewhere and often times, you aren’t thinking about the big picture or the long run when you first get started. However, if you shift your perspective from the beginning, your video content will be primed for translation long before you need it.

How do you keep a more global perspective? When you are planning your initial script, examine the figurative language that you are using. Proverbs, idioms, turns of phrases, or anything else specific to English is best avoided. It is also important to consider the symbols you might project on the screen or the gestures your actors might make. A professional video translation team can help with audience analysis and avoiding these faux paus, but it makes sense to omit them from the start.

3.  Slow and steady equals success.

Speaking clearly and slowly should be a top priority when recording any video content even if you never intend to translate your videos. Not only does a slower speech help audiences process the information as it is shared verbally, it also gives them time to process the information displayed visually on the screen.

If speech speed is slow in the original video content, video translation will be much more effective. If subtitles are utilized, it will be much easier to sync the subtitle to the scene. By having less information displayed on the screen at a time, your viewers have more time to digest the information and are less likely to run into issues with the information disappearing before it is understood.

Additionally, this speech speed can also impact video translation when text expansion occurs. If your content is translated into a language that grows in size when it is translated, the screen will become even more crowded with subtitles or you might simply run out of space. A more deliberate speed when you record the initial source file will help avoid these challenges during video translation.

4.  Save some space.

When creating your video content, it is important to consider the different screens that viewers use to access information. While some people may still prefer to consume content on desktops or laptops, more and more people are using their smartphones to view mobile content. These considerations are important even if you are not translating your video content initially.

Different screen sizes can impact the way that on-screen text is viewed, especially if there are banners or other text boxes. The shifts in size can alter the layout, resulting in shots that look cluttered and confusing. This matter is further complicated when you look to use video translation later. If your screen already displays banners with scene titles or speaker bios, it can be difficult to fit the subtitles in the same space.

You also want to make sure that you are not overwhelming your viewers with information that is on the screen. If you are displaying complex graphics or nuanced charts, it is important to not overload viewers with a complicated audio message as well. Instead, you will want to make sure the audio is complementary. Walk your viewers through what they are seeing and give them plenty of time to digest the information.

Final Thoughts on Getting Ready for Video Translation

Your company might only deliver content in one language now. Even so, there are simple steps that you can take when creating video content now that will save you time and money in the future. By following these steps, future video translation will be a smooth process, and you can take your vision to screens around the globe when you are ready.

The post 4 Ways to Plan Ahead for Video Translation appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

If audiences, clients, customers, and learners are demanding video, what happens when your audience speaks multiple languages? WebVTT translation is a versatile and a cost-effective way to make video content accessible and engaging for viewers.

What is Web Video Text Tracks (WebVTT)?

This format was created in 2010, based on the SRT format. However, WebVTT was designed to be a more robust subtitling and captioning option. The most noteworthy difference between the two is the fact that WebVTT can operate HTML5 code functionalities. As a result, subtitling and captioning done in WebVTT give creators more options when it comes to text format, color, font, and even placement.

WebVTT files can also contain metadata. Whereas SRT files are for display purposes only, this metadata in WebVTT files can include information about titles, authors, dates, instructions, and other additional content. Because WebVTT is designed with HTML5, this subtitle file type has become very popular with eLearning platforms and courses since they are typically also HTML5-based.

What are the advantages of WebVTT translation?

Whether it is video for your website or an eLearning course, it is likely that as your company or organization grows, so will your target market audience. Adding WebVTT subtitles is a cost-effective way to share your video content with global audiences. Rather than recreate all of your video content or dub existing content with voice-over recording, WebVTT subtitling will translate your content so that new viewers can understand and relate to it.

When translation companies perform WebVTT translation, the process provides both cost effectiveness and time savings. If a company intends to have its subtitles translated into multiple languages, source-language subtitle content will be created first. That way, a single subtitle file can be translated into multiple languages at once or over time as the company’s viewership expands.

Should the video content need to be updated, it is also a much simpler and cost-effective process to update a subtitle file as opposed to either editing a dubbed video or shooting new content. As a result, even when video content is not evergreen, subtitles afford more flexibility.

Additionally, source-to-source subtitling is also advantageous. In this type of subtitling, the audio language and subtitle language are the same. As with translated subtitles, these subtitles can be permanently displayed or interactive, allowing viewers to turn them on and off. Source-to-source subtitling is often utilized in eLearning courses to differentiate instruction by adding extra support for visual learners. Source-to-source subtitling may also be used by organizations in the healthcare industry to support viewers with hearing impairments.

WebVTT subtitles of any kind are being used by businesses and organizations looking to improve their ranking online. Since Google and other search engines cannot read images or video content, adding text is an effective strategy to boost Search Engine Optimization (SEO). By adding subtitles to existing video content, your company will rank better online, gain more traffic, page views, and customers due to this increased visibility.

What is the WebVTT translation process?

Professional translation companies are well aware of the unique challenges that come from adding subtitles. One of the most complex aspects of subtitling is the fact that the text display on the screen needs to mirror what is being heard over audio and watched on the screen. As a result, translators put forth special care when crafting the text, paying attention to both length and word order. By doing so, the subtitle is synchronized with what is being seen and heard.

This subtitling process can become even more complex when WebVTT translation is needed as opposed to source-to-source translation. In WebVTT translation, the target language may dramatically alter any existing subtitles. That is because the target language may now be a right-to-left language, such as Arabic, or include characters in various other alphabets. With WebVTT translation, the translator can carefully choose not only the proper wording, but the font and the placement that will best help viewers.

After initial WebVTT translation is finished, the subtitles are synchronized to the video by a team of multimedia experts. That means that the timing between the audio and the subtitle text is accurate. The product then undergoes rounds of quality assurance testing and validation to check for an accurate and authentic message and premium sound and video quality.

Final Thoughts on WebVTT Translation

Video content is king. Whether you are trying to grow your brand, inspire new learners, or anything else in between, companies and organizations are adding more video content each day. WebVTT translation brings content to life for multilingual audiences while still maintaining an efficiency and cost-effectiveness for businesses.  When you are ready to take your video content global, professional WebVTT translation is the right choice.

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