You feel lost. You have a video that you’d like to release to a foreign market, and you have a few major questions. First of all, do you subtitle or dub it? What is the actual difference between subtitling and dubbing? And – most importantly – what will work best for your audience? Before you get even more lost in translation, let’s consider exactly what these two methods consist of and then talk about the differences between them.
The Basics
To put it simply, both subtitling and dubbing have to do with the translation of audio within a video format – you know, like a television show, a movie or a YouTube video. So let’s start out our discussion with subtitles.
When you subtitle a video, you make the written translation of the dialog available on the screen. Subtitles are displayed simultaneously with the audio, and appear at the bottom of the screen. They are also “burned into” the screen of the video when they are created. This means that they can’t be shut off (which is actually a great feature to have when you want your foreign audience to be able to see your messages).
On the other hand, dubbing refers to replacing the dialog in the video with a spoken translation. You may have heard of the term “voiceover” – this is exactly what dubbing is. The translated audio plays simultaneously with the video.
Choices, Choices, Choices
Whatever your preference, both styles work well. There are a few things to consider, however, with each. First of all, keep in mind that since subtitles are visible on the screen they may cover up certain elements in videos that are heavy on graphics. Another thing to consider is that subtitling is typically less expensive than dubbing because a voice actor isn’t required.
When subtitling here at Metro Audio & Video, we add timecodes so we know the exact moments when the subtitles are supposed to appear and disappear. When we translate your script, we fit 64 characters (including spaces) on 2 lines for each segment, adjusting the translation at times to fit the dialogue. This enables the viewers to be able to keep up with reading the script while watching the video. We ensure that all of our subtitles are reviewed by native speakers for 100% accuracy.
Now, if you choose dubbing, we will also format it for you with timecodes. Our native-speaking voice talents will then record the translation of your script in our studios. Our sound engineers can make sure that lip synch precision is exact, and place the dubbed track into the original audio track. Again, every translation is reviewed for accuracy by a native speaker.
Also keep in mind that all of our translations for both subtitling and dubbing are localized for your intended audience.
Ready To Get Started?
Contact us today to get a quote on your subtitling or dubbing project. If you’re still unsure which method is best for you, we can help you make an informed decision. When you’re looking for success, work with the best: Metro Audio & Video.