Subtitle Translation
Communicate. Even in silence.
Subtitle translations and their importance
Easy to read. Easy to understand.
Subtitles as well as subtitle translations are more important than ever. With the triumph of digital media, they are used in more and more contexts and for increasingly diverse purposes. Sure, companies still use subtitles to make sure that their message is heard, even by those who are hard of hearing or deaf. But subtitles also allow those who are not fluent in the language of the video to read along and understand better what is being said. And of course, creating subtitles is still cheaper than having professional voice actors record additional audio tracks. But more is at stake.
Up to 85 percent of all videos on Facebook and similar platforms are viewed without sound. Because of that, promotional videos nowadays should make sense without audio. Subtitles can help. Adding subtitles to your YouTube videos also can improve their ranking. Plus, Google indexicalizes subtitles and sometimes delivers individual video segments in response to search queries. Thus, subtitles do not only ensure that your message is received and understood internationally. They are an important part of modern marketing, including search engine optimization.
Closed and open captions
What is the difference?
“Closed captions” is the term used to describe optional subtitles, such as those found on Netflix, YouTube, DVDs or Blu-rays. The user determines whether a subtitle should be displayed – and if so, in which language. Open captions, on the other hand, cannot be hidden. Hover, they can be better adapted graphically to the video material. The consequence: they usually are easier to read.
Subtitle translations: What to keep in mind
Readability. Font size. Length of each line.
When creating and designing subtitles and subtitle translations, keep in mind the following:
- The text should always stand out clearly from the video material. That way, it’s easy to read.
- The text should not be too long. That way, the viewer can grasp it quickly.
- The text should not be too short either. Quick changes from one subitle to another may be difficult to follow. They also can be distracting or even destroy the overall impression of the video.
- Lines breaks should not be arbitrary. They should be conducive to understanding what is being said.
When dealing with subsubtitles in multiple languages, design decisions should therefore not be made independently of the translations. The average length of sentences differs from language to language. So does the sentence structure. That is why line breaks and the timing of the subtitles often need language-specific adjustment.
Can it be done automatically? Sure. But usually the visual appearance, the reading flow, and the comprehensibility suffer. When it comes to important communication where subtitle translations are needed, we recommend subtitling by a language-skilled video editor or a translation agency that can do both the translating and the video editing in-house.
Designing subtitles
Which font style works best with your video?
Black text on a light background looks elegant. White text on a dark background is effective. However, since the subtitle design should usually be consistent, both variants tend to be suitable for video material that is uniformly light or dark. That is rarely the case. If colors or contrasts keep changing throughout the video, white text on a black background is often the best choice. If the dark background is too distracting, it can help to make it slightly transparent.
The perfect timing for your subtitle translations
Easy to follow. Easy to understand.
In addition to the color design, the size of the subtitles must also be adjusted. The right choice depends, among other things, on the medium in which the video will be available. If it is primarily viewed on a cell phone, for example, the subtitles should be larger and the translations more concise. If the video is presented on large trade show screens, the subtitles may be smaller. This way, they interfere less with what is presented. 40 characters per line or more would not be no problem.
The smaller the screen, the less text can be displayed at once. However, this then also speeds up the changes from one subtitle to the next. To maintain readability, the text often needs to be rewritten. Nevertheless, the discrepancies between what the text says and what the speakers say in the video must not be too serious, especially if gestures and facial expressions support what is being said.
Thus, the translator must take into account the medium as well as the visual content. Since the sentence structures of the target language can differ greatly from those of the source language, the translator must find a balance. On the one hand, he must correctly capture the meaning of what is being said. On the other hand, he must maintain the synchronicity of subtitle and image as much as possible.
Inserting individual subtitles is not particularly complicated. But adjusting them as needed is often time-consuming. A rule of thumb is that an average reader reads about three words per second. Nevertheless, the editor has to view individual scenes several times, since scene changes, for example, make it difficult to read along. That is the only way for the editor to assess whether the reading flow is maintained. With 30 minutes of footage, this can quickly take four to five hours per language.
How much does subtitling cost?
A breakdown.
How much a subtitle translation will cost depends on the target languages, the text volume, and the type of text. We will be happy to provide you with a quote. But to give you an idea, here are our prices as they would apply to a standard video:
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Transcription of the video € 10 / 100 Words
Assuming acceptable sound quality
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Transcription optimization € 70 / Hour
Only necessary if the source text is difficult to follow
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Subtitling € 150 / 1.000 Words
Each language is charged separately
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Video Render € 10 / Video
Multiple rendering in various file formats is charged individually
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Data storage up to 100 GB € 5 / Month
Alternative: Annual subscription for 50 euros
All prices plus VAT.
Next project already in the pipeline?
Excellent. We are ready.
Especially when deadlines are tight, we recommend contacting us before your film project is completed. This way, we can review your project and get to work on your subtitle translation while your team is still working on the post-production. As a result, the subtitles may be ready just a few days after the film production is completed. If a final script is available, this can also serve as the basis for our translators.
If you are not sure whether the transcription should be optimized, what formats you need, or how long your video projects should be stored with us, call or write us.
We will be happy to review your project and propose solutions suitable for your project.
Your Free Quote
If you have questions or are unsure about what exactly you need for your project, we will happily review your video material and advise you.
Your Free Quote
If you have questions or are unsure about what exactly you need for your project,
we will happily review your video material and advise you.
Subtitles FAQ
What is a subtitle?
A subtitle is text that is usually displayed at the bottom of videos.
What does CC stand for in the context of subtitles?
CC stands for 'closed caption'. Closed captions can be displayed or hidden as needed.
When translating subtitles, what should you pay attention to most?
The subtitle translation should run in sync with the original audio track in terms of content. Therefore, the sentence length of the translation should be approximately the same as the source language. Especially where nouns and adjectives are stressed, their position in the sentence should match the original track.
What does a subtitle translation cost?
Prices vary with the scope of the project and the requirements. For the translation itself, 13 euros, for subtitling 15 euros per video minute is a good benchmark for high-quality translations.