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Looking for a video translator to localize your video to other languages?

Since 2008, Voice Crafters has been providing our clients with video translation and localization services to supplement our professional voice over solutions.

Ever since we started our voice over business, we found that a lot of our clients needed a one-stop solution for transcribing, translating, voicing, mixing and subtitling their videos, be it product videos, company promo videos or others.
We gained a lot of priceless experience in this area.

We are highly trained in translating video content into any of over 80 different languages, mixed with a soundtrack, or with subtitles or captions, or a combination of all.

No matter how many languages and how many markets you’d like to penetrate, we have the team and knowhow to make it happen and we deliver a high-quality product you can be proud of.

Transcription

video translation services - man transcribing on his laptop

Localizing the original video from the source language to other languages typically begins with transcription. In this process, an electronic file consisting of the audio content is created and a timecode is added to indicate where a person is speaking for example, in order to reference exactly where to insert the translated voice over or embed the subtitle or caption. We support the following transcription file formats:

SubRip (.srt)
Scenarist (.scc)
MacCaption (.mcc)
Timed Text (.ttml)
Quicktime Timed Text (.qt.txt)
Transcript (.txt)
WebVTT (.vtt)
DFXP (.dfxp)
Cheetah .CAP (.cap)
Spruce Subtitle File (.stl)
Avid DS Subtitle File (.txt)
Facebook ready SubRip (.srt)

DID YOU KNOW ?

Q – What is the difference between subtitling and Captions?
A – Though similar, subtitles and captions exist for different purposes. Subtitles appear only whenever a person speaks on-screen. Subtitles are straight transcriptions or translations of the dialog. Captions on the other hand include sound effects, like falling objects, music, a person screaming, etc.

Subtitles are used for localization purposes (e.g. Spanish subs in an English video for Spanish speakers) whereas captions are intended for the hearing impaired. Open captions appear on-screen at all times. Closed captions can be turned on or off by the viewer.

Translation

The next stage in the process is translating the written material by native, professional translators (and needless to say – humans ones!)

Translating content that will ultimately be recorded as a voice over or appear as embedded subtitles in a video is different from your regular translation work.

How is different? When translating content for video localization, there are time constraints to consider.

In the case of voice overs, if the spoken word at a given point in the original video is 10 words long, its translated counterpart cannot be much longer because it could cut into the next spoken word segment and consequently push every spoken word segment out of sync with the visual material.

If translated material ends up being longer than the source material, there are two solutions we can utilize:

  1. Speed up the voice over pace artificially – This is typically less recommended and would only be done if the pace speed up is minimal and used mostly for “fine-tuning”. Besides sounding unnatural, speeding up a voice recording artificially may introduce artifacts which compromise the overall quality of the final product.
  2. Edit the video so that the relevant scenes match the voice recording – This is obviously the better option. It can sometimes be tricky because it may require additional footage from the client, depending on the video. In some cases, subtly slowing down the video in certain areas can work perfectly.

We use these techniques on a case-by-case basis. Translators should ideally adapt their work to the original video so that the sync work is less challenging.

video translation services - open book

video translation services - sync to picture on pro tools

Translation is especially crucial when lip-synching is required.

Lip sync in this case is where the foreign voice over’s timing needs to match the on-screen speaker’s lip movement.

Similarly, for subtitles and captions, the translated material needs to fit a maximum of two lines on-screen and last enough time for a viewer to be able to read them.

This means, in many cases, that the translated material needs to be condensed. Our skilled translators would need to adapt some sentences and make them shorter for this purpose.

At Voice Crafters, we work with in-country linguistic specialists. Many of which are experts in specific fields (such as legal, medical, agricultural, etc.).

Translation work for audio and video is typically pricier as it requires a skill in its own right, but making sure this process is done right early in the production cycle helps avoid costly corrections and retakes.

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Voice Over

At Voice Crafters, we work with professional, native voice talents in over 80 languages!

Broadcast-quality recordings are performed after the voice actor watches the reference video to be translated in order to match the style, tone and pace of the original work, ensuring our clients receive the best results!

We then clean up, edit and sync the voice over audio segments to match the visuals in the video.

Correctly performing the steps above will help avoid manipulating the pace of the voice over audio artificially.

video translation services - condenser microphone

Subtitling / Captioning

Deciding whether to use a foreign voice over or embedding subtitles is usually based on cost.

Many times, subtitling is a more cost-effective solution than using a foreign voice over. However, you should also consider your audience and what kind of impact each method is likely to produce.

At Voice Crafters, we work with professional video editors who are highly experienced in industry-leading video editing software such as Avid, Final Cut and Adobe Premier. Our editors also work with Adobe After-Effects, the industry standard for sophisticated motion graphics and visual effects.

Deliverables

Before taking on any project, we will check the source files to detect any missing items (files, plugins, fonts, etc.).

Following this review we will be able to let you know which elements can be edited and if anything needs recreating.

The video will then be transcribed to extract the time-coded audio content.

From there we will translate the material to the language/s of your choice and either send the script to be recorded or subtitled.

As soon as the voice recording has been edited and synched and/or the subtitles embedded to the video, we will render it to your exact specifications.

We will deliver your final product in any format, and size and resolution.

 

Video Translation Projects

SolarEdge Video Translation Projects

Together with our partner Penguin, Voice Crafters has localized dozens of videos for SolarEdge over the past several years.

SolarEdge provides innovative solar power harvesting and monitoring solutions for residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar PV installations.

American English Voice Over for SolarEdge

This American English voice recording for SolarEdge’s AdvantEdge Designer software has been recorded by Adam V., and has been localized to German, Italian, Dutch, and Turkish.

Adam is a a classically trained actor and a full time voice artist who’s voiced for brands such as Starbucks, BMW, Gillette, McDonalds, Hewlett Packard and many more!

Visit Adam’s VO profile page here.

Dutch Voice Over for SolarEdge (Localized)

This localized Dutch voice recording for SolarEdge’s AdvantEdge Designer software has been recorded by Jeroen K., The video has been localized from American English to German, Italian, Dutch, and Turkish.

Visit Jeroen’s VO profile page here.

Italian Voice Over for SolarEdge (Localized)

This Italian voice recording for SolarEdge’s AdvantEdge Designer software has been recorded by Mauro F., and has been localized from American English to German, Italian, Dutch, and Turkish.

Mauro is a professional voice talent who’s voiced for brands such as Play house Disney live (Napoli), HP, Microsoft and Testanera to name a few.

Visit Mauro’s VO profile page here.

ShoreTel (now Mitel) Video Translation Projects

Together with our partner Dialogue UK, Voice Crafters has localized promotional, explainer and how-to videos for ShoreTel (now operating as Mitel).

Mitel is a telecommunications company which provides unified communication solutions for businesses.

Castilian Spanish voice over for ShoreTel Connect

This explainer video for ShoreTel Connect is a Castilian Spanish-localized version of the American English original “A Day in the Life”.

In this project, we were responsible for the voice overs in Chinese, German, Spanish and we also performed the sync, mix and some sound effects.

The voice talents who recorded all parts in this video are Megui C. and Alfonso R.

German voice over for ShoreTel Connect

This video for ShoreTel Connect is a German-localized version of the American English original “A Day in the Life”.

Voice Crafters was responsible for the voice overs in Chinese, German, Spanish and we also performed the sync, mix and some SFX.

The voice talents who recorded all parts in this video are Miriam M. and Jan W.

Mandarin Chinese voice over for ShoreTel Connect

This video for ShoreTel Connect is a Chinese-localized version of the American English original “A Day in the Life”.

Voice Crafters was responsible for the voice overs in Chinese, German, Spanish and we also performed the sync, mix and some SFX.

Gat Fertilizers Video Translation Projects

For this particular project, we localized a 7-minute English video for Gat Fertilizers into Latin-American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese.

In this case we have provided the client with an end-to-end solution, starting from transcribing the original English video and titles, translating all to the target languages, recording the voice overs, synchronizing them to the video, mixing with a music bed and delivering a high-quality video to the client.

Latin American Spanish voice over for Gat Fertilizers

This promotional video for Gat Fertilizers is a LATM-Spanish-localized version of the American English version.

Voice Crafters was responsible for translation and voice overs in Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and LATM Spanish. We have also  performed the sync, mix, subtitling, onscreen titles and video encoding.

Voice over by John M.

Brazilian Portuguese voice over for Gat Fertilizers

This promotional video for Gat Fertilizers is a LATM-Spanish-localized version of the American English version.

Voice Crafters was responsible for translation and voice overs in Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and LATM Spanish. We have also  performed the sync, mix, subtitling, onscreen titles and video encoding.

Voice over by Fabiano V.

Mandarin Chinese voice over for Gat Fertilizers

This promotional video for Gat Fertilizers is a Mandarin-Chinese-localized version of the American English version.

Voice Crafters was responsible for translation and voice overs in Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and LATM Spanish. We have also  performed the sync, mix, subtitling, onscreen titles and video encoding.

Voice over by Yuyu H.

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