Hi everyone!
Today I want to talk about the audiovisual services we can offer as translators.
Audiovisual refers to any type of file containing audio, video, or both. These files need a different approach than a text file would.
Some of the most common audiovisual services we can offer are:
Transcription:
This can involve audio or video. Normally, what you need to do is to transcribe in your native language what is being said by the people who speak in the file. In most cases, you also have to time when each person speaks, with a start and end time. This helps the client to identify the exact moment when a certain line is being said.
Sometimes you can also be asked to translate the transcriptions to your source language. The format remains the same, you just need to add the translation.
You can use special apps or programs for transcribing, like Express Scribe, but it isn’t always necessary. You do need to hear a good ear, though! You might need to listen to an audio several times to get the right transcription. And sometimes, there might be parts that are just impossible to understand. You just have to make sure to mark them in the transcription as unintelligible.
The difference with subtitling is that you transcribe in a text editor, like MS Word.
Subtitling:
This involves video, and it can be a YouTube video, a video game, or a TV show/movie, among many others. The subtitles are saved on a special kind of file directly on the video, unlike transcriptions.
You need to create the subtitles in your native language, and most of the time, translate them to your source language. Or the other way around, depending on the project.
Subtitles can be special, mainly because you have to use a limited number of characters for each one, and this is easier said than done. You have to make sure that the essence of the meaning is always there, but you might need to completely turn around your transcription and translation in order to make them fit the characters.
There is a lot of software available that helps you to subtitle a video, and even add the translation in just one step. Some of them are Aegisub and Subtitle Workshop. It depends on your OS, but most have versions for all available ones.
Thank you to Day Translations for sponsoring this special blog post. And if you want to find out more about the business and audiovisual services they offer, you can visit this website: https://www.daytranslations.com/business-services/
Have you ever done any audiovisual translations? What has your experience been like? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!
Until next time, take care and stay safe!
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Translation Expert 