Dubbing

Dubbing – Timing / Syncing

Synching a new voice recording with the video is essential for a perfect outcome. When the speaker is in the studio, he or she listens to the original sound through a headset in one ear and records the script and listens to his or her new recording at the same time in the other ear.

When you watch the final dubbed video, and a speaker is on camera, you will hear a few words at the beginning of the original audio at normal volume. Then the original sound fades out or continues at a very low volume level while the voiceover language takes over. This can be done at the beginning of each paragraph, or only after major pauses or a change in speakers on the original.

• Standard voiceover

The original voice is removed and replaced with the foreign language voiceover, so that only the dubbed version may be heard. This works best when you only have narrators that do not face the camera.

• Lip-Synching

When your video has participants speaking into the camera, or in instances where there is a rapid dialogue, we recommend handling the dubbing in a lip sync style. Lip synching requires the script to be adapted so that the vowels, the length of the words and sentences matches the lip movement of the new language.

• Phrase-synching

Phrase-synching is used for longer segments of audio for speakers who are facing the camera. Phrase-synching is the style that imitates the breathing and acting of the speaker on camera. Each sentence of the new recording has the same length so that the breathing patterns are identical.

Our production process

The first step in producing a new language recording is to have an accurate script. We compare the video to the script to make sure that both match properly. The translation needs to be timed to the existing film, the images and the sync points. We work with specially trained audio translators who are experienced with these timing requirements. The translators always use the original film as reference when translating a video script.

Before proceeding to the recording, we ask clients if they would like to approve the translation. The final script is then sent to the studio and speaker along with the original film. Both studio and speaker check the script one more time to make sure that synchronization is as accurate as possible. Often, additional changes are required to match the natural speed of the selected voice talent.

Lip smacks and loud breath are removed during editing of the new audio recording and then properly aligned to the original film. At that point, the final wav file can be sent to the client to insert in place of the original audio on the master, guaranteeing synchronization with the picture, or we can mix the new recording with the music and screen text.

On-Screen text is delivered as a side-by-side translation or as individual Photoshop or Illustrator files if a client wants to import the new recording and create the new master. If we are to create a new master, the translated screen text is part of the new master.