What a subtitling project includes
Subtitling is several tasks in a row: a transcript of what is said, subtitles in the original language, translation into each target language, timing against the picture and a final check in context. You may need all of them or only one.
Tell us where you are starting from. A video with no transcript, an approved script and an existing timed subtitle file are three different briefs, and the quotation reflects the one you actually have.
- Transcription of the spoken content
- Subtitles in the source language, checked by a linguist
- Subtitle translation into the languages you need
- Timing and line breaks matched to the picture
- Delivery as a subtitle file, or burned into the video when agreed
Subtitles are written to be read in seconds
A subtitle is on screen for a moment. It has to fit a line length, a reading speed and the cut of the scene, and still carry what the speaker means. A faithful sentence that is too long to read is not a finished subtitle.
The limits change with the language. A line that reads comfortably in English runs long in German, and Simplified Chinese works to a far shorter character count than any Latin-script language. We translate with those constraints in view and flag the lines where a speaker says more than a viewer can read.
Where automation helps, and where a linguist decides
Speech recognition gives a fast first transcript, and for clear audio it is a sensible place to start. It also mishears names, terminology and anything spoken over noise. A linguist corrects the transcript before translation, because an error in the source is repeated in every target language.
Translation and the final read are human work. We agree the workflow with you in the quotation. Tell us if your organization restricts the tools that may process its recordings, or requires human-only handling.
What determines the quotation?
Subtitling is usually quoted per minute of video rather than per word. The rate depends on the language pair, the audio quality, the number of speakers, how specialized the subject is and whether on-screen text also needs translating.
Volume and turnaround matter too. A series of similar videos is planned differently from one short film, so send the full list and the release dates. We look at a sample of the actual material before confirming price and delivery.
Send the subtitling brief
- The video, or a preview link, and its running time
- Any existing script, transcript or subtitle file
- Source language and the target languages
- Where it will be published: website, learning platform, social media or broadcast
- The file format required, and whether you need burned-in subtitles
- Names, terminology and spellings that must be right
- Approval contact and release date
Before you brief us
A few useful answers.
Is subtitling priced per minute or per word?
Usually per minute of video, because transcription, timing and review scale with duration. If you only need an existing subtitle file translated, the cost driver is different, so tell us what you already have. The quotation states the basis.
Which subtitle formats do you deliver?
SRT is the most common request and works with most players, learning platforms and editing tools. If your platform needs another format, name it in the brief and we confirm it before starting.
Can you burn the subtitles into the video?
Yes, when it is agreed in the quotation. Send the video at the resolution you want returned. A separate subtitle file is easier to correct and to reuse for other languages, so tell us how the video will be published.
Can you translate a subtitle file we already have?
Yes. Send the timed file and the video. We check that the source subtitles are accurate and well timed before translating, since problems in the original carry into every language.
Are subtitles the same as captions for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers?
No. Translated subtitles carry the spoken meaning into another language. Accessible captions also identify speakers and relevant sounds, and follow their own conventions. Tell us if you need them so they are scoped properly.