Transcription, voiceover and subtitling

Transcription and text entry

The evaluation of audio and video recordings from group discussions, interviews and other interactions for analysis (e.g. in the context of qualitative research), must be recorded in writing. We prepare the transcripts for you. Depending on the purpose, there are different transcription methods for this type of writing, e.g. to consider linguistic and, if necessary, gestural or mimic forms of expression and to reflect on the circumstances (atmospheric, visual and other particularities).

Depending on the specifications, these may be transcriptions in which the standard orthography is considered and dialects and other linguistic features (accentuations, pauses, gap fillers and pronunciations) are not incorporated.

In other cases, a literary transcription should be implemented, noting linguistic peculiarities such as pauses in conversation, assimilations, elisions, word extensions or filler words etc.

Phonetic transcription is another form of a transcription according to IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) or transcriptions that use a faithful representation of the colloquial language.

In the event of a request, the transcript layout must also be determined in advance: The layout should include a simple line style (here, for example, interview questions and their answers follow each other alternatively) or a so-called better score style to guarantee an exact representation with concurrent language.

We have years of experience in a wide variety of audio and video recordings in transcription and adhere to the requested transcription standards (Drehsing & Pehl, Kuckartz etc.), depending on the customer’s specifications.

We undertake not only the transcriptions in many different source languages (including German and English), but also, if required, the following translation into the desired target language – taking into account the project specifications. This is fast, precise and reliable.

Voiceover

Voiceover is the translation and synchronization of audio files. A voiceover artist or interpretor plays the translated and appropriately edited text back synchronously. This kind of editing is often used in films, video and computer games.

In marketing, internationalism is a necessity. Therefore, it is essential to localize film material in the form of documentaries, features and adverts for the respective markets.

Subtitling

Subtitles include the translation / reproduction of the text spoken in another language. They are usually placed on the edge of the screen and are used to transmit dialogues or information, which are played back in another language.

Additionally, subtitles can be used to quickly prepare audiovisual presentations for the foreign market.

Adding subtitles to a video is not all about translating it. The translator has to summarize the text, adapt it, revise rhetorical elements and modify them according to the context of the respective language, so that everything sounds natural. Often the volume of words must be reduced considerably and yet, still accurately reflect the meaning of the original version, which is where the skill lies.

The usual method is therefore to prepare a translation and then analyse and modify the translation accordingly. Our translators are able to think cinematically and always convey the appropriate tone in the target language. The end result must be a quality translation with the optimum number of characters for subtitling.

Our team of professional native speakers is virtually up to any linguistic challenge.

The post editor can either undergo “light post editing” (correction of spelling mistakes, inflections etc.) or a “full post editing” (full review of spelling, grammar, syntax, style and use of terminology). The latter option provides a quality similar to that of a human translator.

If you are interested, we will be happy to advise and discuss with you the various possibilities and the associated methods and procedures in detail.

Contact us! We will find the best solution for you and your requirements.