5 tips on how to handle multilingual projects.

When translating a voice-over project into one or several languages (localization/multilingual project), you should always consider the following before starting your production:

1. Make sure the translation is adapted for spoken word, not just word-for-word.

The number of words—or sometimes even the number of characters—needs to be roughly the same. The timeline also needs to remain intact, so the translator cannot rearrange parts of the text. Some languages can be up to 30% longer than English, even with a word-for-word translation. Therefore, you may need to recut the film to make the voice-over fit properly.

2. If you need to sync to a film or audio track, make sure to order a synced recording.

Synchronizing the reading to a video or audio file requires extra time, special software, and specific skills. Ensure the voice talent you hire can do this, or contact Voicemachine for assistance.

3. Attach a master script with both the reference language and the translation side by side.

Number each part of the script. This allows languages not understood by the video editor to be inserted in the correct place by simply following the numbers read by the voice talent. Note: Instruct the voice talent to read the numbers in English before reading each part in their respective language.

4. Have a master language version before starting any localizations.

A master session, preferably in English, can be used as a reference for voice talents to sync to, or for translators to ensure the translation fits within the timing. It’s always best to translate from a single master language, as “translation on translation” can quickly drift from the original text.

5. Ensure your original master film allows some space between lines/scenes, or that you can recut the film.

Even with a word-for-word translation, some languages take longer to read due to more characters per word or more complex sentence structures. English is a very efficient language. For example, Finnish translations of English scripts are typically about 30% longer in characters. This may cause timing issues if the original film is tightly cut.

If you order sync-to-picture, it’s no guarantee that the recording will fit perfectly. The voice talent will do their best to make it work, but if it’s impossible, the talent will sync as much as possible. You may then need to adjust the film by adding frames to maintain proper synchronization.

Read more about how to write a script for spoken word here.