What's the difference between subtitling and multilingual transcription?

• How do I choose a good translation partner?
• How long does a translation take?
• How long does editing take?
• How should I submit my files for translation?
• What's the difference between a translation agency and a translation company?
• How do you calculate the cost of a translation?
• What's the difference between subtitling and translation?
• If translation and subtitling are so different, why do you offer both?
• What are the stages of the subtitling process?
• How do you select translators for a project?
• What do you need in order to subtitle my video?
• How do you calculate the cost of a subtitling project?
• What's the difference between subtitling and multilingual transcription?
• Do you accept draft versions of documents?
• Why do translations in certain languages cost more than others?
• Will the translated version be longer or shorter than the original document?
• Why do urgent translations cost more?
• When is my project considered and charged as 'urgent'?
• Do you charge for the translation of words like 'a', 'an', 'the' and 'it'?
• What is a certified translation?
• Do you offer certified translations?
• What's your recruitment process?
• Do you use non-native speakers?
• Do you use Translation Memory tools?
• Do you use Automated Translation?
• Do you offer Free Translation?
• Why do you offer both translation and subtitling?

< Back to list

What's the difference between subtitling and multilingual transcription?

(See also "What's multilingual transcription?")

Whilst there is a certain amount of overlap, there are a few major differences between subtitling and multilingual transcription. When you order a transcription, you will receive a Word-document with the speech typed out. Time codes are optional. If you require subtitles, you will receive a subtitling file ready for post production or burning to DVD.

Other important differences between subtitling and multilingual transcription are:

• Time coding

  Although transcription generally requires time codes, these are normally to be read out by a voice over artist and there are no constraints in terms of formatting or the number of words. In subtitling, time coding is one of the most important jobs and should be carried out by an experienced 'spotter'. We determine the start and end times by going through the footage frame by frame using professional software.

• Delivering your footage to Media Lingo

  We handle a variety of video and audio formats. Whether you require a transcription or subtitles, you can send us a DVD, harddrive or upload your materials to an FTP. Please supply scripts if you have them, this will save money and time.

• Delivery of subtitles or transcription

  Depending on what happens with the footage, there are a number of ways we can deliver the subtitles or transcription to you (see 'Which subtitling formats can you deliver?').
  Broadcast and post production companies will require subtitles in particular subtitling formats that can only be generated by professional subtitling software. Media Lingo will, in most cases, liaise with the broadcast facility and / or the DVD authoring company to agree on the most efficient ways of supplying the subtitles.
  If you need the transcription for a Voice Over, we will send you a Word document with the speech typed out and translated with corresponding time codes.

• Required skillsets

  Once all the in and out times have been set and the soundtrack has been transcribed, we need to make sure that the onscreen content and speech is rendered into two lines of 37 characters, and within the in and out time. This almost always means speech needs to be compressed, and it takes a skilled subtitler to do this efficienly without losing any meaning.
  
  Once the 'master script' is complete, this is exported for translation. This means the translator can translate the copy in a Word document, but will still need to stay within the 37 characters per line. In many languages text expands as English is quite an efficient language, so translating with this constraint adds another complication for the translator. Once the file has been translated and proofread, this is imported back into the subtitling software which then generates a subtitling file for the post production stage.