Streaming platforms have encountered plenty of transformations in recent years, letting millions experience audiovisual content occasionally from all over the globe. While most are okay with an original version, others wish to acquire content with subtitles, dubbed films, or videos. That brings you to today’s discussion, which seeks to differentiate subtitles from dubbing for different reasons.
When it comes to subtitles vs dubbing, many have asked which is the best. The winner depends on your preferences and needs. The good thing is that you can always go for both concerning different videos at your convenience.
Let’s learn more about the similarities and differences between subtitles vs dubbing.
Subtitles vs Dubbing – Differences
The main differences between subtitles and dubbing lie within their definitions, implementation, and advantages. Subtitling simply refers to incorporating subtitles into a video, especially at the bottom center of the screen. Subtitles are developed from a screenplay or transcript of a commentary or dialogue in those videos.
On the other hand, dubbing, mainly done after production, refers to a procedure through which new or supplementary projects are lip-synced and merged with the initial production sound to generate a complete soundtrack.
Many producers use dubbing when translating a film or video from a different language to another by ‘miraculously’ matching the words of the original project to the performers’ lip actions. Having understood the definition of both terms, you can now proceed to further differences confidently.
How Dubbing Works
Since you’ve grasped the definition of dubbing, you can now move to understand how the process is implemented. Like subtitling, dubbing is easy and involves a series of steps to implement. Professional dubbing services will help you complete the process easily.
Advantages of Dubbing
With dubbing, streamers can be assured of fewer struggles with reading between the lines to get the concept. Production companies can also be assured of greater returns as dubbed video content has the potential to reach many streamers as possible. If there’s a technology that fills the language gap for different videos and films, that’s dubbing- consumers love that.
Translation and Adaption
The initial step of dubbing is translating the project into the intended language while ascertaining the meaning of the scripted content remains untouched. It also factors in other aspects such as cultural features, lip-syncing, and slight adjustments where necessary to develop appropriate content even after translation.
After translation, the scripted content is adapted to align with the lip movement of the actors, rhythm, and timing of the original content.
Casting and Voice Recording
After blending everything in, you can cast the original actors’ voices with different ones in the preferred foreign language. Your chosen ‘new’ actors should also confidently portray the nuances and emotions of the original ones.
Voice recording refers to recording dialogues between the new actors while watching and matching the original video. The ‘new’ actors should be guided by an experienced director regardless of their competencies in dubbing.
Quality Check of the Dubbed Video
The directors process the recently completed voice recording to the required quality level before blending it with the initial soundtrack, incorporating sound effects and music. After that, the dubbed film is merged with the initial one with few or no adjustments. The directors undertake the quality check again to ascertain that all the required standards of the dubbed video have been met.
How Subtitles Work
As highlighted above, subtitles are added to a video or film to aid the streamer in understanding the content better. Many people will go for subbed version or feature when they cannot understand a video or film due to a language barrier or ambiguous accent.
However, subtitles are mainly used by people with poor hearing and concentration skills or when the audio is poorly blended to ascertain they don’t miss a word.
Advantages of Subtitling
Subtitling allows streamers to enjoy videos and films in sound-sensitive surroundings such as public transport, libraries, or offices. They get clarity on confusing subjects in the video due to accent barriers or hearing complications.
In additions, subtitles allow viewers to maintain focus on a specific video for extended periods than they would without subtitles. Also, subbed videos reach many streamers, ensuring higher developer and director returns.
Subtitle Tools and Timestamps
Adding subtitles to videos or films is manageable for every producer or video expert. They can come in different formats, including dfxp, .ass, .srt, etc., used in various files and situations. Most people use the SubRip subtitles initialized as .srt.
The process begins with choosing the subtitle tool before creating timestamps to make the dialogue in the video more visible and in line with the timing. The timestamps are easily adjustable according to the video’s needs.
Review and Captioning
Producers should review the video under discussion alongside the timestamps because they tell when the subtitles will appear on the streamer’s screen. After a successful review, you can create captions in line with the video and translate them based on your targeted audience. Remember to critically check your video before exporting to search for possible errors and other defects.
Export the Video
After you’ve checked the quality of your recently subbed video, you can export it in the appropriate file format; one more quality check before the final click to export would be okay.
Save your exported video in the required title and share it across the platform of your choice. The post-upload period is ideal for perusing the customer’s reviews and adjusting the relevant mistakes or opinions on your next projects.
