Dubbed audiovisual content is the most effective way to communicate across cultures.

For everything from Hollywood movies to the humble training video, shooting in one language and delivering in many is a necessity.

But how do you make sure you get it right?

Step #1: Decide which type of dubbing is right for your project and your budget. There are three types of dubbing, and each has its appropriate uses.

 

UN Style, AKA Voiceover Dubbing

With UN-style dubbing, you hear a second or two of the original speaker, then the volume drops and the dubbed voice comes in over top. You’re always aware that another language is being spoken, but at the same time you get a sense of the original speaker’s voice and tone. UN-style dubbing is used most often for documentaries, factual/non-scripted TV shows, and interview-based videos.

UN-style dubbing is not so good for dramatized scenes, where you need to believe the actors are actually speaking their lines. It can be distracting and confusing, especially when the lines of dialogue are short.

 

Timed Sync, AKA Dialogue Replacement

Timed-sync dubbing matches the rhythm of the original. The dubbed voice precisely follows the original speaker, speaking when she speaks, pausing when she pauses. It looks more natural, and it’s less noticeable that the video has been dubbed, but you lose any sense of the original voice. That’s why it’s particularly effective for dramatized dialogue, as in training videos, and also for discussions with rapid-fire conversation.

For timed sync, the adaptation process is highly specialized and precise. You can’t just count on your voice performer to adjust their speed. In order to match the translation to the original perfectly, you have to count every syllable, and think of myriad alternative ways of saying something in the new language. It also takes twice as much time in the studio to make sure the voices match up. But for many videos, it’s essential.

 

Lip-Sync Dubbing

Lip-sync dubbing is the gold standard for everything from feature films to TV commercials. It’s the most precise type of dubbing of all: the translated script matches not only the rhythm and number of syllables in the original, but the mouth movements as well. In other words, the translation tries to match the occurrence of sounds such as M/B/P, N/D/T, O, A, etc. Actors skilled in this type of dubbing can have long and lucrative careers as, for example, the German voice of Bruce Willis.

At Power of Babel, we use VoiceQ digital voice synchronization software for lip-sync dubbing, which helps our voice actors deliver their best performance in the shortest time possible.

Depending on the type of video you’re dubbing, your target audience and your budget, there is a method that’s right for you. Give us a shout, and let’s discuss.