Transcription, Localization and Subtitling

Transcription, spotting, captions or subtitles: what is what?

Good subtitles not only need a feeling for language, but also a knowledge of terminology. Because some technical terms in subtitling are used synonymously by customers and translators alike, which often leads to confusion. Here are the most important definitions against ambiguity.

Transcription or Spotting?

During transcription, the spoken text of an audio or video file is written word for word. Usually you don't need any special tools and the transcribed text is delivered in a simple text file (e.g. Word or PDF). Transcriptions can be useful at meetings, radio broadcasts, or podcasts - and not just because they were used to record what was spoken. The transcript of a podcast, for example, makes its content visible to search engines and can thus improve the Google ranking of the website.

But when it comes to transcribing videos, a further step is usually necessary: ​​spotting. Spotting determines exactly when and for how long a subtitle is displayed. The spoken text is divided into the individual subtitles, taking character restrictions, line breaks and other requirements into account, so that it can be easily read and understood in the given time. In contrast to transcription, special subtitling software is required for spotting, for example Amara or Aegisub, which can be used to create SRT files (or similar file types) with time stamps.

Captions, subtitles or subtitles for the hearing impaired?

Subtitles are not always subtitles. If you switch z. If, for example, the German subtitles are used in a German film, they often contain more information than just the dialogues. This is because there are no classic subtitles, but subtitles for the hearing impaired, also known as captions.

Subtitles for the hearing impaired take into account not only the dialogue, but also other important noises heard in the video. For example, if a phone rings in the background or an actor laughs, that is also mentioned. Subtitles for the hearing impaired are available as closed captions (CC), which can be switched on or off at will, or as open captions, which are permanently integrated into the video. They have to be perfectly timed to match the picture and sound - that is, they have to be mocked. That is why Supertext delivers them in SRT files.

Classic subtitles only contain the spoken text. In this case, it is assumed that the audience can hear the sound but cannot understand the language. That is why classic subtitles are basically there to make foreign-language films accessible to the audience. The dialogues are translated and localized by translators into their mother tongue. The difficulty lies in reproducing the content as faithfully as possible and at the same time ensuring a comfortable reading speed and an interplay of image, sound and text. Because this often requires cuts and creative reformulations, it is best to employ transcreation professionals on this.

There are several ways to create subtitles. Usually the original sound is first transcribed and mocked by a native speaker and then localized by a translator in a second step. However, if no captions are desired, the transcription file can also be used for subtitles in the same language. Then only one step is required for spotting and translation.

Regardless of whether you need a transcription, subtitles or captions for your video - our language experts will roll out the red carpet for you.