Videos are an effective way to spread information to people. From entertainment to education, videos are widely shared and consumed across various platforms. However, not everyone can hear the audio or follow along with the visuals. Video subtitling makes videos accessible to a larger audience, including individuals with hearing impairments, non-native speakers, and those watching in noisy places. It also improves the user experience for those who enjoy watching videos with subtitles. Video subtitling best practices for clients span everything from technical standards like formatting, timing, and character limits to editorial guidelines that focus on clarity, readability, and accuracy. This article, we will discuss video subtitling best practices for clients. These best practices can assist you in achieving precise and useful outcomes, regardless of whether you are an individual or a company trying to make your videos more inclusive and accessible.
Video subtitling best practices
Provide a Script or Transcript
Providing a script or transcript is the first step in getting content ready for subtitling. This is particularly important for videos that use acronyms, uncommon phrases, or technical jargon. A script or transcript guarantees that the subtitles appropriately match the spoken content. Additionally, it speeds up and improves the efficiency of the subtitling process.
Stick to the recommended average length
When it comes to the average length of subtitles, there are a few basic rules to follow. Standard subtitling procedure limits the number of lines to two or three. If you use more lines will disrupt the visual effect of the video. Additionally, the lines themselves shouldn’t be too lengthy because this will make it difficult to read and take up too much space side to side. It is advised that you condense your text; this is one of the most important video subtitling skills to learn.
About 40 characters is the recommended length for a subtitle.
Choose the appropriate font size and colour (readability)
It’s important to strike a balance between readability and style, especially for viewers who use screen readers or are deaf or hearing impaired. After all, it could be the only method they can interact with your content.
There is no doubt that background influences readability. The video visuals are constantly changing, so you have to pay close attention. Let’s take the example of putting a white subtitle. A person wearing a white shirt may appear on screen during the video portion. The white shirt will then merge with the subtitles, making it hard to read the subtitles. This can be solved by using outlines around your subtitles as a way to distinguish from the background or boxing your subtitles with a solid black colour. You should also make sure that you use an appropriate font size that is not too big or too small.
Duration of subtitles
The duration of each text display on screen should be between 1 and 8 seconds. This is due to the fact that it takes the human brain a minimum of 1 second to read a message and up to 8 seconds to process it completely.
Keep subtitles clear and concise
It’s important to use understandable language that is clear and concise, which is easy to comprehend. This is especially important for subtitling because subtitles are frequently read fast and without the benefit of context. Steer clear of idioms, slang, and complicated language. Make use of clear, uncomplicated language that effectively communicates the intended meaning.
Synchronisation
A natural reading flow requires precise timing and synchronisation. For viewers to read along without any lag, subtitles should show on-screen in time with the spoken words. Misaligned subtitles can be distracting and annoying, resulting in a negative viewing experience.
Subtitles that fade away too soon or remain on screen for too long are examples of common timing mistakes. Make sure each subtitle lasts at least one second and no more than six seconds to prevent these problems. To provide a smooth viewing experience, match the subtitles with the audio using timing markers.
Use speaker identifications
Speaker identifications are unique to SDH (subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing), but they are also important for accessibility and videos with many speakers. Speaker identifications, which are frequently separated from the text by capitalisation or square brackets (such as JOHN: or [Jane]), help to make it clear who is speaking if it is not immediately obvious and make the subtitles simpler to understand. Each style guide is unique, so try to be consistent in how you identify speakers across content.
Use correct punctuation, grammar and formatting
It should go without saying that improper or poor grammar and punctuation should be avoided. Instead, well-written, thoughtful subtitles can significantly enhance your viewers’ experience. It’s also not that difficult to get it right if you know the rules. Formatting is also important. For instance, use italics to highlight important words or foreign terms, or add an ellipsis (…) if the person on screen stops speaking before finishing a sentence or if they are thinking.
Double-check your subtitles
Proofread your subtitles before they go live. Even if it seems too easy to mention, this stage in the process is important and can save you a lot of trouble down the road. You can double-check your spelling and grammar with several free editing and spell-checking apps, such as QuillBot, ProWriting Aid, and Grammarly. All of them produce decent results, but they are unquestionably inferior to a professional pair of eyes.
Choose a suitable partner for your project
There is more to video subtitling than just translating a text word by word. A linguist with the ability to decipher the plot and grasp the message is needed. Professional subtitling services can offer extremely precise and polished subtitles for clients who are unfamiliar with video titling best practices or who lack the resources to subtitle their own videos. For this reason, it is advised that you look for expert subtitling services, such as those provided by Frenchside, a company that provides top-notch subtitling services. Your audience will be delighted if you spend money on top-notch video subtitling services.
Using subtitles to translate
Switching from one language to another
It’s rarely a good idea to translate subtitles word for word. To ensure that they are comprehensible and meet technical criteria, attempt to join sentences instead. To accurately translate concepts in sme languages, more words are required. English-to-French translations are a prime illustration of this. As a result, feel free to change words and phrases to make the subtitles concise and relevant.
Translating the untranslatable
Cultural differences must also be considered while translating subtitles. Wordplay, humour, and cultural references are examples of elements that are frequently impossible to translate. But if you’re imaginative, you can get over this obstacle. Making sure your subtitles are clear and useful is the most crucial step. Even if doing so means foregoing references, subtlety, or nuance.
Another cultural reality
Consider the speakers’ context (geographic, sociological, or ideological) so that you are able to put their reactions into words. Look for related examples, idioms, references, and so on when translating their statements.
If you have a challenging section to translate, always remember the context and speaking style. Lighten the subtitles by using the video’s frames and pictures as a guide. Also, you don’t need to translate everything in the video! Sometimes, the picture speaks worth a thousand words.
Why should you add subtitling to your video?
It helps those who are deaf or have hearing impairments. By adding video subtitling, you help them engage with the video and make your content more accessible to the disabled. Inclusivity and representation in creative creation are more than a trend; they reflect well on your business and build a sense of community.
Adding subtitles to videos also improves a person’s comprehension and concentration.
Subtitles ensure that the message is accurately conveyed when the audio is unclear or in a foreign language. This is especially true for educational and informative videos, where understanding the content is important. They also help non-native speakers develop language skills by explaining complex themes and making the content easier to swallow and engage with.
In the current digital era, a lot of people watch videos while scrolling through social media feeds or other sound-off settings. In these situations, subtitles draw viewers in and make sure your message is understood. They promote longer viewing times and higher retention since viewers are more likely to remain engaged when they can follow along with the text.
Frenchside video subtitling translation services
We offer multilingual video subtitling services in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town in French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and all official South African languages. Regardless of the size or nature of your project, our comprehensive language resources provide you with a single, simple option for high-quality, economical subtitling that meets any deadline. You may rely on us for closed captioning of all types, TV shows, corporate and company videos, and movies or documentaries.
We are among the few South African multilingual video subtitling businesses you can rely on to: Adhere to all local language subtitling conventions, provide linguists and engineers who are native speakers and possess a high level of expertise. Meet any deadline with the help of reliable and effective production processes. Use the most cutting-edge and extensive selection of translation and subtitling tools at all times. Work in any character set and language. Provide proven and effective quality assurance techniques, as well as effectively localising your material into natural, engaging translations.
