Voice Over Dubbing Helps Companies Promote Video Content Globally

Voice over dubbing is a post production process in video production in which a vocal recording in another language is made over the original voice recording. It has been traditionally used in many European markets including Germany, France, Spain and Russia.
Voice over dubbing is mostly used in documentaries, news and has become very popular with the rise of online broadcasting. It is typically used by companies and broadcasters which target a foreign market where the language used in the original piece is not understood or spoken there.

How Does Voice Over Dubbing Work?

The process typically starts with translation of the script. Then a voice artist records the tracks in the desired language. The voice artist mostly reads out the translated copy, but does also add some acting and other voice effects to keep the dubbed work captivating and thrilling.
An audio engineer then places this audio over the original track and adjust the levels. Typically the original audio is kept on the background and can be heard. This helps the audience (unconsciously) capture emotions and toning expressed by the original speaker or actor even though the person does not necessarily understand this language. Leveling is very important as the background should not confuse the audience and can only be slightly heard, ins and outs particularly need to be well engineered. See a sample English video with Spanish voice over dubbing video .

Considering Voice Over Dubbing? Keep These in Mind:

As stated earlier on, voice over dubbing is used to introduce new content like video, documentaries or games to a new market whose lingua franca is different from the one the original content is in. Here are some important factors to keep in mind:

• Making changes to a video is costly and experienced voice talents are also relatively expensive. Therefore it is important for video and game production companies to plan their finances properly. If you are working with a tight budget consider subtitling instead.
• Keeping a controlled environment to make your artist’s voice blend in naturally with the video can be a daunting task. The voice artist must control his/her breath to pause when the need arises and raise his/her voice when appropriate. Hiring a person of the street who can speak your target language is not going to produce the best results.
• An audio engineer who has experience in localization is crucial for producing high quality outcome. If your studio engineer does not have experience in voice over dubbing, consider outsourcing.
• Proper localization of text is crucial. Simply translating the text will not cut it. Spanish spoken in Argentina is not the same in Spain. Make sure you hire a professional translator who focuses on video/media translation with experience in the topic of your video.

What can Voice Over Dubbing Bring to Your Video?

• Voice over dubbing is typically easier than replacing the entire track as it does not require lip syncing.
• Since the original track can be heard on the background, it is easier to communicate the emotions that are express by the original voice.
• Publishing your video in foreign languages will definitely increase the potential reach of your video.

Voice over dubbing has become very popular with the rise of online videos. It lets publishers broaden their potential audience quickly by publishing in multiple languages. It is a much more engaging alternative to subtitling while keeping costs under control. Emre Akkas is the Chief Localizer at Globalme Language & Technology. Globalme provides professional foreign voice over dubbing services online videos whether it is for entertainment, education or promotion.
Emre Akkas is the Chief Localizer at Globalme Language & Technology. Globalme provides professional foreign voice over dubbing services for online videos whether it is for entertainment, education or corporate promotion.