Video Localization Typical Cost Model

If you are not familiar with video localization, then the jargon can be a bit challenging!

You probably ask yourself, what does it all really mean? Continue reading for a full explanation of what each cost means and what is involved in each step.

Different companies might have slightly different line items in a quote for video localization, but more or less, it falls into these main categories:

Pre-Production

• Project Set-up: During this step, the video files you have sent are downloaded, saved, opened, and watched/listened to. This is to ensure that all the assets required are present, the files play correctly, etc.
• Book voice talent for audio recording: This is where we work really hard to find the right voice for your video, matching tone and voice and ensuring it is available at the correct time for recording.
• Transcribe the English script:  Here, we listen to the English recording, type what is spoken into a Word document, and then have it reviewed by an audio QA engineer to ensure that we have not missed anything.
• Time code the English script: This step simply means inserting times into the script, so the voice talent and engineer know when to move to the next slide. 
• Extract any on-screen text (OST) for translation: If your videos have text on some graphics, they would need to be extracted (copied and pasted) into a file that is subsequently sent for translation.

Production

• Translate and review script and OST:  This part is done by experienced translators, ensuring that not only is the text translated but that it also fits with the voice, tone, and brand of your company.
• Audio record selected voice talent: This is the critical part, recording the translated script using the selected talent in the recording studio, ensuring that the voice is good, sounds well, and matches your requirements. This is critical because if something goes wrong, then we need to re-record the session or part of it...which is not great for a project in terms of cost and deadlines!
•  Engineering of recording: this is where our audio engineers prepare the final voiceover- removing breaths and pops, removing any incorrect takes, and ensuring the volume is consistent throughout the audio.

Post-Production

• Integrate the localized voiceover into the video: Once we have the voiceover, then it is a matter of inserting the recorded voiceover into the English video by the audio engineers.
• Integrate the localized subtitles into the video: Similar to the above. If you asked for subtitles, then this is where the engineers insert the localized subtitles into the video.
• Integrate the localized on-screen text into the video: Different from the above in that the translation has to be pasted into the correct place in the video (substituting English text with translations).
• Final video quality assurance:  At the end, we play the localized video and compare it against the source to ensure it is fully localized and perfect for delivery to you.

Project Management 

All of the above takes an incredible amount of project management, including scheduling, budgeting, client reviews, issue resolution, and coordination of the management of all assets. We even reach out on your behalf to your original creative agencies for the required files.

If you are a business and need help with your next video project, use a professional video translation company like SimulTrans with offices near you. 

This blog article has been updated to include the latest information.