How Much Does Video Subtitling Services Cost?
Gone are the days when subtitling seemed like a desirable feature to have: Today, it is a must. And, truth be told, while relying on video subtitling services is not something that all companies do, serious brands that see in their video strategy an endless opportunity for expansion do.
In the age of the rush, the time crunch, and the battle of brands for a second of their users’ attention, image is the queen and video, the king. Because of this, the purpose of this blog is not to talk about the importance of what is already obvious, but to delve into the world of rates. Stay tuned to find out what to look out for when you decide to count on subtitle translation services.
Subtitle Translation or Translation for Subtitles?
Dinner is ready but first, let us set the table: Here we have two points to clarify before moving on.
- We make subtitles. We do not translate subtitles. Occasionally we receive a video that already has subtitles in a given language or closed captions, and these can work as guidelines when creating subtitles for another language. However, there are many cultural and technical elements involved that are much more than literally translating. While subtitle translation companies can, of course, translate, the reality is that we often create from scratch, whether or not there is any previous material available.
- In this guide, we are not giving you an exact number on how much budget you should allocate to outsource video subtitling services. This is because, first of all, we do not know your project or your specific needs—yet. Every project is unique and you would not want to be treated with a generic formula. Secondly, for all the following remarks—which are the essential considerations before establishing the rates—, rest assured we prefer to explain why, rather than mislead you with fuzzy numbers.
#OptimationalTip: Just getting a subtitle translation, without local and technical adjustments, will not bring about the best quality results. Some of the aspects we need to consider are line length, terminology complexity, among others.
Video Subtitling Services: What We Look at When Setting Rates
Our goal will always be to come up with top quality content that reflects the value of your brand. So, we may seem picky, and in reality… maybe we are, but only in a way that makes it possible to provide you with the solution your business deserves.
The following are the key cost drivers for subtitle translation services.
Extension of the Project
We measure the time in minutes and analyse the average number of words we say per minute of speech, which ranges between 100 and 150. However, such value depends on the type of content, we can find long videos that contain few lines, such as commercials—which may focus more on image and sound to generate a certain emotion. In contrast, there are also wordy presentations, like product descriptions or terms and conditions.
The number of words is finally calculated by transcribing the audio content—manually or using technology. Once written, we can estimate the word count and the overall rates of the video subtitling services. Although we can only know the actual, precise number of words after we perform the translation. This happens due to differences in grammatical and lexical structures—so the source and target texts may not have identical word counts.
Deadline
The time available to complete the task will influence the estimation of costs for subtitle translation services. This may not surprise you, because the same applies to many other professional services. Ideally, you should provide sufficient time for the professionals to carry out the project, in accordance with the task’s complexity. However, if there is little time, this may increase the fees, as it will require special arrangements.
#OptimationalTip: You can expect a significantly reduced translation cost if the language partner uses a translation memory—which also ensures terminological consistency. Serious subtitle translation companies leverage these tools and have a transparent pricing policy.
Subject Matter
Have you ever been to the dentist? You probably know that a general check-up does not cost as much as orthodontic treatment. The same applies to video subtitling services: The more specialised you need them, the more experience and knowledge they require to achieve good quality results. Therefore, videos on general topics with everyday, easy-to-understand jargon will cost less, whereas if they contain a lot of technical or specialised terminology, rates may increase.
Video Quality
The sound and picture quality are highly important for all professional subtitle translation companies. After all, they determine how well the subtitles will match the actions and movements on the screen. In addition, if there is no written script beforehand, we need to transcribe the lines, and poor video quality can pose a complex challenge there. If the sound is too low, with echoes, or presents any sort of distortion, subtitling costs will increase as this process will require considerable extra time and effort.
#OptimationalTip: Last reminder: Remember how incredibly necessary it is to have a VSEO strategy. Would you like to benefit from one? Then learn about SEO best practices for YouTube video translation.
What Kind of Video Subtitling Services Does Your Business Need?
This is something that, without specific information, we cannot pinpoint. However, we are sure of one thing: The video subtitling services you need, whatever the length or complexity, must be professional. Why is that? Simply because the reputation of your company depends on many factors, and this is one of them. Showing a serious and responsible image ensures that your prospects will be more prone to trust and recommend your brand.
And let us be honest: Nobody likes to read retina-burning subtitles. Yes, we are exaggerating… but really, is it not annoying to read buggy or out-of-sync texts?
Do not let all your video marketing efforts go to waste. Contact us today so we can discuss your needs.
