In short
- Dubbing replaces the original speech with speech in another language, timed to the picture.
- Good dubbing starts with an adapted script, not a literal translation, because most languages take more or less time than the original.
- Choose dubbing when viewers should not have to read; choose subtitles or voice-over translation when the original voice adds value.
The short answer
Dubbing is the process of replacing the spoken audio of a video with a new track in another language. The viewer hears everyone in their own language, and the original voices are not heard.
The new track is built to fit the picture: each line starts and ends where the original does, and in its fullest form the words are also shaped to the speaker's mouth movement. That last version is called lip sync dubbing.
How dubbing works, step by step
- Transcribe the originalEvery spoken line is written down with its timecode, together with notes about who speaks and how.
- Translate and adaptThe translation is rewritten to fit the time of each line. This is the step that decides quality, because a literal translation is often too long or too short for the scene.
- Cast and direct the voicesEach speaker gets a voice that suits their age, energy and role, and a producer directs the delivery.
- Fit to pictureThe new lines are placed against the video so that they start, pause and end in the right places.
- Review by a native speakerA person who speaks the language natively checks the wording, the tone and the timing.
- Mix and deliverMusic and effects are kept or rebuilt, and the finished audio is delivered per language, named for your editor or platform.
A project that skips the adaptation step is the one that sounds rushed or stretched.
Dubbing, voice-over translation and subtitles
The three methods answer the same need in different ways, and the right one depends on what the viewer is doing while they watch.
| Method | What the viewer hears | What the viewer reads | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubbing | Only the new language | Nothing, or captions | Training, ads, entertainment, product films where viewers are busy watching |
| Voice-over translation | The original quietly, with a translated voice over it | Nothing | Interviews, documentaries and testimonials where the original voice adds credibility |
| Subtitles | The original language | A translation on screen | Content watched with attention, or without sound |
When dubbing is the right choice
Choose dubbing when the viewer's eyes are busy, as in training with a demonstration, a product film or an ad. Choose it when the audience prefers to hear their own language, as in many markets for entertainment and education.
Think twice if the original voice is the point, for example a founder speaking directly to their customers, or if the video is full of on-screen speech that would be hard to match.
- Many speakers on camera at once make the work harder to time.
- Fast speech in a language that needs more syllables must be shortened by the writer.
- Names, product terms and jargon need an agreed spoken form before recording.
What decides the quality
Four things decide whether a dub sounds natural: the adapted script, the casting, the timing and the native review. A strong voice cannot rescue a script that does not fit the picture, and a good script read badly does not either.
If you are comparing providers, ask who adapts the script, who reviews each language and what you can listen to before the whole video is made.
