How to Avoid Some Common Mistakes in Audio-Video Translations?

“Take your videos from meh to magnificent.”

Did you know that in the French dub of the movie Home Alone, the title was mistranslated to Maman, j’ai raté l’avion—which means “Mom, I missed the plane?” That completely changes the original intent of the film, probably confusing the French expecting a fun Christmas movie. The reason? Poor audio-video translations.

Regardless of being a content creator, marketing agency, or business aiming to expand operations, everyone understands the value of a strong and engaging video. Although an essential tool to effectively engage with audiences worldwide, a poorly translated video can confuse them and make them feel alienated.

In this blog, we will understand HOW some videos are not translated up to the mark and some professional tips to avoid these pitfalls.

Why Are Audio-Video Translations So Tricky?

Before we understand the importance of audio-video translations, we need to explore what they are. An audio-video translation is the process of converting the language of visual content into a different language. However, just converting the word isn’t enough; a professional translator also needs to understand the tone, emotion, and timing to ensure perfection.

However, a professional translation company faces the following challenges in audio-video translations:

• Literal Translations: In videos, word-for-word translations won’t always capture the proper essence of the video.
• Implementing Proper Tone and Emotion: The gravity of a spoken dialogue is a difficult task to execute in other languages.
• Audio Timing: Synching the translated audio and video files is essential. Several studies have concluded that audiences lose interest faster if the sync is not done properly.
• Cultural Nuances: Some phrases are unique to their language. They either don’t translate well or may mean something completely different in the target language.
• Accents and Dialects: Languages have dozens of accents or dialects depending on the region they are spoken in. Comprehending the heavy accent and then translating the language can become a tedious task for voiceover artists.
• Background Noise: Poor audio quality files due to background noise can affect the understanding of a speech, especially if the transcription of the content is not provided.

Common Mistakes in Audio-Video Translations

It is simple: translated videos can either be a global hit or a confusing mess. Fortunately, the fate of the video is still in the hands of its creator. By partnering with a professional translation company, one can avoid the following pitfalls:

• Incorrect Subtitle Timing or Length: Adding proper subtitles is essential for a high-quality video. However, in some cases, the subtitle length and timing get mismatched, resulting in unappealing videos. The rule of thumb is to only use 40 characters in each line of subtitles, and they should appear on the screen for 1-8 seconds.
• Improper Emotional Tone: While translating into a different language, some voiceover artists fail to implement the required emotional depth of the original dialog. This results in a flat audio translation that fails to engage audiences.
• Ignoring Complementing Audio Elements: External audio cues, such as background effects and ambient sounds, are often not accurately reproduced in translated audio-video content.
• Inaccurate Lip Sync in Dubbing: Distorted lip sync can easily distract viewers and hamper engagement. Effective dubbing necessitates adapting the translated dialogue to match the original speaker’s mouth movements and timing, ensuring audio feels natural in dubbing.
• Overuse of Automated Subtitles: Many content creators opt for automated subtitles due to their speed. However, if not reviewed by professional linguists, these subtitles can do more harm than good. According to HappyScribe, automated subtitles have a sync accuracy of 85%. Furthermore, free subtitle-generating tools offer only about 75% linguistic accuracy.

Just like audio-video translations, transcription services also face certain challenges. Want to explore more? Check out this blog: Transcription Services: Modern Challenges Require Modern Solutions!

How to Overcome Them?

Seamless audio-video translations can only be achieved if one follows these expert-backed tips:

• Native Translators Over Bilingual Translators: Being bilingual is a talent, but being a native translator is a professional skill. Native translators bring not only linguistic proficiency but also technical expertise. They can effortlessly address accent and dialect challenges and ensure local flavor with high accuracy.
• Multilingual Voiceover Translations: Investing in a top-tier voiceover translation service would be an ideal choice for a company aiming for global engagement. A professional voiceover artist ensures:
  • The emotional tone and pacing of the original speaker are matched.
  • Native voiceover artists bring in authenticity.
  • Voiceover narration complements—and does not compete with—background sound. For example, a native voiceover artist describing the roar of a tiger must not overlap the narration.
• Don’t Skimp on Video Localization: Beyond language, it is important to make the content native. This can be done by:
  • Changing on-screen text, graphics, and measurements (like miles to kilometers).
  • Adapt cultural references to local alternatives.
  • Adjust colors, symbols, or music according to local preferences—only if necessary.
• Work With a Professional Translation Company: A professional agency doesn’t just bring audio-video translations but other solutions like DTP services to help enhance visual aesthetics. They also offer a comprehensive experience, encapsulated by quality assurance steps, customer service, and bundled pricing.

Final Words

Before we wrap up the blog, here is a checklist for all to consider:

• Avoid literal and tone-deaf translations.
• Employ native translators familiar with dialects.
• Invest in top-tier audio-video translation services, like Somya Translators.
• Don’t just translate—localize your videos.

A perfect audio-video translation is a combination of several elements. However, to get this combination right, it is vital to collaborate with ISO 17100:2015-certified, professional translation companies, like Somya Translators.

With us, you get:

• Quick turnaround time and 24/7 customer support.
• Native translators who are highly skilled in replicating various dialects and accents.
• Budget-friendly pricing model.
• 16+ years of experience in the language industry.
• Comprehensive solutions, like video localization, DTP services, and subtitling.
• Linguistic support in 170+ languages.

So, if you want your videos to travel the world and still feel homely, reach out to us. Let’s collaborate to make your videos speak the language—culturally, emotionally, and fluently.