Subtitling vs Dubbing: Which Is Better for You?

When watching foreign language films, people often ask if there are subtitles or dubbed audio available. Globalization and digitization have made accessing international video content easier. Filmmakers face the challenge of making their content accessible in different languages. Viewers typically choose between subtitles and dubbed audio based on personal preference, with each side claiming superiority. As a creator of foreign video content, it’s crucial to understand the difference between these two approaches. This blog will explore dubbing and subtitling, explaining how each method works and helping you decide which one suits your content and audience.

Agenda

1. What is subtitling?
2. What is dubbing?
3. When to use subtitling vs. dubbing
4. Localize your content with Amberscript
5. Mastering subtitling and dubbing for global impact

What is subtitling?

Subtitling is adding text translation of the original audio onto the screen. It is used to express the audio to viewers who either don’t understand the language or can’t make out what the characters are saying. Without the subtitles, the viewer cannot comprehend what is happening in the audiovisual content.

Video creators can use subtitling in anything from film, television, advertisements, and social media videos. It has gained traction over the years, thanks to the rapid globalization that makes it easy for people to access content from other regions.

The difference between subtitling and captioning

While captioning and subtitling use textual representation, they differ in meaning and purpose. Subtitles convey the message to individuals who can hear the video but can’t understand what is said. As such, they only contain spoken language translations.

On the other hand, captions deliver all the audio information to the viewer. The information will include the sound effects, speakers’ identities, and nonspeech elements like wind howling and car hooting. They’re also written in the same language as the audio. Captions are best for those who can’t hear the audio.

Pros of subtitling

Here are the advantages of subtitling your video content.

Accessibility: Subtitling allows the filmmaker to reach a wider audience from around the globe. Subtitles will allow anyone who doesn’t understand the spoken language to follow what is happening through reading the text. 

Authenticity: Subtitling allows the viewers to watch the video in its purest form. The original voices from the actors remain unaltered, meaning you get to enjoy all the details, like the tone the actors and directors wanted you to experience.

Improves Foreign Language Skills: If you are learning a foreign language, watching videos with the language using subtitles will help sharpen your skill. Reading and listening to the audio simultaneously will help you master the pronunciation, meaning, and grammar.

Boosts Video SEO : The more people from a specific region watch a video, the higher the video is ranked in search engines. Subtitling enables viewers from other regions to watch your content, giving it a better chance of ranking higher.

Cons of subtitling

Here are the disadvantages of using subtitles to enjoy audiovisual content.

Distraction: Subtitles can sometimes become distracting to the viewer. Subtitles are usually placed at the bottom of the screen, meaning the viewer has to change their gaze. Sometimes, you’ll get lost in reading the subtitles and miss some details in the video.

Text Expansion: Text expansion means the new language may use more words than the original language to convey the same message. It means more words occupy the screen, giving a less satisfactory experience.

Pacing vs. Dialogue: If the dialogue in the video is fast, it can make it complicated to read the subtitles quickly enough and follow what is happening in the video. You may find yourself pausing the film to read subtitles, which is unpleasant.

What is dubbing?

Dubbing is the process of overlaying a recorded spoken audio in another language to the original video to replace the speaker’s original speech. It is used majorly by viewers who prefer the audio in their preferred language with reading subtitles.

Dubbing begins with a voice artist recording a translated original audio, which is then added to the video in post-production. However, dubbing shouldn’t be confused with voiceovers, which are used in storytelling to provide more information on the characters and the action in the movie.

Pros of dubbing

Here are some of the reasons why dubbing is beneficial to viewers.

Text Free Viewing: Dubbing relies on audio and not text, meaning that the viewer can understand what is happening without dating their eyes to the subtitles. As such, the viewer can effortlessly follow what is happening in the video.

Portrays Emotion and Tone: The voice actors who translate the audio are required to take the personality of the original actor in terms of tone and emotion. As such, the viewer gets to experience the emotions as intended.

Ideal for Those Who Struggle to Read: Dubbing allows those who struggle to read to follow the video in their native language using audio.

Easier to Censure: If the original audio goes against some rules like cursing, dubbing makes it easier to censure. The original audio is replaced, and the new one can avoid restricted words or statements.

Cons of dubbing

Here are the disadvantages of dubbing.

Inaccessibility: While dubbing makes it easier for those who can’t understand the original language to follow the video, it doesn’t assist those who can’t hear. Therefore, it does little to enable complete accessibility.

Inaccuracies: During the translation, some original dialogue can get lost, making the film slightly different for the audience. It can also include the performance of some of the artists, as the voiceover artist may not deliver the tone and emotions.

It’s Expensive: Getting a different set of voice artists to translate the audio is expensive. First, you’ll have to pay all the new artists and spend money overlaying the audio into the video.

Distracting: The distraction in this scenario differs from subtitling. While recording voices, the production usually uses one voice actor for more than one character. It can become confusing to associate a particular voice with more than one character.

When to use subtitling vs. dubbing

Regardless of your personal preferences or those of the viewer, it is good to use facts and decide what is best for your business. Here are factors to consider.

1. Language proficiency – You need to consider whether it is easier for the target audience to read their language or listen. In cases where audio is better, go with dubbing and vice versa.
2. Personal preferences – If you get to know the personal preference of your target audience, you’ll have to follow them to deliver something satisfactory.
3. Budget – Dubbing and Subtitling cost different amounts, and choosing one will depend on how much you can allocate to the process.
4. Age of Viewers – If your target audience is young kids, dubbing is ideal as they may find it difficult to read and follow the action.

Localize your content with Amberscript

Subtitling and dubbing are long, tedious tasks that require professionals for a successful outcome. If you are looking for someone to handle your localization needs, Amberscript is perfect for you. All our dubbing and subtitling processes are simple and ensure your project is done on time and cost-efficiently.

Our dubbing process in three simple steps

Here are the steps you need to take to access the Amberscript dubbing services.

1. Request a Quotation: You will provide information on your dubbing needs. You’ll provide the volume of video you want to dab, your contact information, and any other comments you have.
2. Choose the Service You Want: Here, you’ll decide whether you want synthetic or human voice actors.
3. Get your Voices: You’ll receive high-quality voices for your dubbing needs.

Our subtitling process: easy, fast and accurate

Here are the steps to take for our subtitling services.

1. Request a Quote: You’ll start by deciding on the type of service you want. The choices are machine-made subtitles, human-made subtitles, and translated subtitles. You’ll provide the volume of video you want subtitles within a year, then your contact information and any comment.
2. Upload: You’ll provide the audiovisual you want subtitled.
3. Receive Subtitles: You’ll receive high-quality subtitles within the specified time.

Mastering subtitling and dubbing for global impact

Subtitling and dubbing are essential to any organization or filmmaker with an international reach. They’ll help you provide audiovisual content in the language that the people of specific regions understand, giving you better visibility and ranking.

When deciding what is best for your organization, you must consider personal preference, culture, and budget, among other things. The most important thing is understanding how each works and getting the best professionals to handle the job for you.

If you want the best dubbing and subtitling service provider, Amberscript is perfect. You can try out the Amberscrit free trial to check their work.