Use the following checklist when a customer is sending you audiovisual material for

translation. Ask the following questions:

1. What format is your video file?

There are various file formats available and it’s crucial to make sure to receive files that you
can work with. I recommend you to ask your client to send you the video in mp4 format,
which is very popular.

2. Do you have a source text template available?

For any AV translation, you need a source text template first. If your client is asking you to
create this, you need to use a subtitle editor for this purpose.

3. What format is your source text template?

There are just as many subtitle formats available as video file formats. You may receive
different formats depending on what your customer is going to do with the subtitles
afterwards (display videos with subtitles online, use subtitles with a custom video player, use
them in a video editing tool etc.). The desired format for input and output can make a
difference for your approach. Often it is possible to save files in SRT format, (untimed) Excel
(for memoQ ) or TXT file, then merge it with the timed subtitle format. Depending on your
customer’s requirements, it might be necessary to improvise and try out different approaches,
but don’t worry - you will find a solution eventually.

4. Do you have a script available (without timecodes)?

A script can serve as a reference for your translation. The source text template is often already
truncated to fit into the available timing. Therefore, the script can be much longer and contain
additional information. If you have a script available, you can have a look at the decisions of
the person created the template, and if necessary, use the additional information you find.

5. Do you have any other formal requirements?

Here can be many different issues to think of. Keep this an open question. It is okay if your
customer leaves this blank.

6. Reading speed? (words per minute, characters per seconds)

The reading speed can be measured in either words per minute or characters per second.
Remember it is possible to adjust the character limit in subtitleworkshop if you want to
receive a warning when the maximum length is exceeded.

7. What is the maximum length of a line? How many lines maximum?

Normal is somewhere between 30 and 40 characters per line, and one or two lines per subtitle.
Ask your client what they prefer.
8. What is the bit rate/frame rate?

There are different settings available for your videos. This is rather techy and most of the time
it is not an issue. Subtitleworkshop uses the standard settings of your files, but you should be
aware that they exist and read up on them if they seem to be an issue for your work.

9. What is the source language? Is it the same as the video template language?

This is not always the same. Particularly for “difficult” and small languages, a pivot language
process is recommended.

10. What is the target language?

Customers sometimes forget to tell you the target language(s). Also think of the market they
intend to use this translation for.

+1 Do you have any style requirements for the translation? (most common: Netflix-style)

There are many things you could find in a style guide. If you are unsure about how to handle
the style of an AV translation, ask your client or look for style guides online. Important
questions such as how to deal with:

 Multiple speakers
 Abbreviations
 Quotes
 Proper product names
 Formality

Communication is especially important for projects that are a bit more out of the ordinary.
This is even more true when the client is sending over more unusual content for translation,
for instance, audiovisual material. They might have received it, for example for their new
website, or as part of their trade fair package. And now they rely on you and your expertise to
translate it just as successfully as you would do with any other file format.

I hope that this summary will be helpful when you start working on your future audiovisual
translation project.

Know the difference!

Template
In audiovisual translation, a “template” is the source text with the timecodes( also called
original subtitle file), for instance in SRT format. This is what we need to work on in order to
get the translated subtitles afterwards.