Capabilities

ForeignExchange provides complete multimedia production services, all the way from pre-production (consultation on the most appropriate means of creating and adapting original content for diverse markets) through production (project management; sourcing, screening and coordinating native-speaking talent; selecting, scheduling and supervising studio recording) to post-production (media duplication, translation of support materials).

Specializing in multi-language projects, our engineers ensure that all multimedia titles are adapted to client specifications. Our experience covers the following types of titles:

• computer-based training (CBT)
• “edutainment”
• games
• presentation

Narration

Dubbing (or lip-synching) is used when the speaker is on screen. It is not recommended for facial shots nor close-ups of the speaker. A specialized manuscript is required, translated and adapted for the lip movements on the screen. Specially skilled talent is needed for the most accurate lip-synching.

Voiceover is most appropriate when the speaker is not on the screen. A new, translated audio track is added, while the original voice and language are retained in the background. While a specialized script is still required for translation, timing is less critical and voiceovers are accomplished more easily and less expensively than dubbing.

Following narration, a separate timing edit is undertaken to ensure that the translated audio script adheres to the timing requirements of the source video.

Subtitling

Subtitling is the translation and condensed interpretation of the on-screen dialogue displayed as text and overlaid on the video. Subtitling can be used when dubbing is not recommended.

Subtitling is an artform all its own. Usually two lines of translated text are placed as a block across the bottom of the picture. While each text block needs to be timed (and often compressed) to the actual events on screen, the two lines have to convey the full meaning of the dialogue.

Using Teletext, DVB subtitling or similar methods, several languages can be transmitted simultaneously over one channel. Subtitles can be displayed in the selected language using a decoder and character generator at the head end of a cable TV system, at a local transmitter or in the viewer’s decoder (Teletext, DVB, etc).

Stripping and Synchronization

Audio and video tracks are synchronized to ensure that sound matches motion. We can produce finished foreign-language media, including video/audio overlays, sound effects and art cards. ForeignExchange delivers final products in any number of media and formats, including DAT, MPEG and many others.

Transcription

We offer comprehensive transcription services from most media. Depending on client requirements, the transcribed text undergoes a series of quality-control and editing steps before being finalized. Often, the transcribed text is then translated into English for further processing by the client.

Have ForeignExchange Translations quote your next production project.