How Much Does Professional Video Translation Cost on Average?
Video captions are more than accessibility tools; they're bridges to global audiences. They enable content visibility on muted devices and open doors to diverse markets. But how does professional video translation work, and what are the costs?
How Video Translation Typically Works with Language Service Providers
Translating video subtitles isn't as simple as converting text. It involves a detailed process. Here's a snapshot:
- Creating the Time-Coded Source Language Track: A linguist transcribes the original audio and applies start and end timecodes where needed. Not all linguists know how to apply timecodes, so they're specialized in doing this.
- Source Language Track Review: A second linguist checks the work done by their colleague to correct any errors and timecode mistakes, eventually re-aligning timecodes, as well.
- Subtitle Translation: A linguist who is mother-tongue in the target language translates the source and adapts it to fit the cultural context.
- Translation Review: Another linguist reviews the translation and checks for errors. Depending on the client's requirements, this review process may involve multiple linguists working in sequence to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
Unit Measure for Subtitle Translations
Though some providers charge per word, nowadays the standard in enterprise video subtitling is per video minute charging. This reflects the actual work involved.
What Affects Subtitle Translation Cost?
Several factors come into play when determining the cost of subtitle translation:
- Language Pair: Common languages like English to Spanish are more affordable than rarer pairs such as Norwegian to Turkish.
- Complexity: Industry jargon, difficult topics, or frequent idiomatic expressions can affect the price.
- Compliance with Standards for the Hearing Impaired: Producing subtitles that comply with guidelines such as 508, SDH, WCAG, and ADA may incur additional costs.
- TAT (Turnaround Time): A faster turnaround time often incurs rush rates, making the translation more expensive. Whether it's a last-minute project or a carefully planned one, the time taken for translation can significantly impact the overall cost.
Examples of Market Rates for Enterprise Video and Audio Subtitle Translation in 2023
Here's some examples of language pair quotes based on a survey of July 2023 across traditional language service providers selling video translation services to enterprise clients.
Average Enterprise Captioning Rates in 2023
| Language | Caption | Caption Review | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | $1.35-$3.75 | $1.25-$2.00 | $1.35-$5.75 |
| Spanish (Latin America) | $1.50-$4.50 | $1.25-$2.00 | $1.50-$6.50 |
| German | $3.50-$5.50 | $2.00-$3.00 | $3.50-$8.25 |
| Swedish | $3.75-$5.50 | $2.25-$3.25 | $3.75-$8.75 |
| Chinese | $3.50-$6.50 | $2.50-$3.50 | $3.50-$10.00 |
| Japanese | $3.50-$7.00 | $2.50-$4.50 | $3.50-$11.50 |
Typically, the client can choose from several options: a simple translation done by one professional linguist, a two-step translation that includes an additional review by a second linguist, or if accuracy is a particular concern, a three-step process where another linguist proofreads the final result.
Average Enterprise Video Subtitles Translation Rates in 2023
Here are some example end-user rates for the localization of English media:
| Language Pair | Translation | Translation Review | Proofreading | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English to Spanish | $5-$12 | $2.50-$6.00 | $2.00-$4.00 | $5.00-$22.00 |
| English to German | $7-$14 | $3.50-$7.00 | $2.50-$4.50 | $7.00-$25.50 |
| English to Swedish | $8.50-$14.00 | $5.00-$7.50 | $4.00-$6.00 | $8.50-$30.00 |
| English to Japanese | $12.00-$16.00 | $6.00-$8.00 | $5.00-$7.00 | $12.00-$31.00 |
Average Total Costs of Human Video Localization in 2023: Some Examples
When translating professionally, it's essential to begin with a solid foundation in the source text. Therefore, translating directly from a non-reviewed captioning source is typically not advisable. For our purposes, we will consider a workflow that includes captioning plus one review (commonly referred to as a 2-step process) as the baseline for calculating the total cost of localization:
| Language Pair | Source lang Caption | Target lang Translation | Total Price Range | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English to Spanish | $2.75-$6.50 | $5.00-$22.00 | $7.75-$28.50 | $18.15/min |
| English to German | $5.50-$8.25 | $7.00-$25.50 | $12.50-$33.75 | $23.15/min |
| English to Swedish | $6.00-$8.75 | $8.50-$30.00 | $14.50-$38.75 | $26.65/min |
| English to Japanese | $6.00-$11.50 | $12.00-$31.00 | $18.00-$42.50 | $30.25/min |
Human Subtitle Translation Is Expensive
Humans can translate 40-60 minutes of video per day, and if they're real professionals, the quality is usually excellent. But what if we could do better? Can we reach the same level of accuracy that professional linguists can provide, at a much lower cost, and faster turn-around-times?
AI and MTPE (Machine Translation Post Editing) to the Rescue
With new-generation subtitling services like Fluen AI, you can have a video automatically captioned and translated into your target language (or multiple languages) for less than $0.19/min. Yes, that's significantly cheaper, but what about quality? Isn't it akin to running ASR on a video and putting it through Google Translate?
Well, no, not really.
AI accuracy has been making strides in the past year or so, but we must remember that this is still machine-generated content, and sometimes it shows. This is where Fluen AI comes in. Using tailored segmentation/spotting, NLP-based algorithms, and features like Auto-Wordsmith—which can auto-condense translations when the target is much longer than the source without losing any meaning—Fluen AI manages to bring AI subtitles closer to something a human might write. It's like giving the machine a bit of a human touch, mimicking what professional linguists do every day.
AI Efficiency
Built with these features and a good general LLM (Large Language Model), Fluen Studio can automatically produce subtitles with 92-99% accuracy, depending on the language. The beauty of AI is not just in speed but in adaptability. For many scenarios, 92-99% accuracy can meet the needs without manual intervention. This is where AI & NN engines truly shine, providing both efficiency and affordability.
Exploring MTPE
Want to edge closer to perfection? Manual post-editing or Fluen's team of linguists can further refine the translation, inching towards 100% accuracy. An adapted version of MTPE for time-coded content ensures quality, as a refreshing blend of tech-savvy and human nuance – the best of both worlds, really.
The Cost of AI+MTPE Video Translation
The total cost of AI video translation + MTPE is much lower — up to 60% less than traditional means. With comparable quality, it presents a compelling option for many.
Conclusion
Today's AI & NN-based translation engines are revolutionizing the way we translate videos. Whether 95% accuracy meets your needs or you seek perfection through MTPE, the path to global reach has never been more accessible or cost-effective.