Dubbing film

Dubbing is a post-production process where the original language of recording is swapped with audio in a different language and is then mixed with the audio of the media to make it sound as natural as possible. It gets more complicated than that, but in a nutshell, thats what dubbing is.

Though not very common for Americans to hear in films, dubbed content is common in many other countries. For example, the majority of the world did not experience Avengers: Endgame this past spring in English; through the magic of dubbed content, allowed non-English speakers to get the full experience.

For us English-speakers, however, dubbing is still occasionally seen. Dark, arguably Netflixs hottest show at the moment, was originally recorded in German.

Though there are some English subtitles for those who wish to experience the original performance (which well also cover later on), the majority of people watch this show as a dubbed film. Even though it might seem rare, a huge portion of Americans who watch the show experienced it with English dubbing.

This is because dubbing meansfamiliar.

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This post was updated in April 2021

Dubbing vs. Subtitles vs. Voice-overs: Whats the Difference?

There isnt only one way to communicate from one language to another.

Depending on what you need, subtitles or voice-overs can be used to get the message across. Deciding which one will work for you depends on a number of factors, but they all are very different ways to communicate the same general ideas.

What changes, is the artform.

Subtitling vs. Dubbing

Although there is certainly some confusion between voice-overs and dubbing, subtitling couldnt be more different.

Subtitling is the process of translating the audio into the target language and then having that translated text appear as subtitles on the bottom of the screen. If youre a true movie purist and youre watching a movie in another language, youll likely opt to watch the subtitled version rather than the dubbed versionand we dont blame you.

Theres something that simply doesnt add up when lips & audio dont seem to match.

Heres an example of a Pokemon episode being subbed:

And now, the same episode being dubbed:

Subtitles allow the viewer to understand the foreign language, while at the same time preserving the original vocal intonations and performances of the actual actors rather than some voice actors recorded in a studio.

Whereas dubbing changes the original audio and voice, subtitling simply allows for the understanding the message without compromising the original audio. Thats not to say that dubbing doesnt come in handy, though!

If the dubbing voice actors are talented, it is often much easier to watch a movie or play a video game without having to read each and every subtitle.

Voice-over vs. Dubbing

This is where it can get a little confusing.

If youre reading this and arent super sure what the difference is, we get it. On the surface, it can almost sound like voice-overs and dubbing are just different words for the same thing. They arent, and it helps to understand the differences.

The best way we can communicate the difference is that dubbing is much more immersive than a voice-over. A voice-over generally tends to be narrative by nature, it does not capture the original tones of the actors, and also does not sync up with the movements and mouths of the original characters.

A voice-over communicates the message, but usually not the emotion.

Dubbing, however, replaces the original audio as accurately as possible in order to create an immersive experience. This process is sometimes also called Language Replacement. For movies, video games, and tv shows, this can be the best option for creating natural-sounding content, if available.

Dubbing in Different Media

Dubbing shows up all the time in our video games, movies, and music. Sometimes, more often than youd expect.

And thats the Catch 22. If you notice dubbed content, then it means that it could be done better.Your aim then should be to skim through, not noticing, as if nothing was done.

But when done well, the results are again: natural.

Here is when you quickly realize there are more uses for dubbing than you may think at first, especially in our globalized world. People wantorganic, they want natural, they want a message to be effectively and seamlessly sent across the globe.

This means that subtitling is good, voice-overs are better, but dubbing is the creme of the crop.

Dubbing in Films and Movies

When we think of dubbed movies, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the idea of Language Replacement.

However, in film language, things can get a bit more specific.

The term dubbing actually refers to the process in which filmmakers and editors take additional audio recordings and then, mix them into the original soundtrack to create the final, polished soundtrack that you hear in the movie.

A bit different, but overall, the same intention.

Dubbing in Music

Just like with films, dubbing means something different altogether in the whimsical terminology of music.

In music, this process is when you transfer or duplicate a song. The song in question can be transferred to a different medium or the same one, but the point is that the song is copied over.

Dubbing in Video Games

Though dubbing in music and films takes on a very different meaning than it does normally, video games break the mold.

In video games, it works pretty similarly as weve explained above: you replace part of the original language with voice actors in a new language.

There is a lot of discussion over whether subtitling or dubbing (also known as the subs vs dubs debate) is the best choice for video games, and you can find raging fanbases who will back up whichever position.

Dont believe us? Here is a full discussion from the guys at Accredited Language.

Whatever the case is, translating your content is a huge component to video game production, or at least, it should be.

How Dubbing Works

Before we get into technicalities, its critical to know that there are a few different methods that are used to dub content.

Ranging from Looping to ADR to voiceovers, it can get confusing pretty quickly. Fortunately, were here to help you understand the different techniques used for all kinds of dubbed media and what they aim to do.

What Are the Different Kinds of Dubbing?

Not all dubbing is created equal. Here are the main differences between them.

• Voice-over
  

  Weve talked about the differences between voice-overs and what is typically considered dubbing, but technically speaking, voice-overs are a type of dubbed work.
  Youll generally see these in interviews or non-narrative media. Since the voice-over primarily exists to communicate the overall message, and not necessarily to immerse or to create an illusion that the speaker is actually saying the dubbed words.

• Looping or ADR

  Generally conserved for extremely expensive feature films, looping, also known as ADR looping, is likely the most difficult and time-consuming method of dubbing.

  For ADR, youll need Automatic Dialogue Replacement (ADR) equipment, and it can get pretty expensive. But through looping, (the process of essentially looping short phrases of narration at a time and syncing it perfectly), will result in the best-finished product according to many filmmakers.

• Lock-to-Picture Recording

  This is a more affordable alternative to ADR, and the process is also slightly different. Basically, professional voice actors watch the film or media and try to translate and replicate the original performance as best as possible. This means that instead of expensive equipment, you rely on talented professionals. Making this a very effective method of creating dubbed media.

• Lectoring

  Similar to some of the other dubbing techniques, lectoring is when the original audio volume is lowered while the voice-over recording is played louder.
  You might have seen this, especially when covering international news cycles. The recording is then synced to make sure that it matches the duration of the original audio, and voilá!

Need a dubbing artist quick? Submit a project now!

The Dubbing Process

Youre now completely educated (well, as educated as you can be from a quick reading of an article) on dubbing, how it works, and its different variations that all contribute to the vast world of audio. Now, lets cover the general process that most people have to go through to get their media successfully dubbed.

Heres a nice video from the guys from the Movavi Vlog:

1. Script translation

   First, your script will need to be accurately translated to prepare for dubbing. This should, of course, be done by a pro.

2. Voice casting

   Then, you will need to cast voice actors to complete the dubbing process. Keep in mind that choosing the right voice actors is crucial to making sure your content is as high-quality and as natural as possible.
   Aim to get experienced voice actors, with positive ratings or quality control assurance as this can be tricky.

3. Voice actor recording

   Once the script has been translated and the voice actors cast, the recording process must start. This process can be different depending on which dubbing technique you decide to use. But overall, a recording must be done.

4. Dialogue mixing
   

   Here is when the editing gurus must jump in. Its time to start mixing the dialogue in order to help it fit seamlessly with the content. The less apparent, the better.

5. Release
   

   Once all these steps are completed, youll be ready to release your dubbed project congratulations! The release can have its own technicalities and implementations, but this will differ from project to project and medium to medium. And youre done!

Which Should I Choose?

From subtitling to dubbing, ADR to lectoring, and video games to films, it can all be overwhelming at first, we know.

That said, its worth taking the time to decide what will be the best fit for your project.

A large part of deciding which route to take will depend on your budget and time constraints; its great to get these defined before you start exploring your potential options.

This being said, here are a couple of recommendations:

• If you are interested in immersion and have a low budget, subtitling may be the way to go.
• On the flip side, projects with more of a focus on ease of understanding and fluid use could be better suited for proper dubbing.

Whichever route you choose, you can never go wrong with transforming your content to different languages or styles depending on your market and their needs. Youll expand your audience, and get your content out to entirely different groups of people.

Remember, communication is in the middle of it all. And your ultimate goal is to get your message across.

When youre ready, well be there for you. Submit a dubbing project with Bunny Studio and hire an amazing voice pro today!