Cutting Spanish Voice Over….

[David Braswell]

1-Have never used Script Sync at all

2-I’ve never had the luxury of “dropping entire sentences” to force a Spanish script to the same length as English. Scripted messages are usually approved somewhere above my paygrade as an editor. It’s best to make sure the client approves all final deletions/additions to accommodate the Spanish translation.

3-Spanish speaking editors would be great. But again, with so many dialects and so many target audiences, you’re asking for trouble if you r client isn’t part of the overall Spanish vetting process.

4-Beyond that, cut the English version first. Get all graphics approved before you do the Spanish translation. Also get the B-Roll approved if possible. That way you can color correct once, and copy the tracks to the Spanish version and adjust lengths there. It’s also very useful to control-click the English version and have it play in its own window for referencing visual edit points against the Spanish.

peace and bueno suerta

[Kevin Thomas]

I’m with you all the way.

It would appear that we are on the same page here.
Quite aware of the dialect issue, just as the Midwestern
Accent is the most widely accepted US English dialect,
we pay attention to that as well.

It would appear, that we have the same workflow for programs created in house.

What we are working on here, is taking broadcast dubs of live shows (superless), transcribing them, translating them and then overdubbing in Spanish. Because it’s broadcast, we have a specific time frame and specific message. Dropped sentences are things like…”ya know, this is the way I cook at home” or “asi es como cocino en mi casa”….. if it doesn’t communicate the message, it goes.

Obviously, as with everything, the client has final say. But, I’ve done enough of these to know what to cut and what to keep.

You never know until you ask. Perhaps someone has a neat little trick that speeds things up. I guess, the only thing that can be done, is being done. Just need talent that don’t screw up as much or allow for more time.

Cheers all around

Life. Style. Never a Shortcut.

No one knows everything, everyone knows something and sometimes we can’t remember
anything… that when we go to the COW!

[Duane Fulk]

I just finished a Spanish translation project and it was the easiest one I’ve ever done because the narrator was a producer as well and understood how to “short cut” the Spanish to make it fit the video. I sent him a quick time of the english version and he did the translation and sent me an mp3 track. All I had to do was lay it in and with a few tweaks it fit perfectly. Finding a Spanish speaking television person instead of an actor is really great. If you have the possibility I suggest you give it a try. I could give you his name if you want to contact me off the forum.

Duane

Duane

[Kevin Thomas]

Thanks for the responses gentlemen.

We have done just that, found someone (after weeks of searching) that did the translation, recorded the v/o and delivered an almost perfect track.

For the time/cost/resources etc… this was the best solution for us.
Wish we had found him months ago!

I’m still doing the titling etc, which is fine and we’re moving forward at the normal pace of our english production now.

On a side note: my Spanish teacher will be here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday… LOL!!

“Stay in School Kiddies!”

Life. Style. Never a Shortcut.

No one knows everything, everyone knows something and sometimes we can’t remember
anything… that when we go to the COW!