Table of Contents
Introduction
If you have video content that you want to leverage in other languages, you’ve most likely considered using a dubbing tool to localize your videos and make them relevant for your target audience.
Of course alternatives to dubbing exist, such as subtitles and captions, but in many instances hearing a message is more effective than reading it. For example, 86% of Russian adults prefer dubbed content over subtitled content, and this is echoed by the majority of survey respondents in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
So how do you choose the right dubbing tool for your needs? We’ve done the research for you, and have gathered the most important elements to consider when choosing a dubbing solution that will help you achieve your KPIs.
But before we get started, it’s important to understand how dubbing has changed thanks to technology improvements.
What is a dubbing tool?
When many people think of a dubbing tool, they imagine a video with a crude overlay of sound that’s hardly connected to the lip movement or mannerisms of the speakers. While this applies to the majority of dubbing still being used today, the latest dubbing tool innovations have completely upended this outdated way of localizing videos.
A dubbing tool by modern standards is an advanced software solution that uses AI to match authentic sound to lip and body movements, creating a seamless and authentic version of the video in another language.
Of course, not all dubbing tools are created equal. Many get the dubbing relatively close, which for most people is just not close enough.
The latest tools such as Panjaya provide a seamless adaptation that looks and feels as natural as the original speaker.
Choosing the right dubbing tool for you
Are you using product marketing videos to expand into a new geo? Or rolling out your professional education service to a new country? Perhaps you’re a media company expanding your global reach.
In these cases, you’ll want to define your goals (for example video completion rate) and then assess what type of dubbing tool will best achieve your goals.
Here are some different types of dubbing tools, and common use cases for them:
Voiceover software
Includes script synchronization and real-time collaboration, this is generally built for studios managing remote voice actors.
Pros: Offers services such as script synchronization, dubbing timing and script management
Cons: A labor-intensive process, including working with human actors, and with no synchronization with lips or body movements
Use case: Traditional dubbing, especially for animations
Automated dubbing
In this case, a dubbing track is overlaid onto the video, but no effort is made to synchronize the lips or body movements of the subject. Rather, it provides an approximation in terms of the speed of speaking and progress of the video. Currently offered by platforms like YouTube.
Pros: Quick, more affordable
Cons: No synchronization with speaker in video, no matching of voice
Use case: “Quick and dirty” translations of videos into other languages
AI-assisted dubbing tools: first generation
These are a group of tools that leverage AI to somewhat sync a translated voice to a speaker in a video. Generally, these tools are getting better at matching voice to lip movement, but still have a way to go before matching with body movement and original tone of voice.
Pros: Matches a speaker’s lips with the audio
Cons: Doesn’t sync body movements, can land video in “uncanny valley” which is when an AI-generated version of something is off-putting to human senses
Use case: Show target audience that an attempt has been made to localize video into their language
AI-assisted dubbing tools: next generation
A next generation AI-powered dubbing tool is the pinnacle of localization at scale. It not only matches the speaker’s voice and intonations (just in another language) but also effectively matches their lip and body movements, resulting in a video that feels as if it was originally shot in the new, dubbed language.
Pro: Speed, scale, affordability, higher rates of video completions and viewer satisfaction
Cons: Still recommended to have human-in-the-loop for quality control purposes
Use case: Product marketing videos, professional education videos, general content for a wider audience
When it comes to this next generation of dubbing tools, Panjaya is far and away the leader in this space.
Panjaya as the leading dubbing tool option
Panjaya, which is already a partner of TED in localizing videos for a global audience, provides a next generation dubbing tool that has taken the breath away from those experiencing it for the first time.
The dubbing tool integrates voice synthesis and modulation, computer vision, natural language processing, text generation, and intelligent retiming to create a seamless adaptation that looks and feels as natural as the original speaker.
Panjaya’s technology ensures that the pauses, expressions, and body movements of speakers are accurately reflected across languages and cultures. The result? A viewing experience that feels as impactful and authentic as the original.
The solution is already being used by media companies, marketers and professional education platforms to expand their global audience, increase engagement, and grow revenue.
Ready to experience the only dubbing solution that actually feels authentic? Try it now, free.
Conclusion: unlock the benefits of a next generation dubbing tool
We looked at the different types of dubbing solutions available, from the most basic to the most advanced dubbing tools out there. Interestingly, we saw how the latest tools provide significantly better results at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional tools.
The most important consideration was your particular goals and KPIs. With these in hand, choosing the right dubbing tool becomes easier, and your path to growth and success opens before you.