Translating your video content is the first step to globalizing your business and reaching new audiences. Video translation goes beyond simply narrating in new languages — it also includes updating subtitles and improving localization to further resonate with fresh audiences.
Learning how to translate a video properly can also improve your ROI. In fact, 76% of online shoppers prefer to purchase products with information in their native language, and 40% will not buy without translation. Video translation is a key part of successful video marketing campaigns, and this guide will walk you through how to do it in five steps.
Step 1: Transcribe the audio
If no original video script is available, the first step is to transcribe your audio into text. Fortunately, automatic speech recognition (ASR) tools make transcribing easier than manual human services. ASR systems capture speech, convert it to an audio file, clean the audio to remove background noise, and convert it to text. This can reduce human error and speed up the process.
You can also use AI tools like ChatGPT to create a video script in seconds. This allows you to revamp old video text, add additional text to the video, or promote new products and services without the legwork behind writing a new script. However, ChatGPT won’t create a video or directly translate audio, so you’ll still need other tools like HeyGen to complete translations.
Step 2: Translate the text
There are several methods when it comes to actually translating the text in videos. Some options include:
- Machine translation tools: Tools like Google Translate are readily available and free; however, they lack the features to turn your translations into new content. They provide a new script but won’t produce a video to distribute to new locations.
- Voiceovers: You can hire a professional translator to create new voiceovers, but this will be costly and extremely time-consuming.
- Translate with AI: You can translate your content with AI to save time and money. Simply upload the text to a tool like HeyGen and translate the copy into over 170 different languages and dialects with the click of a button.
Learning how to translate audio from a video with AI allows you to move to the next step more cohesively.
Step 3: Create subtitles
Translating subtitles not only improves accessibility but can also be more engaging for the viewer. Notably, over a third of American adults still prefer subtitles. Subtitles also allow viewers to take in your message even if the video sound is off, furthering their importance.
AI software can automatically translate subtitles, saving you the effort of manual translation. You can simply translate subtitles while leaving the original video untouched or take it a step further and use smart dubbing and lip-syncing tools.
Step 4: Dub the audio
Dubbing translations over your current audio allows listeners to absorb the content further. By replacing the original audio with a translated voiceover, you ensure your message is clear and engaging. There are several ways to make sure dubbing seems natural, including:
- AI-driven lip-syncing: This allows you to automatically replace the audio with translated content while using AI to match the new words to the speaker’s lips. This offers a more natural viewing experience. Translation tools like HeyGen offer AI-driven lip-syncing features.
- Voice cloning: Clone your voice or the original speaker’s voice to make sure tone and originality match across translated content. Use voice cloning to create a more cohesive experience for your audience.
- Localization: Make sure dubbing sounds natural by using localization features to match local dialect, inflections, and accents. Use HeyGen’s AI tools to simplify video localization.
Properly dubbing your translated content can help your business stand out with high-quality videos that reach new audiences.
Step 5: Download your new videos
Your videos are ready to be shared with the world. Download your new videos or avatars and share them on relevant platforms. To achieve the best visibility, size them correctly for each social media or web platform.
Boosting translated videos through ad campaigns to the aligned location can attract an entirely new audience while establishing your brand on a global level.
Benefits of translating videos
Translating your videos can improve your business's overall ROI. Taking this step shows customers you want to connect in a way that makes sense to them. Some video translation benefits include:
- Wider audience reach: Connect with a new audience and tap into new buyer personas to potentially boost sales.
- SEO: Translation can optimize your videos for SEO by making them more discoverable to all audiences.
- Accessibility: Improve accessibility by translating subtitles for viewers who may utilize the feature.
- Improve ROI: Translation facilitates communication across new markets, which can improve your overall sales.
- Brand recognition: Video content introduces customers to the behind-the-scenes aspects of your brand. It allows them to get to know you and recognize your content by tone and branding.
Translating your content offers returns that can benefit your business for many years to come.
Translate videos with HeyGen
HeyGen’s translation features simplify translation, allowing you to dedicate more time to other areas of your business. AI helps this tool automatically transcribe audio, translate text, clone a speaker’s voice to naturally adapt your videos to new languages, and localize content to raise video standards.
HeyGen can also translate a video and provide AI-driven lip-syncing straight from a video URL. This saves time by avoiding a lengthy uploading process. With support for translations in over 170 languages and dialects, HeyGen makes it easy to start reaching a global audience quickly.
Sign up for HeyGen today and see the difference high-quality video translations can make.
How to translate a video FAQ
How does online video translation work?
Online video translation involves using AI to automatically transcribe the audio from your original video, translating the text, updating subtitles in the new language, and the option for AI lip-syncing to enhance the videos.
What types of videos can I translate?
You can translate YouTube videos, training materials, explainer videos, internal communication videos, marketing videos, and many more types of videos.
How can I translate YouTube videos?
You can directly translate YouTube subtitles through YouTube, use AI software to translate the actual video, or record a new voiceover to dub over your existing audio.
Can I use Google to translate a video?
Yes, you can translate text using Google Translate; however, it will not translate the actual audio in your video. HeyGen offers an all-in-one solution to produce finalized videos without multiple tools.
