Video LocalizationChallenges, Opportunities and

Common Practices

Anton Bollen

Customer&MarketStrategist

800+software training anddocumentation videos

inmultiplelanguages

Workwith Customers&Learn from them about theirVideoNeedsand Experiences

And who are you!?

LanguageServiceProvider:Createand localize videos for

your clients.

Company:Createyour own videoswith aneed to localize

them.

The „You“

• Similar challanges

• Similar workflows

• Benefit of understanding the other side

• Goal: Strive for joint video localization processwhenever possible.

Trend: Video Usage is IncreasingVideowillmakeup82%ofallinternettrafficby2021– CiscoSolutions

YouTubeisthesecondmostpopularsearchengineintheworld– afterGoogle.

Videousageincreasesinsocialmedia,newsandyourcommunication(Skype,Facetime).

TechnicalDocumentation with Videosand Images

38%are using video

93%are using images

TechSmith Spot Check Survey @ TC World 2016 n = 49

83 % see video as extremely or very important for their training content strategy

86% of training professionals plan on creating more video content next year

TechSmith Spot Check Survey @ Learntec 2017 n= 57

UseofVideoinTraining/eLearning

Arguments forVideo Adoption

Advances intechnology made video creation and consumption easier.Culturalshift inpeople‘s expectation and perception.

Some Advantagesof Video• Showprocesses and convey informationen clearly,engagingand effectively

• Gives the viewer full control (Pause,Rewind,Rewatch)• Videois what customers and employees want• Competitive Advantage• Efficient &Reusable:Savetime&money ontraining,onboarding and communication

Let‘s start creating videos,right?

Videois complex.

Visual• Speaker• Process• Software• Graphics

Text• Titleslides• Lower

Thirds• Warnings• Captions

Audio• Voiceover• Dialogue• (Noise)• (Music)

Cultural• Audience• Tone• Examples• Symbols• Laws

There is a lotyou could localize.

What do you actuallyneed to localize?

VideoElements

What elements do you need to localizefor the video to achieve its goal?

Factors: • Type of Video• Audience & Expectation• Content & Content Design

• Available Resources (Time & Money)

A Localization Process(My Story)

2005

TrainingDepartmentIntern

Instructional Videos

What dowe needto localize?

OnboardingVideos

We need to localize: • Software Screen

Recording• Titleslides• Audio• On-Screen Text• Captions• Examples

Our video localization process.

• Awell structured script &storyboard

From theeffects pane,drag and draw thegreen screen effect ontothevideo clip.Then use theeyedroper tool to define theshade ofgreen you want to remove.Previewtheresults and adjust thesettingsuntil you are satisfied with theresults.

From theeffects pane,drag and drop thegreen screen effect onto thevideo clip.Then use theeyedroper tool to define theshade of green you want toremove.Previewtheresults and adjust thesettings until you are satisfied withtheresults.

1

1

2

3

Our video localization process.1. Script2. Screen (or Video) Recordings• Based on script and storyboard• One recording for each language

3. Audio Recordings• DIY or Voice Over Artists• Based ond script

4. Editing & Synchronisation• Update on-screen text, partially re-create scenes etc. • Leverage original (EN) project if possible.

Synchronisation?Fairly Easy.(for me)

Idon‘t speak the language!Synchronisationproblem!

(Doyou have aVideoProduction Specialist for each language?)

One AudioFileperStep

1. Create or import a singlerecording in audio editingsoftware.

2. Manually set markerscorresponding to each scriptsection.• During Audio Clean Up• Language proficiency

required

3. Export multiple audio clips froma single recording.

Tip: Individual Clips from a Single Recording

Required: Audio Recording andEditing Software

Commercial Examples: Adobe Audition, Wavepad, Soundforge + many more

Software Tip: AudacityFree and Open Source Software forRecording and Editing Audio• Semi-Professional• Essential Features:

• Record Audio• Edit Audio: Trimming, Split,

Effects & Remove Noise• Set & Export Markers• Export Audio in many Formats

Tip: Audio Recording & Editing

Synchronisation?Doable.

IT WORKED!Basic(DIY)VideoLocalization?

Pragmatic Time ConsumingHard to Scale

Sowhat can you do?Problem:Time&Scalability

Design Video with Localization in Mind:

üKeep it simpleüIcons instead of textüB-Roll instead of speakerüUniversal examplesüSimplified UI

üDe-emphasize the voice track

CAPTIONSareyoursecretweapon!

Closed Captions:• Supportmany languages within asingle videofile

• Captions are easily created &translated• Accessibility Compliance

Russian.srtScript1. CreateCaptions for the OriginalVideo• Use VideoEditing Software• TheScript is your base

2. ExportCaptions as .SRTFile(or .VTT)• Timestamps

3. Translate .SRTFile• Individual.SRTFilefor each

Language4. Import translated .SRTFilesto:

Depending onWorkflow&Technology:• ProjectinVideoEditing Software

or• VideoPlayer(YouTube,Wistia)

French.srtGerman.srt

Closed Captions:• Supportmany languages within asingle videofile

• Captions are easily created &translated• Accessibility Compliance• Low-cost &efficient measure to serve andreach new audiences

Consider:Arecaptions sufficient to reachthe video‘s objective?

Source:KronesAG:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otWtPRgWVJA&https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyyposVuRdM

• Identical VisualImage• No AudioNarration• Localized On-ScreenText

+LimitedEditing Required+UniqueExperiencefor Customer

- One file perlanguage- Idealexperience for user?

Source:Schüco Italia:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5iLvr02dao

• No AudioNarration• On-ScreenTextinMultipleLanguages• SingleVideoFile (Easier distribution,managing,updating)

NewProductsand Languages

Problem:Scalability (Time)

Faster ReleaseCycle

Solution:Workingwith aLSP?!

TranslationProvider

Did notmeet expectationVideohad the wrong size,inconsistent colors,

bad synchronisation,and moreAudiopronounciation &tonenotcorrect

Impact

ReviewProcess:Hours!

FixingMistakes:Expensive!

Schedule:Delays!

Are you providing enoughinformation, context andguidance?

• RecordingHardware• OperatingSystem• System&RecordingSettings

• Editing Dimensions• AnnotationColors,Fonts• StandardEffect Settings

• Detailed Production Settings

Use of the sameVideoEditing Software

VideoStyleGuide

EnhancedScript

• Original(source)VideoProjects+ AllExamples.

• Added more &earlier ReviewCycles.

• AudioPronounciation Key.

• Guidance &Trainingfor Localization Partner.

added

1HourofExtraWork

(pervideo)

saved

2DaysofBack&Forth

(pervideo)

ClearCommunication

Joined ProcessProcess A Process B

Company:Createyour ownvideos with aneedto localize them.

LanguageServiceProvider:Createand localize videosfor your clients.

• Standardize script &storyboard creation for allvideo projects.– Consider advanced scripts.– Keepfuture localization anoption for allvideo content.

• Provide LSPwith the originalvideo project files as abase andfor comparison.– Include allrelated examples,projects,graphics (including source files)

• Communicate &educate your LSP.– Earlyand regular review cycles– Coordinated workflows

Company/Client

• Specialize inand encourage captions as acost-effective option.– Create&translate .SRTfiles.

• Ask clients for structured scripts &storyboards.– Advanced scripts are even better.

• Use originalvideo project files as abase and for comparison.–Workinthe samevideo tool as your clients (and know how theywork).

– Recommend tools.• Communicate with &educate your client.– Earlyand regular review cycles– Coordinated workflows

LanguageServiceProvider

VideoCreator (Client) Localization Team(Internal or Partner)

1 WriteScript&Storyboard• Include internal stakeholders

Script&Storyboard SpotCheck- Evaluate ease of localization- Red Flags,i.e.cultural no-gos.

2 Finalize OriginalScript

Approve Translated Scripts

Translate Scripts- StyleGuideuseful

3 Record OriginalAudio

Approve Localized AudioFiles

Record Localized Audio

Helpful Ressources (provided by Client):• Pronounciation &ToneGuide

4 Record OriginalVideoSequences

Synchronize &EditOriginalVideo

Create.SRTCaptionFile

Record, Edit&Synchronize Localized Video• Localize Captions

Helpful Ressources:• StyleGuide&Advanced Script• OriginalVideoProjectFile,including Example Files• Finished (Original)Videofor Reference

• EarlyReviewCycles (i.e.afterre-recording the sequences)

Let‘s continue this conversation?!

Thank You!Danke!Merci

Anton BollenTechSmith Corp. Tekom Booth 2/G02a.bollen@techsmith.com@antonbollen

http://gala06.honestly.deFeedback?