Professional subtitling
for optimum readability
Accurate. Readable. Understandable.
Our primary goal: accurate transcriptions with the best possible readability. We use software for efficient initial text extraction and subtitle creation. But it is above all the careful technical and semantic revision by a human being that ensures high subtitle quality. We also realise graphically demanding projects with ease.
Inclusive. Profitable. Smart.
Why subtitles?
Subtitles help deaf and hearing-impaired people as well as non-native speakers. But companies also benefit because videos on platforms such as Facebook are played without sound in up to 85% of cases. Subtitles can therefore increase the reach of advertising messages. However, the diverse formats and platforms are a challenge even for experienced graphic designers and video editors. A video on Facebook not only looks different to a video on YouTube or on a trade fair stand monitor. It is also usually consumed and perceived differently. There is therefore a lot to be said in favour of professional subtitling that takes into account the platform for which the video is intended:
- Extended subtitles for the hearing impaired possible
- Transcription in plain language possible
- Optimised for individual media and platforms
- Greater reach of your message
Graphically optimised subtitles
Perfect for your video
We review your video material and recommend a suitable graphic design that ensures optimum readability. Of course, you can also express preferences or make specifications at any time, for example if your corporate identity dictates certain fonts and colours.
Acceptable is not good enough
Disadvantages of
fully automatic subtitling
There is no shortage of software and online platforms that create subtitles automatically. YouTube offers this function, as do Adobe Premiere, Subtitle Edit, and Happy Scribe. If the audio and voice quality is very good, these tools generate usable initial subtitle drafts. But they all make mistakes – some of them serious. Unfortunately, precisely where it counts most for corporate and marketing communication, for example with personal, product and company names as well as technical terms. So there is currently no getting around a check and correction loop, especially when the audio quality is poor and the accents are strong. The most important reasons for not relying on fully automatic subtitling are:
- Transcriptions prone to error
- Not optimised for readability
- Limited graphic customisability
How much does professional subtitling cost?
Flexible and project orientated
Price by audio and video length
The price refers to projects with good audio quality and without pronounced dialects. It includes one correction loop. If the audio quality is poor or more unusual graphic solutions are required, for example for social media videos, the price per minute will be higher.
- Software-supported, but with ‘Humans in the Loop’
- More accurate and flexible than fully automated software subtitling
- Specialised vocabulary and names of persons, institutions, brands, etc. are checked separately
- Express deliveries possible
- Reliable budget planning possible
- Offers can be compared easily
Advantages
Visual communication for perfectionists
Advantages of
human subtitling
A marketing or corporate video provides more than important information about a product or topic. It also communicates something about your company. Good audio and video quality should therefore be a given. But so should well designed, easily readable and error-free subtitles. Errors in company, personal and product names in particular can quickly become embarrassing. However, the corrections and optimisations that are usually necessary can currently only be reliably implemented by humans. Human subtitling by an advertising agency such as Beyond the Blur costs more than fully automated software solutions, but offers more flexibility and higher quality:
- Accurate and optimised transcriptions
- Subtitles optimised for readability
- Even individual subtitles can be customised graphically
- Special requirements can be taken into account
How do I calculate the costs?
An example
With good audio quality, subtitling without special requirements costs 6 euros per minute. The price includes transcription, editing, optimisation and checking of the subtitles. We also charge a basic fee of 50 euros for each video for project handling including viewing, set-up, export/rendering and digital dispatch. An example: If you need subtitling for two ten-minute videos, you will be charged approximately (2 x 10 x € 6) + (2 x € 50) = € 220 gross.
Advantages and disadvantages of the two variants
Closed-caption or open-caption?
Open captions and closed captions each have characteristics as well as advantages and disadvantages that you should bear in mind before making an enquiry:
Closed captions
Advantages CC
- Shown or hidden depending on user preference
- Multilingual subtitles possible
- No re-rendering necessary for changes
- Suitable as an SEO measure for search engines and LLMs
Disadvantages CC
- Design usually defined by platform and user
- Corporate identity barely can be taken into account
- User settings can destroy the layout
Open captions
Advantages OC
- Look the same on all systems
- Independent of screen size and user settings
- Corporate identity can be taken into account
- Unusual layouts can be implemented
Disadvantages OC
- Cannot be hidden, may irritate users
- Each language requires a separate video file
- Small changes require re-rendering
- Not suitable for SEO support
When you order subtitles from us, you should always specify which of the two variants you need. If you are not sure, we will be happy to advise you.