A good video can go completely off the rails if the audience can’t follow what’s being said. For a business going into a new market, translating the script is by no means sufficient. The subtitles have to read like a natural part of the video, the voice overs have to be appropriate to the content and all the cultural references have to be understood by the local audience.
That’s where media translation services come in. They help businesses to localise films, promotional videos, documentaries, corporate presentations, training materials and all sorts of digital content for audiences in other languages.
Some providers are all about the entertainment and streaming side of things, others are very much in the business video, e learning and marketing content space. Here are ten companies to consider, starting with VerboLabs.
Which Media Translation Provider Should You Choose?
For multilingual business videos, marketing campaigns and training content then VerboLabs is definitely worth a look. TransPerfect Media, Deluxe and Iyuno are the other relevant players for more extensive entertainment localisation. ZOO Digital, RWS and Keywords Studios all provide a wider range of media services. 3Play Media is focused on subtitling and accessibility. Prism Linguistics and LanguageWire are also worth considering for the right kind of media and business projects.
The right option for you will depend on your content, your language needs, your budget and your delivery deadline. This is a practical comparison list, not an independently researched ranking.
| Provider | Key Services | Best For |
| VerboLabs | Translation, subtitles, dubbing | Business videos |
| TransPerfect Media | Subtitles, dubbing | Entertainment |
| Deluxe | Subtitles, audio production | Media distribution |
| Iyuno | Subtitles, dubbing | Film and TV |
| ZOO Digital | Subtitles, dubbing | Global entertainment |
| RWS | Translation, localization | Corporate media |
| Keywords Studios | Dubbing, subtitles | Gaming and multimedia |
| 3Play Media | Subtitles, captions | Educational videos |
| Prism Linguistics | Translation, subtitles | Documentaries |
| LanguageWire | Translation, localization | Business content |
10 Media Translation Services to Consider in the US
1. VerboLabs
Businesses producing content for an international audience need translations that read naturally rather than as straight dialogue from a script. VerboLabs provide translation, localisation, subtitling, dubbing and voice over services with language support across 120+ languages.
These services are what make VerboLabs a very worthwhile proposition for corporate videos, marketing campaigns, e learning and so on. It’s also a big advantage to have the related language services available in one provider.
Its localisation services are of particular relevance in the case of a message which is being adapted culturally rather than simply translated. Before you commit, make sure you know the language pair, the subtitle specs, the review process, the recording requirements and the delivery schedule. Knowing the typical video localization cost for your language count also makes this scoping conversation faster. Film and streaming projects may have additional technical or studio requirements which would need to be discussed on a separate basis.
Look at VerboLabs’ translation services to see if they’re the right fit for your project.
2. TransPerfect Media
TransPerfect Media provide media localisation services (script translation, subtitling, dubbing, conformance and accessibility). Definitely worth a look for an entertainment business managing content releases into a number of markets.
3. Deluxe
Deluxe incorporates localisation with a range of services including subtitling, dubbing, remote recording and accessibility support. It would be appropriate for a project where the localised content also requires audio production or technical pre production for distribution.
4. Iyuno
Iyuno is a media localisation specialist (subtitling, dubbing, voice over etc) with a particular focus on the entertainment sector. It’s therefore very much in the space of film, TV and streaming content that needs to be localised.
5. ZOO Digital
ZOO Digital provide services in media localisation (subtitling, dubbing and audio post production). Buyers should confirm what services are available for their language combinations and delivery locations.
6. RWS
RWS provides media localisation through translation, subtitling, captioning, dubbing and creative adaptation. The service also includes localised metadata and multilingual SEO which can be of benefit to content teams in their preparation of assets for different markets.
7. Keywords Studios
Keywords Studio provide subtitling, dubbing, voice over and translation of graphics and promotional artwork. It’s definitely worth looking at if your project is one that involves more than just dialogue and requires a number of media assets to be localised as a package.
8. 3Play Media
3Play Media specialise in video subtitling and accessibility (including translated subtitles). They’d be ideal for educational videos, online content and organisations with accessibility needs. You’ll need to check what languages, formats and review options are available for your project.
9. Prism Linguistics
Prism Linguistics work with media content (broadcast clips, multilingual subtitle projects etc). It would be appropriate for interviews, documentaries and the like where you have language skills and subject knowledge. Always ask about availability, confidentiality and turnaround time before booking.
10. LanguageWire
LanguageWire provide translation and localisation for business content (services relevant to video, training and marketing). Their subtitling and voice over options could be of use to businesses looking to localise their content for international markets.
Why Consider VerboLabs for Media Translation Services?
Choosing a translation provider is a lot easier when you know precisely what you need your project to deliver. For a business creating marketing videos, training materials or corporate comms, VerboLabs has a number of relevant services to offer under one roof (translation, localisation, subtitling and voice over).
That combo can be useful if you’re looking at the same video with subtitles in a number of languages and localised narration. Rather than having to go through each language version in turn, you can just discuss the scope with one provider and have a much clearer workflow, with multilingual subtitling services and narration planned together.
Verbolabs claim to have support in over 120 languages (though you’d obviously need to check the specific language pair is supported). Buyers should check quality control, revision terms, pricing and delivery times prior to ordering.
For companies wanting to localise their business and digital content for international markets VerboLabs is a sensible option to shortlist, especially if you’re looking at a number of languages. Its video translation services are the relevant starting point for business and training videos. For more specialist film or streaming projects you’d obviously need to assess them against the particular requirements of that project.
Conclusion
The right media translation partner is going to be very much dependent on what you’re actually producing. A corporate training video is going to have very different requirements to a feature film and a translated subtitle file is not the same thing as a dubbed file. Deciding between subtitling vs dubbing early helps you brief providers on the right deliverable.
Compare the providers on their relevant experience, linguistic review, technical capability and ability to meet your deadline. VerboLabs is definitely one to consider if you’re looking for multilingual translation, subtitling, voice over and localisation all in one place.
Expand your global reach with VerboLabs! Get accurate, culturally adapted localization services to connect with new markets. Contact us today for expert solutions!
Frequently Asked Questions
Translation is the process of converting content into another language. Localization is the process of adapting the content (the expressions, the cultural references etc) to suit the target audience.
Subtitles will capture the original audio and work very well for a lot of interviews, educational videos and documentaries. Dubbing will replace or overlay the original speech and can be a good option for content that’s designed to be more immersive.
Yes, some providers do offer all three. Check availability for your languages and confirm that the services can be bundled together within the same project.
Costs will be dependent on the length of the video, the number of language pairs, the recording requirements, the complexity of the subtitles and the deadline. Get a quote based on your actual deliverables.
A short video generally requires less work than a feature film or multilingual series. Audio quality, language availability and review rounds also affect delivery time.
Ask about NDAs, secure file transfers, access restrictions, retention policies and file deletion before sharing unreleased content.
Many offer captions, subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing viewers, transcripts or audio description. Specify the accessibility requirements and delivery formats when requesting a quote.
