Multilingual Subtitle Translation
A good subtitle is a translation and a timing decision at once: it has to fit the shot, sit inside a comfortable reading speed and still read like natural language. I subtitle into native Vietnamese and across English, Chinese and French, delivering SRT, VTT, iTT and TTML with characters-per-second and line length under control.
One English line and its Vietnamese subtitle, timed to the same shot.
Maximum characters per line, by language
characters per line (CPL)
I subtitle into native Vietnamese, my publish-ready target, and also work across English, Chinese and French. Direction and register are set to the audience, not translated word for word.
Which subtitle format do you need?
The right file depends on the player and the platform. Here is what each subtitle format is for.
| Format | Use | Styling | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRT | Universal | Minimal | Almost everywhere |
| WebVTT | Web / HTML5 | Positioning, cues | Web players, YouTube |
| iTT | Apple / studio | Rich styling | Apple, studio delivery |
| TTML | Broadcast / OTT | Full styling | OTT platforms |
Why a literal translation fails as a subtitle
A subtitle is a translation and a timing decision at once. Word for word is the fastest way to lose the viewer.
What you receive
Spec checklist
Toolchain
Translate
Built withSubtitle EditCompatible withOOONA · EZTitlesTime-fit
Built withSubtitle Edit · AegisubQC decode
Built withSubtitle Edit
How it works
Scope and spec
You send the video and target profile. I confirm frame rate, timecode, caption style and the delivery formats you need.
Author
I time and write the captions or subtitles to the reading-speed, line-length and positioning rules for the target.
Encode and wrap
I produce the deliverables: SCC, MXF OP1A embed, SMPTE ST 2052-1 or DCP XML, plus a burned-in preview.
QC and deliver
I decode the result independently with caption-inspector, fix anything that drifts, and deliver with a report.
Three-layer QC before anything ships
Broadcast and cinema files fail on decoders, not in an editor preview. Every delivery goes through three passes and an independent decode.
1. Rough pass
Spot and draft every caption against the script, source audio and shot changes.
2. Alignment and timing
Tune reading speed, line breaks and positioning; align to shot changes and clear names and lower-thirds.
3. Independent senior QC
Decode the result on a separate decoder, check conformance to the target spec, and sign it off.
Indicative rate
$0.04 / word or ~$4 / minute
Related captioning services
Frequently asked questions
Which languages do you subtitle?
I subtitle into native Vietnamese, and I also work across English, Chinese and French. As a Vietnamese translator my strongest, publish-ready target is Vietnamese.
Do you translate from a template or from the video?
Either. I can translate from a timed template (SRT, VTT or a bilingual file) or spot and time from the video, always keeping the reading speed and line length comfortable for the viewer.
How much does subtitle translation cost?
Indicative rates are about $0.04 per word, or roughly $4 per minute of video. Send the file and target language and I send an exact quote within 10 minutes.
⏱ Typical response within 10 minutes