Plan subtitle and English-version needs during briefing, establish terminology before filming, and time and proofread captions against the final edit. Burned-in text, selectable subtitles and voice-over are distinct deliverables.
Choose the delivery type
Burned-in subtitles remain visible in the picture; separate subtitle files can be switched on supported platforms. Voice-over adds performance, timing and mixing rather than merely replacing text. Specify destinations, languages and whether a clean version is needed so the shoot and graphics leave appropriate space.
Agree on terminology early
Obtain approved company names, models, job titles and technical terms from the client. Translate for audience understanding rather than word-for-word resemblance, while identifying fixed brand language. Maintain a shared reference for numbers, units, dates and names so versions do not drift into inconsistent wording.
Proofread in playback
Review meaning, timing, duration and line breaks while watching the actual film. Automated transcription can support a draft, but names, accents and technical vocabulary still need checking. Where accessibility needs call for it, include speaker identification and meaningful sound information rather than assuming dialogue text alone serves every viewer.
Test files on the destination
YouTube lists SRT among supported subtitle formats and notes that basic SRT does not support style information. Font and visual effects from the editing application therefore may not travel with the file. Preview the upload on the intended platform to check encoding, timing and language labels before choosing whether an additional burned-in version is needed.
Source:YouTube Help — Supported subtitle and closed caption files ↗
Recheck languages after edit changes
Changes to sequence, duration or dialogue can break subtitle timing. Approve the main edit before final language finishing where possible, then check every file against that exact version. Label matching video and subtitle revisions and retain approved text and a clean master for future updates.
A quick commissioning checklist
- Do you need burned-in text, separate files or voice-over?
- Is there an approved terminology list?
- Do captions match the final edit and destination preview?