The dubbing technique refers to revoicing new voice-over content from its original language into another. Dubbing is often confused with Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) – adding voice-over to match the mouth movements of an actor to create the illusion that the character has said the words. In actuality, dubbing distinctly refers to the multilingual revoicing of voice-over into a new language to enhance accessibility for content in foreign-speaking countries. For video projects, dubbing is typically offered as an alternative to subtitles.
Not all voice-over dubbing is the same, and there are three major types: lip-synced, time-synced, and wild.
Lip-sync dubbing is the most strenuous form, requiring dubbing artists to attend a pro studio. The voice-over audio must match the dubbed character's mouth movements (lip flaps).
Time-syncing is a slightly less restrictive alternative; while the voice-over dubbing needs to match the timeframe, it doesn't need to line up to precise lip flaps.
Non-synced (wild) dubbing is the third method but isn't generally used for films or animations because the voice-over audio can run longer or shorter than the original.
There are significant differences in the recording process between the three dubbing styles. For example, a lip-sync and time-sync recording will require on-the-fly script editors and translators to adapt phrases in sessions if they don't fit.
Get in touch with the Voquent team to learn more about voice-over dubbing or get a quote.