Subtitling Translation Services | Global LTS
Global LTS provides professional subtitling translation in 120+ languages. Whether you need subtitles for corporate training videos, marketing content, or e-learning modules, our native-speaking translators deliver accurate, culturally adapted subtitles on time. Get in touch today for a free quote.
Industries We Subtitle
- Corporate Training and Internal Communications Multinational organisations use subtitled video for onboarding, compliance training, health and safety instruction, and executive communications. Accurate subtitling ensures the message reaches every employee in their own language, with no ambiguity on critical content. You may also need our multilingual voice over service.
- E-Learning and Online Courses Subtitles are a requirement for WCAG-compliant e-learning content and are increasingly expected by international learners. We subtitle SCORM-packaged courses, LMS-hosted video, and standalone instructional content. See our e-learning translation services for full course localisation including voiceover and interface translation.
- Marketing and Brand Video Product launches, brand films, social media content, and event recordings all benefit from subtitled translations that extend their reach into new markets. We maintain brand tone and terminology consistency across all subtitle translations.
- Broadcast and Streaming Subtitles for broadcast and streaming content must comply with platform-specific technical standards — character limits, reading speeds, line breaks, and frame-accurate timing. Our subtitling team works to EBU N17 guidelines and platform requirements for major streaming services.
Legal and Corporate Proceedings Depositions, arbitration recordings, board meeting footage, and regulatory submissions sometimes require legally accurate subtitled translations. We apply the same rigour to video subtitling as to our legal translation services.
Subtitle File Formats We Support
We deliver subtitle files in all major formats, ready to upload directly to your video platform or LMS:
SRT (SubRip) — the most widely used format, compatible with YouTube, Vimeo, and most video players
VTT (WebVTT) — the web standard for HTML5 video and most LMS platforms
EBU-STL — the broadcast standard for European television
DFXP / TTML — used by streaming platforms and enterprise video systems
SCC — used for broadcast in the United States
If you need a format not listed above, contact us — we work with most professional subtitling formats.
The Process of Subtitling Translation in Several Languages
The subtitle translation PROCESS includes several steps, from transcribing and translating the source material to creating and formatting the subtitles. Let’s take a closer look at each step:
Step 1 – Transcription: Turning Spoken Dialogue into Text
The source audio is transcribed into written text, capturing all dialogue, relevant sound cues, and speaker changes. Accurate transcription is the foundation of quality subtitling — any error at this stage carries through to the final subtitles.
Step 2 – Translation: Converting Words from One Language to Another
The transcribed text is translated by a specialist translator working into their native language. Translators are selected for both linguistic ability and subject-matter knowledge relevant to the content type. Tone and register are maintained throughout.
Step 3 – Editing: Making Subtitles Easy to Read and Understand
The translated text is edited to fit within character-per-line limits and broken into readable subtitle units. Grammatical accuracy, consistency of terminology, and readability at viewing speed are all checked at this stage.
Step 4 – Synchronization: Timing Subtitles to Match the Audio
Subtitles are timed to match the original audio, with in and out points set frame-accurately. Reading speed is adjusted to meet the relevant standard — typically 17 words per minute for general audiences, with adjustments for broadcast or streaming requirements.
Step 5 – Quality Control: Checking for Errors and Ensuring Accuracy
The complete subtitle file is reviewed against the source audio for accuracy, timing, formatting, and consistency. Any errors — mistranslations, timing slips, or formatting issues — are corrected before delivery.
Step 6 – Considerations for Different Languages: Dealing with Linguistic and Cultural Differences
Subtitles are adapted for the target audience where required — idiomatic expressions, cultural references, humour, and locale-specific terminology are all considered. The goal is subtitles that read naturally to the target viewer, not a literal word-for-word transfer.
Step 7 – Tools and Technology: Enhancing the Subtitle Translation Process.
The finalised subtitles are exported in your required file format — SRT, VTT, EBU-STL, DFXP/TTML, or otherwise — and delivered ready for upload. We can also burn subtitles into video (open captions) if required.
Multilingual Subtitling at Scale
For organisations managing large volumes of video content across multiple languages, consistency and turnaround are as important as accuracy. Global LTS handles multilingual subtitling projects across 120+ language combinations, with project management, terminology consistency, and quality assurance built into every workflow.
We work alongside our multilingual voice-over team for projects requiring both subtitles and dubbed audio — a common requirement for corporate training and e-learning content deployed across international markets.
Contact us for a quote on your subtitling project.
