Video duration
Runtime is an obvious factor because longer material normally contains more dialogue and more subtitle events.
It is not, however, enough to calculate the job on its own.
A 20-minute studio presentation with a reliable script is very different from a 20-minute unscripted interview with overlapping speakers and poor audio.
Does a timed subtitle file already exist?
This is one of the most important questions.
If the client provides a clean, correctly timed subtitle file, the project may begin directly with translation.
If only the video exists, the quote may also need to include transcription, segmentation, spotting and timecoding before translation can start.
A source template can therefore reduce work in a multilingual project, provided it is accurate and suitable for downstream use.
Source and target languages
Language combinations affect team availability, linguistic complexity and project structure.
A project translating English subtitles into Spanish is different from one requiring Basque, Japanese, Arabic and Finnish versions at the same time.
For multilingual work, project management also has to coordinate reference material, files, naming and deliveries across several language teams.
Basque, Catalan and other languages of Spain
International producers sometimes approach LinguaVox specifically because they need a supplier in Spain for Spanish, Basque, Catalan, Valencian or Galician.
These language versions can be quoted separately or as part of a coordinated package.
They can also be combined with English and other international languages when the same production will be distributed outside Spain.
Audio quality
Clear audio reduces uncertainty during transcription and subtitle creation.
Background noise, multiple speakers, strong accents, telephone audio, archive recordings and overlapping dialogue can increase the work needed to establish what is being said.
When possible, sending the actual video or a representative sample gives a more reliable basis for quotation than describing the audio as simply good or bad.
Specialist terminology
A technical training video, medical interview or industry documentary can require terminology research and reference checking that a simple general-interest clip does not.
Client glossaries, scripts, approved translations and background documentation can reduce ambiguity and help maintain consistent terminology.
The subject matter should therefore be identified when requesting a quote.
Subtitle translation versus subtitle creation
These are different services.
Subtitle creation starts with speech and produces the timed source text. Subtitle translation starts from existing language content and creates a target-language version.
A project can include either service or both.
For an international documentary with no subtitle file, the complete workflow might involve source transcription and timing followed by translation into several languages.
Accessibility requirements
SDH, captions and other accessible timed-text deliverables can require additional information such as speaker identification and relevant sounds.
The cost depends on whether a suitable accessibility source file already exists and on the specification required by the destination.
Accessible subtitle work should therefore be identified at quotation stage rather than added as an undefined extra at the end.
File format and delivery specification
A straightforward SRT translation is not necessarily equivalent to a broadcast or platform delivery with stricter technical requirements.
TTML profiles, SCC, STL and client-specific timed-text workflows can require different technical checks and export procedures.
If the broadcaster, festival, platform or post-production supplier has issued a specification, send it before the quote is finalised.
Number of versions
Productions often need more than one deliverable per language.
There may be different cuts, regional versions, subtitle and SDH tracks, or later edits to the video.
The quote should make clear how many source assets and output files are involved.
A late picture edit can also require timecode adjustments to subtitle files that were correct for an earlier cut.
Deadline
Turnaround affects scheduling and resource allocation.
A realistic deadline allows the appropriate translators and reviewers to be assigned and gives time for technical checks.
Urgent work may require a different production arrangement, particularly when several languages must be delivered simultaneously.
The required delivery date should therefore be included in the initial request rather than added after the project has been planned.
Reference material
Good reference material can improve both quality and efficiency.
Useful assets include scripts, dialogue lists, character names, participant lists, glossaries, previous subtitle files, client style guides and terminology databases.
They are particularly valuable when audio contains specialist language or names that cannot be verified confidently by listening alone.
Translation memory and repeated material
Some corporate and training projects contain recurring segments or terminology across a large video library.
Existing translation resources may help maintain consistency, but the value depends on the file structure and how repetitive the material actually is.
We assess the project rather than promising a generic reduction simply because a translation memory exists.
Human review and post-editing
If a workflow uses speech recognition or machine translation, the required level of human intervention should be defined clearly.
Raw automated output and fully reviewed professional subtitles are different deliverables.
The quote should reflect the expected final quality and the checks needed to achieve it.
What to send for an accurate quote
Where possible, send:
- the video or representative sample;
- runtime;
- source language;
- target languages;
- existing SRT, VTT or other subtitle files;
- scripts or transcripts;
- delivery specification;
- required deadline;
- relevant glossaries or style guides.
If the full video cannot yet be shared, we can start with the available project information and refine the quotation when the material becomes available.
Frequently asked questions
Do you charge the same rate for every language?
No. Language combination, workflow and project requirements affect the quotation.
Is translation cheaper if I already have an SRT?
A reliable timed subtitle file can remove the need for source transcription and timecoding, so the workflow is different. The file still needs to be assessed for suitability.
Can you quote before the final video is available?
Often yes. We can make an initial assessment from runtime, sample material and project details, then confirm it when the final assets are available.
Does poor audio increase the cost?
It can, because transcription and verification may require more work. A sample helps us assess the recording conditions.
Can you quote several languages together?
Yes. Multilingual packages can be planned under one project, including Spanish, Basque, Catalan and international languages.
Do you publish fixed subtitling rates?
No. We prefer to quote the actual scope because a fixed public rate can be misleading when creation, translation, accessibility and technical delivery requirements vary widely.