150+ LANGUAGES · ISO 17100 CERTIFIED · SAME-DAY TURNAROUND
Voice-Over Translation Services
Professional voice-over translation services in 150+ languages: ISO 17100 certified scripts, native voice actors, subtitle and dubbing localisation from £30/page.
- 150+ Languages
- ISO 17100 Certified
- Same-day Turnaround
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What are voice-over translation services?
Voice-over translation services are a professional language solution that transcribes a source audio or video, translates the script into a target language, and re-records it with a native voice actor over the original track for global audiences.
How do I translate a voice over?
To translate a voice over, transcribe the source audio, translate the script under an ISO 17100 TEP workflow, cast a native voice actor, record in-studio, sync in post-production, and run a bilingual QA pass — typically 5 to 10 working days for a five-minute video.
How much do voice-over translation services cost in the UK?
Voice-over translation services in the UK cost from £30 per page for script translation plus £150–£450 per finished minute of recorded audio, depending on language pair, voice-actor tier, and post-production complexity, with same-day rush adding a 25–50% surcharge.
What is the difference between voice-over translation and subtitling?
Voice-over translation replaces or overlays the spoken audio in the target language; subtitling adds translated text on screen while keeping the original audio — voice-over costs 3–5x more but preserves accessibility for low-literacy viewers and hands-free contexts.
What languages are supported for voice-over translation?
Voice-over translation is supported in 150+ languages, spanning major European languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian), Mandarin, Arabic, and specialist pairs including Bengali, Welsh, Vietnamese, Nuer, Wolof and Yoruba — each cast with native voice actors.
What is the professional voice-over translation process, step by step?
The professional voice-over translation process runs through six stages: brief and quote, transcription, ISO 17100 script translation, casting, studio recording, and post-production QA — each with a named project manager and a defined client sign-off gate.
What we do
What are voice-over translation services?
Voice-over translation services are a professional language solution that transcribes a source audio or video, translates the script into a target language, and re-records it with a native voice actor over the original track for global audiences.
How it works
What is the professional voice-over translation process, step by step?
The professional voice-over translation process runs through six stages: brief and quote, transcription, ISO 17100 script translation, casting, studio recording, and post-production QA — each with a named project manager and a defined client sign-off gate.
What’s included
How do I translate a voice over?
To translate a voice over, transcribe the source audio, translate the script under an ISO 17100 TEP workflow, cast a native voice actor, record in-studio, sync in post-production, and run a bilingual QA pass — typically 5 to 10 working days for a five-minute video.
Complete guide
Everything you need to know
Voice-Over Translation Services sit at the intersection of professional translation, native voice acting and post-production audio engineering, delivered end-to-end from our London studio to clients across the UK and international markets in 150+ languages under an ISO 17100 certified workflow.
How much do voice-over translation services cost in the UK?
Voice-over translation services in the UK cost from £30 per page for script translation, plus £150–£450 per finished minute of recorded audio, depending on language pair, voice-actor tier, and post-production complexity, with same-day rush adding a 25–50% surcharge. Pricing is decomposable, so buyers can scope script translation, recording, and post-production separately and request a fixed quote on each component. A five-minute corporate video typically requires a 700–900-word script, two to three linguist-days of TEP work, a half-day studio session, and three to four hours of post-production — a scope that is straightforward to estimate once the source assets are received.
| Component | Unit | GBP rate |
|---|---|---|
| Script translation (major European) | Per page (≈250 words) | From £30 |
| Script translation (per word) | Per word | £0.12–£0.18 |
| Standard corporate voice actor | Per finished minute | £150–£300 |
| Broadcast-tier voice talent | Per finished minute | £300–£450 |
| Neural TTS (internal use only) | Per finished minute | £75–£120 |
| Rush turnaround | Surcharge | +25–50% |
What does script translation cost per word or page?
Script translation costs from £30 per page (roughly 250 words) or £0.12–£0.18 per word, benchmarked against the ISO 17100 standard throughput of 1,500–2,000 words per qualified linguist per day. A 5,000-word script therefore occupies approximately three linguist-days for translation before editing and proofreading add further review time — giving buyers a transparent, defensible turnaround calculation rather than an opaque delivery promise. Same-day rush delivery for the script stage is available and carries a 25–50% surcharge to cover the additional linguist capacity required.
What does voice-actor recording cost per finished minute?
Voice-actor recording costs £150–£300 per finished minute for standard corporate work, £300–£450 for broadcast-tier talent, and £75–£120 per minute when neural text-to-speech is agreed for internal e-learning or IVR use. All rates include a directed studio session, professional audio engineering, and one round of pickups. Broadcast-tier rates reflect additional casting depth, usage rights, and the performance standards required for television, cinema, and premium digital advertising.
Which factors change the price of a voice-over translation project?
The price of a voice-over translation project changes with language pair rarity, number of voice actors, script length, studio direction hours, post-production sync complexity, and turnaround urgency. Language-tier pricing splits into three bands that reflect the depth of available voice talent and the linguist supply for each pair:
- Tier 1 — Major European languages such as French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, where talent pools are deep and turnaround is fastest.
- Tier 2 — Mandarin and Arabic, priced 15–25% above Tier 1 to reflect casting depth and script adaptation complexity.
- Tier 3 — Rarer African and South Asian pairs including Nuer, Wolof, Yoruba, and Bengali, priced 30–60% above Tier 1 due to limited voice-talent supply and extended scheduling requirements.
Projects involving multiple languages delivered simultaneously — common in e-learning rollouts and multinational training programmes — can achieve per-language efficiencies when scripts are translated in parallel and studio sessions are batched by region.
What is the difference between voice-over translation and subtitling?
Voice-over translation replaces or overlays the spoken audio in the target language; subtitling adds translated text on screen while keeping the original audio intact — voice-over costs 3–5× more than subtitling but preserves full accessibility for low-literacy viewers, non-readers, and audiences in hands-free environments. Both techniques remove language barriers, but only voice-over reaches audiences who cannot or do not read on-screen text while following visual content. Subtitling is the dominant choice when budget is the primary constraint or when accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers is the chief goal, since subtitles can be authored to meet broadcasting standards for the hearing-impaired.
The accessibility gap between the two techniques is significant. A translated voice track requires no literacy in any language — the viewer simply listens — whereas subtitles require the ability to read the target language at the pace dictated by the original speaker. For training videos, safety briefings, and public-health communications targeting diverse or low-literacy populations, voice-over translation is therefore the technically correct solution, not merely a premium option.
When should I choose voice-over translation over subtitles?
Choose voice-over translation over subtitles for training videos, e-learning where viewers watch hands-free, broadcast and marketing content aimed at older or low-literacy audiences, and any project where on-screen text competes with visual demonstrations, data, or animated graphics. If the screen is already information-dense — a product walkthrough, a safety procedure, a technical explainer — adding subtitle lines reduces comprehension rather than supporting it. Voice-over removes that conflict entirely by delivering the language through audio. Subtitles remain the right answer when the budget does not extend to recording, when the source language is itself part of the brand experience, or when captioning for deaf viewers is the primary accessibility requirement.
Can subtitling services be bundled with voice-over translation?
Subtitling can be bundled with voice-over translation at a meaningful discount because the translated and proofread script produced for the voice-over recording is reused directly as the subtitle source text — only timing, line-break engineering, and character-limit compliance are added. Bundling delivers a single language-swapped video master with embedded or sidecar captions, plus a standalone SRT or VTT file for platforms that require separately uploaded caption tracks. This combined deliverable is the standard specification for e-learning publishers, broadcasters, and video-on-demand platforms that must satisfy both accessibility regulations and international audience requirements simultaneously.
What languages are supported for voice-over translation?
Voice-over translation is supported in 150+ languages, spanning major European languages, Mandarin, Arabic, and specialist pairs including Bengali, Welsh, Vietnamese, Nuer, Wolof, and Yoruba — each cast with native voice actors chosen to match the accent, register, and dialect of the target audience. Coverage at this scale means that a multinational organisation can commission a single content rollout across dozens of markets through one project manager rather than fragmenting work across multiple vendors. Every language pair is treated as a distinct casting and adaptation brief, not a copy-paste of a template.
Which major European languages are covered?
Major European languages covered include French, German, Spanish (Castilian and Latin American), Italian, Portuguese (European and Brazilian), Dutch, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Ukrainian, each available with multiple regional accent options. European Spanish and Latin American Spanish differ sufficiently in vocabulary, formality conventions, and vowel sounds that they are cast separately — using a Madrid-accented voice actor for a Mexican audience, or vice versa, creates an immediately noticeable register mismatch that undermines credibility. The same principle applies to European and Brazilian Portuguese, and to French from France versus Canadian French. Regional variants are therefore treated as separate casting briefs, not interchangeable recordings.
Which rare or in-demand languages are supported?
Rare and in-demand languages supported include Mandarin, Arabic, Bengali, Vietnamese, Welsh, Albanian, Nuer, Wolof, and Yoruba, with remote linguists available UK-wide and in-person voice actors accessible across Scotland’s Central Belt. Tier 3 language pairs — those with limited voice-talent supply — typically require 2–3 additional days for talent scheduling, a lead time that is built into every project plan from the quote stage so that delivery dates remain reliable. Welsh is treated as a fully supported language with dedicated native voice talent rather than as a secondary option, reflecting the statutory status of Welsh in public-sector and educational content across Wales.
How is regional accent and dialect matched to the target audience?
Regional accent and dialect are matched to the target audience during the casting stage: Castilian versus Latin American Spanish, European versus Brazilian Portuguese, French from France versus Canadian, and Standard Mandarin versus regional Chinese variants are each treated as separate language pairs requiring separate voice talent. Vowel sounds, intonation patterns, liaison rules, and word stress differ measurably between regional varieties — differences that native listeners detect immediately, even if non-native commissioners do not. The casting brief submitted to voice talent therefore specifies not just the language but the region, the intended audience demographic, the content register (formal, conversational, instructional), and any brand terminology that must be preserved across all language versions.
How it works
What are the benefits of using professional voice-over translation services?
How does voice-over translation improve accessibility?
Voice-over translation improves accessibility by delivering content to viewers who cannot read subtitles quickly, are visually impaired, or watch on small screens — meeting WCAG audio-alternative guidance for video content. Accessibility gains are strongest in training videos and public information campaigns.
How does voice-over translation help brands enter international markets?
Voice-over translation helps brands enter international markets by removing language barriers in video ads, product explainers and training content, so target audiences hear the message in a familiar voice rather than reading a subtitle. Localised narration lifts completion rates and recall against subtitle-only versions.
What types of projects benefit from voice-over translation?
Nine project types benefit most from voice-over translation: corporate training videos, e-learning modules, product explainer videos, TV and streaming documentaries, marketing and social advertising, IVR phone systems, museum and heritage audio guides, audiobooks, and internal communications for multilingual workforces. Each project type has its own pacing conventions, studio brief requirements, and delivery specifications — a conversational tone and brisk sentence rhythm that works for a social ad will not serve a safety-training video aimed at industrial operatives, and the recording brief reflects those differences from the outset.
Voice-over translation is particularly well matched to content that must reach audiences who may have low literacy in the source language, who are consuming content in hands-free environments, or who are watching on platforms where on-screen text would compete with complex visuals. Training videos, safety briefings, and public communications directed at diverse workforces or multilingual communities are therefore strong candidates for voice-over rather than subtitling, because the translated audio track requires no reading ability and no screen focus beyond the imagery itself.
How does voice-over translation work for e-learning and training videos?
For e-learning and training videos, voice-over translation localises the narrator’s script, matches the pacing of on-screen animations, and produces a language-swapped video master compatible with SCORM and xAPI learning platforms. Chapter timecodes are preserved throughout the process so that quiz triggers, branching logic, and completion tracking still fire at the correct points in the translated version. Where multiple language versions are commissioned simultaneously, scripts are translated in parallel by language-specialist teams working from the same source, allowing a single post-production sprint to assemble all versions from one video master rather than rebuilding the edit for each language.
How does voice-over translation work for corporate video content?
For corporate video content, voice-over translation adapts the brand voice into each target language, retains the original music bed and ambient audio, and delivers timecoded audio masters and fully mixed video files ready for LinkedIn, YouTube, broadcast playout, and internal communications platforms. A terminology style guide is compiled at the brief stage and shared with the translation team, locking brand names, product terminology, and regulatory phrasing across all language versions. This consistency is especially important for multinational organisations that need every regional office to receive the same factual content, expressed in language that reflects the corporate register rather than a generic translation.
Do voice-over translation services use AI or human voice actors?
Voice-over translation services use both AI and human voice actors, with the correct choice determined by the content type, the intended audience, and the distribution channel. Neural text-to-speech (TTS) is a viable and cost-efficient option for internal e-learning, IVR menus, and rapid prototype dubs where budget and speed take priority over emotional nuance. Professional human voice talent is required for broadcast, marketing, regulated, and brand-critical content — contexts where accent authenticity, performance depth, and audience trust are non-negotiable. Every AI voice used in our work is licensed with documented consent from the original speaker, and every TTS script is post-edited by a qualified linguist to maintain accuracy above 98% before synthesis.
The choice is not binary in every project. Some clients commission a human voice actor for the primary hero video while using neural TTS for supporting knowledge-base content or secondary-language versions where the audience is smaller and the production stakes are lower. We scope and price both options within the same quote so that the decision is made on objective grounds rather than assumption.
When is neural text-to-speech acceptable for voice-over translation?
Neural text-to-speech is acceptable for internal training videos, rapid prototype dubs, IVR menus, and long-form knowledge-base content where cost efficiency and turnaround speed outweigh the need for brand nuance and emotional performance. TTS delivery is significantly faster than a full studio recording workflow and scales easily across many languages simultaneously — advantages that make it well suited to large-volume e-learning rollouts with tight deployment deadlines. Machine-translated scripts used for TTS are always reviewed and post-edited by a professional linguist under the same ISO 17100-aligned QA process applied to human-voiced projects, ensuring that accuracy is maintained regardless of the synthesis method.
When must a human voice actor be used?
A human voice actor must be used for broadcast advertising, regulated financial and medical content, high-visibility marketing, character-driven narration, and any project where accent authenticity, emotional range, and audience credibility are central to the content’s effectiveness. Regulated sectors — pharmaceutical product information, financial promotion, legal notices — require verified accuracy and often a named linguist audit trail that links the spoken word to the approved source script. For these projects, certified voice-over with ISO 17100-compliant script translation and a qualified bilingual reviewer is the standard specification, not an upgrade. Human performance also remains essential when the voice itself is part of the brand — a spokesperson, a familiar corporate narrator, or a character who recurs across a series of productions.
How do I choose the right voice-over translation partner?
Choose a voice-over translation partner by verifying ISO 17100 certification, checking Association of Translation Companies membership, requesting native voice-actor samples in your target language, confirming UK GDPR-compliant confidentiality, and reviewing a published price list in GBP rather than ‘contact for quote’. Transparent pricing signals a mature language services operation.
Which credentials and accreditations should I check?
Check ISO 17100 certification of the translation process, Association of Translation Companies membership, professional indemnity insurance, and whether linguists are members of a recognised body such as the ITI or CIOL. Certified workflows also underpin our Certified Translation Services.
What should I ask before commissioning a voice-over translation project?
Before commissioning a voice-over translation project, ask for a fixed GBP quote per finished minute, sample recordings in your target language, the named project manager, the QA workflow, revision policy, and confirmation of NDA and rights buyout. Clarify usage scope up front — web, broadcast, in-perpetuity — because voice-actor rights are priced by term and territory.
How do I get a voice-over translation quote today?
Get a voice-over translation quote today by sending the source video or script to our London team: a fixed GBP quote with delivery date returns within 4 working hours, and same-day rush turnaround is available up to 10,000 words with a 25–50% surcharge. Use our Request a Quote form to start.
How much do translation services usually cost?
Translation services in the UK cost £0.10–£0.18 per source word for general content, with certified and specialist work priced higher. Voice-over projects add a per-finished-minute recording rate on top.
How much does an interpreter charge per hour in the UK?
Interpreters in the UK charge £45–£90 per hour for consecutive assignments and £350–£600 per day for conference interpreting. Voiceover interpreting services for recorded media are quoted per finished minute rather than per hour.
How much do translation services cost in the UK?
Translation services cost from £30 per page or £0.12 per word in the UK, with linguist throughput of 1,500–2,000 words per day setting the standard turnaround benchmark. Rush projects add a 25–50% surcharge and reserved studio time.