Making television accessible to French-speaking audiences
Client: See decision 1 above
Sector: Broadcasting, television and media
Languages: English to French
Services: Audiovisual translation, audio description localisation, French voice production, audio editing, synchronisation and mixing
Distribution: Broadcast television and streaming
The challenge
Audio description gives blind and partially sighted viewers spoken explanations of what is happening on screen: the action, the setting, the things a sighted viewer takes for granted. Localising an existing audio description track into another language is not the same job as translating dialogue.
Our client needed English audio description for a television series localised into French, delivered as finished, fully synchronised audio.
The constraint is time. Each description has to fit a specific gap in the existing dialogue and soundtrack, and French does not take the same time to say as English. A phrase that sits comfortably in an English gap can overrun it in French. The finished narration also had to sit within the original audio without masking dialogue, music or effects.
What we did
Translation and localisation. English audio description scripts translated into French, written for natural spoken delivery and for the length of the gap each line had to fit, rather than translated line for line.
Professional linguistic review. A French linguist reviewed and approved every script before any audio was produced, confirming the narration still carried the visual information the viewer needed.
French voice production. Narration produced using AI-assisted voice technology.
Audio editing and synchronisation. The technically demanding stage, and human-led throughout. Each narration segment was individually edited, positioned and synchronised to its scene, with pacing and transitions adjusted around the existing dialogue and soundtrack.
Mixing and delivery. Final stereo mixes integrating the French narration with the original programme audio, plus separate audio description tracks and programme video files.
Results
Two episodes delivered as complete French audio description soundtracks, including final revisions and delivery of the finished materials.
Why this matters
Accessibility work is judged on whether it actually works for the audience it is built for. A French audio description track that is accurate but lands half a second late is not accessible. That is why the post-production stage, rather than the translation, is where most of the effort went.
Specialist audiovisual translation and media localisation
Knockhundred provides specialist translation, localisation and audio production for television, film and digital media.
Talk to us about audiovisual script translation, audio description localisation, multilingual narration or professional audio post-production.
