Live subtitules and captions with simultaneous translation
Simultaneous interpretation with subtitles for meetings and conferences
The live simultaneous captioning, also known as «stenotyping» or «live subtitling», enables you to transcribe a spoken contribution in real time into text in the same language as the speaker. If the speaker is foreign, captioning can be combined with simultaneous interpreting in order to turn their speech — in just a matter of seconds — into subtitles translated into whichever language you require.
This is a rapid-writing method used at conferences and live events mainly as an accessibility service for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. If, in addition, you hire simultaneous interpreting with subtitles, you will open up a much wider range of possibilities, such as internationalising your event and making it possible to hold it in any kind of venue, since it removes the need for receivers in certain contexts. For example, at large-scale events where it is difficult to anticipate how many attendees may require interpreting, such as festivals or free open-air events.
It is a cutting-edge service in which flawless coordination between audiovisual, sound and captioning technicians is crucial and, above all, where — given the speed and accuracy required — absolutely everything depends on the top-level experience of the stenotypists and simultaneous interpreters. These are the reasons why SENTAMANS Traductores S.L. is a leading company in the sector.
This is borne out by the profile of clients and events that rely on us for this service: an appearance by Noam Chomsky at ElDiario.es 10th Anniversary Festival, the United Nations High-level Political Forum and the Government of Spain, the 2021 National Convention of the Partido Popular, etc.
Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO. 44th UGT Confederal Congress.
Remote simultaneous captioning (from EN > ES simultaneous interpreting). 44th UGT Confederal Congress (Barcelona, 25–27/11/2024).
Partido Popular 2021 National Convention. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Live captioning with simultaneous interpreting (indoor and outdoor in-person event). Partido Popular 2021 National Convention (Valencia, 02/10/2021).
Amina Mohammed. Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Live captioning with simultaneous interpreting (online). High-level Political Forum: United Nations – Government of Spain (05/07/2020).
A service where you can’t afford to take risks
Given the accuracy and speed required for live subtitling with simultaneous interpreting, this is a service that only works if the interpreter has many years of experience at the very highest level of live events.
And indeed, in order for the subtitle to appear translated on screen within a reasonable time (with a lag of only 5–6 seconds behind the speaker), the simultaneous interpreter must reformulate the message in the target language — as concisely as it is accurately — in under 3 seconds, and the stenotypist must turn that simultaneous interpreting into subtitles in a further 2–3 seconds.
Does the interpreter hesitate? The screen will remain blank for a few seconds which, in a live setting, always feel endless.
Does the interpreter correct themself? The error in the translation will remain on screen for several seconds, equally endless.
Does the interpreter take too long to process the message? The delay with respect to the speaker’s contribution will be too long for the audience to follow, especially when there are questions and answers.
For all these reasons, do not take any chances: only SENTAMANS Traductores S.L. can guarantee the extensive top-level experience that this cutting-edge service demands.
Mikki Kendall. Writer and activist.
Simultaneous interpreting with live subtitles (in-person event). ElDiario.es 10th Anniversary Festival (22/09/2022).
Katharine Viner. Editor-in-chief of The Guardian.
Simultaneous interpreting with live subtitles (online). ElDiario.es 10th Anniversary Festival (22/09/2022).
Lydia Valentín. Olympic weightlifting champion.
Simultaneous interpreting with live subtitles (3-language streaming) for the global launch of Symborg Balius (2021).
Live subtitling: how does it work?
Transcription (stenotyping)
In this service without simultaneous interpreting, the stenotypist (or subtitler) receives the original event audio and transcribes the spoken contributions from a URL that the audiovisual team will overlay on the event screen as subtitles.
- Transcription speed: up to 180 words per minute (higher than the 150 wpm of an average speaker).
- Approximate delay with respect to the speaker: 3 seconds.
Simultaneous interpreting with live subtitling
The simultaneous interpreters receive the original event audio, which they interpret live in real time. In turn, the stenotypists (or subtitlers) receive this audio with the simultaneous interpretation in order to proceed with the live transcription in the same language and thus provide simultaneous interpreting with subtitles, which will be displayed on screen in the target language in a matter of seconds.
The audio from the simultaneous interpreters can be broadcast via receivers (“translation headsets” or “earpieces”) to all event attendees, or sent only via an internal line to the stenotypists if the event makes it possible to do without receivers.
- Transcription speed: up to 180 words per minute (higher than the 150 wpm of an average speaker).
- Approximate delay with respect to the speaker: 5–6 seconds.
- It is essential to have a simultaneous interpreting service to translate from the source language into the target language, since real-time transcription from one language (for example, English) into another (Spanish) is not possible without simultaneous interpreting.
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Compatible with all
your events
From webinars to online congresses: videoconferences, workshops, board meetings, virtual events, hybrid events and remote events.
100% compatible with your preferred platform: Zoom, Webex, Skype, Google Meet, Teams, Twitch, YouTube, ClickMeeting, GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, web streaming, broadcasting, etc.
Sound studio
built for contingencies
Turnkey solution
Registration management, voting, attendance reports, technical sound checks and speaker connections.
Virtual set (photo): corporate branding, chroma key, streaming, 4K recording and broadcasting, simultaneous interpreting into several languages…
Everything you need, ready with a single call.
ONLINE AND REMOTE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING: HOW DOES IT WORK?
Also known as «remote simultaneous interpreting» or «remote simultaneous translation», remote simultaneous interpreting is the ideal solution for adding simultaneous interpreting to webinars, videoconferences, in-person, online and hybrid events without having to install all the usual technical equipment used at fully in-person conferences. We take care of everything related to communication so that you can calmly focus on your event.
At events with remote simultaneous interpreting, the translators (or “interpreters”) and sound technicians are located in a different physical location from the meeting participants. However, thanks to a virtual environment through which audio and video signals are sent and received, speakers and participants can speak in their own mother tongue and, when there are contributions in another language, listen to the simultaneous interpreting through their physical receiver, mobile phone or tablet, exactly as they would at a fully in-person event.
This service is compatible with the three possible types of event:
1. 100% in-person event
100% in-person events are those held in a specific physical location, where all the speakers giving talks and all conference attendees are present. In this type of event, there are no online contributions (via Zoom, Skype, Teams, Webex), nor are there any participants joining virtually.
At 100% in-person events, the most practical and common option is to install all the technical equipment on site (interpreting booths, sound control, infrared radiators, infrared interpreting receivers, etc.), and to bring the team of interpreters and technical staff to the venue.
However, in some cases, you may not be able or may not wish to install all the technical equipment on site, especially the booths, whether due to lack of space or aesthetic considerations in certain types of event.
In such cases, thanks to our remote simultaneous interpreting service, it is only necessary to deliver the receivers to the event venue so that attendees can still enjoy the conference in their own language, with 100% digital sound and no latency or delay.
2. Hybrid (semi-in-person) event
Hybrid events are held in a specific physical location, but also have online attendees or speakers.
Although it is perfectly possible, in this case it is not necessary to install booths on site or bring in the interpreters; you only need to deliver the simultaneous interpreting receivers to the event venue. From our sound studio we send the remote simultaneous interpreting both to in-person speakers and attendees (who will listen through physical simultaneous interpreting receivers) and to speakers and attendees connected virtually (who will listen directly on their PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone).
Even though participants are split between physical and virtual locations, the communicative flow that simultaneous interpreting always guarantees is never lost, since in-person participants can at any time interact with or ask questions – in their own language – to online participants and vice versa, and both will receive the simultaneous interpreting instantly.
3. 100% online event
At 100% online events, the congress or conference – for example, a webinar– does not take place in any specific physical location and all speakers and participants, who are located in different geographical locations, connect online through a single virtual environment (Zoom, Teams, Webex, YouTube, etc.). Obviously, here there is no need to install any technical equipment or bring interpreters and technicians to a venue, as they provide the service from our remote sound studio.
In this mode, we “virtualise” all the technical equipment so that, using all the equipment centrally installed in our studio:
- Your PC, tablet or smartphone becomes your microphone and camera
- Your headphones become your simultaneous interpreting receivers
From our remote sound room, we manage all the audio and video signals and send each participant the corresponding audio feed in their mother tongue. As in any meeting, you can share on-screen documents such as reports, videos or PowerPoint presentations, among others. In addition, thanks to our 100% digital technology and our dual redundant fibre-optic lines, we guarantee that your virtual event will not be interrupted by sound problems or Internet connection issues.
This is an ideal service for webinars, lectures, meetings, courses, workshops, board meetings and, in general, short events. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further information.
Additional services for webinars and videoconferences
VIRTUAL STUDIO
Our unique specialisation in communication, technical equipment and large events enables us to offer you this truly distinctive service.
→ Simultaneous interpreting for webinars and videoconferences from our sound studio, with 100% digital Bosch conference equipment
→ Corporate branding
→ Technical sound checks, participant connection tests and technical control during the event
→ Production, broadcasting and recording of your event in 4K
→ Management of the required subscription to Zoom, Webex or your preferred platform, according to the characteristics of the webinar or videoconference (Pro, Business, Enterprise, Premium, etc.)
Everything you need, ready with a single call.