Medical Educational Video Preparation for YouTube: Translation, Subtitling, Voice-over.

This case study concerns a collaboration between a leading medical technology company and the Palex Group on the task of preparing an educational video for doctors and patients in the Russian language for posting on the YouTube channel.

Medical Device Localization

The Situation

Our long-term client, an international medical company developing hardware and software for radiosurgery, neurosurgery, and much more, is engaged in educational work, creating and promoting training videos for doctors, patients and caregivers. These videos are posted on the company's YouTube channel and are dedicated to numerous aspects of oncology treatment and coping with it.

The client provided us with a general-audience video in English. Our task was to translate it, create subtitles and do the voice-over. This was the first time this client had approached us with this type of work, which was also a risk factor.

Challenges

Translation quality with regard to accessibility and understanding of the language by a non-professional target audience.

01. Challenge

02. Challenge

A multiphase preparation of the video, including linguistic, engineering and voicing services, requiring simultaneous completion of every step in a limited period of time.

Actions

Since the voice-over was not a specialist in the medical field, one not-so-obvious step was added to the process: each word was accented in order to avoid mispronunciation of terms used in the video. Then our engineering team integrated subtitles and audio track into the video.

3. Voice-over

4. Quality check

Along with stringent project coordination each step was followed by the necessary quality checks: formal quality check, integration of subtitles and timing check, audio and its synchronization-to-video check.

First of all, we prepared subtitles in English. This allowed us to calculate correct timing, and provided the client with a timed document consistent with the audio tracks ready for translation into other languages in the future.

Then the subtitles were translated into Russian and the translation was edited.

1. Subtitles

2. Editing

Editing was carried out based on the analysis of the audience of the client's YouTube channel. The client indicated that among the potential audience are oncology patients and their relatives, as well as caregivers. Therefore, the translation should be simple, without specific terms, extremely clear and intelligible. At the same time, it would be unacceptable to distort the meaning.

The editor was a specialist with a medical background. They were able to simplify the terminology without altering the message. They checked on the terms that could cause difficulties for the viewers and used the most suitable ones.

Actions

Since the voice-over was not a specialist in the medical field, one not-so-obvious step was added to the process: each word was accented in order to avoid mispronunciation of terms used in the video. Then our engineering team integrated subtitles and audio track into the video.

3. Voice-over

4. Quality check

Along with stringent project coordination each step was followed by the necessary quality checks: formal quality check, integration of subtitles and timing check, audio and its synchronization-to-video check.

First of all, we prepared subtitles in English. This allowed us to calculate correct timing, and provided the client with a timed document consistent with the audio tracks ready for translation into other languages in the future.

Then the subtitles were translated into Russian and the translation was edited.

1. Subtitles

2. Editing

Editing was carried out based on the analysis of the audience of the client's YouTube channel. The client indicated that among the potential audience are oncology patients and their relatives, as well as caregivers. Therefore, the translation should be simple, without specific terms, extremely clear and intelligible. At the same time, it would be unacceptable to distort the meaning.

The editor was a specialist with a medical background. They were able to simplify the terminology without altering the message. They checked on the terms that could cause difficulties for the viewers and used the most suitable ones.

Accomplishments

In a short time we fully prepared the video for posting on the YouTube channel. In addition, we created English subtitles critical for translation into other languages in the future.

We provided a complete package of services that required excellent coordination at all levels. Most importantly, we paid attention to what is important to the client. One of our client's main values is the ability to share knowledge and experience. With a competent translation aimed at the target audience and correct integration of the audio, our client was able to achieve their goal.