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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | Feels Like I've Been Had

August 30, 2016, 8:36 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: Jamasian
Post title: Feels Like I've Been Had

I'm so sad to only see this forum today. Last month I was offered $2.50/MOV from a well known agency. I would like to blame desperation due to moving in a foreign country, but I have done volunteer subtitles for a few years when I was language learning and I already knew an hour drama meant 8 hours of work. I will triple check the forums before working from now on.

I'm going to say we need to remember whether or not we are freelancing or an employee. Why oh why did I forget this?
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Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam? | Searching for information about the solicitor

August 31, 2016, 1:06 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam?
Poster: Ligia Ribeiro
Post title: Searching for information about the solicitor

Based on what I have heard from colleagues, a test like this would be no longer than five minutes. It seems to me that subtitling twenty minutes is equivalent to have a completed job done, if you take into consideration that the length of some series, for example, would be nearly twenty to twenty-two minutes.

You should search for more information about the agency in the Blue Board or other professionals who have already worked with them. I wish you good luck and success on your job!
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Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam? | It is a scam, most likely.

August 31, 2016, 5:00 pm
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam?
Poster: Rafal Kwiatkowski
Post title: It is a scam, most likely.

I was once asked to translate a "test sample" by a translation company which, as it turned out, cut the text they got from a client, and asked a number of translators who responded to the ad (on Proz, by the way) to do the other samples. And, yes, you guessed it, they almost succeeded in getting the whole job for the client done for free.
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Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam? | Most probably scam

September 1, 2016, 7:41 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam?
Poster: Klaus Baumann
Post title: Most probably scam

I think the translation of 200-300 words in enough for test. 2,000 is a whole small project.
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | Equal to 200 words

September 1, 2016, 7:42 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: Klaus Baumann
Post title: Equal to 200 words

that's how I calculate the rate per min
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Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam? | one hour working time maximum for free test

September 1, 2016, 11:48 pm
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam?
Poster: nordiste
Post title: one hour working time maximum for free test

I am not sure what these 20 min mean in your case for subtitling, but as a rule of thumb a free test should not take you more than 1 hour of your time ; which means 300-400 words or so for a "normal" written text, just make the conversion for audio or video material.

Tell the client that you won't work more than 1 h on their test - or they should pay you. If they insist, it is probably a scam or a client which pay very poor rates.
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Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam? | test

September 2, 2016, 2:30 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Possible extremely high volume free translation "test" - is it a scam?
Poster: jbjb
Post title: test

A typical subtitling test is 5-10 minutes of material, can take 1-2 hours of your time (for beginners).
It is never a single continuous piece of video. You would have a few minutes from a TV series, a few minutes from a film, a few minutes from a director's cut commentary, all mixed together. Usually very different topics and very text-heavy.
So if the test is really 20 minutes from a single video, it's a sign of trouble.
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | Newbie...

September 2, 2016, 10:14 pm
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: Paulette Romero
Post title: Newbie...

I'm a newbie to subtitling, I've only been doing it for about 3 months now and the agency that I started working with in Spain pays low: €2.40 per video minute (no sincro/time cueing) BUT... and this is something I haven't seen anyone mention... I'm doing it to gain experience. Perhaps some of you have been lucky and gotten your first subtitling job paying you €5 right off the bat but I doubt an agency will hire me for that amount without any experience. At least for me, the idea is to gain experience so that perhaps in a year I'll be able to promote myself to agencies that do pay fairer rates. We all have to start somewhere and this is my starting off point as a subtitler.

It's like graduating college... usually you don't get a high paying job right out of university. Normally you start at the bottom and work your way to the top. Well I see working as a subtitler the same way. I have to start at the bottom and work my way up to higher rates through experience.
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | Enabling cheap outsourcers

September 3, 2016, 5:16 pm
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: Bernhard Sulzer
Post title: Enabling cheap outsourcers

[quote]Paulette Romero wrote:

I'm a newbie to subtitling, I've only been doing it for about 3 months now and the agency that I started working with in Spain pays low: €2.40 per video minute (no sincro/time cueing) BUT... and this is something I haven't seen anyone mention... I'm doing it to gain experience. Perhaps some of you have been lucky and gotten your first subtitling job paying you €5 right off the bat but I doubt an agency will hire me for that amount without any experience. At least for me, the idea is to gain experience so that perhaps in a year I'll be able to promote myself to agencies that do pay fairer rates. We all have to start somewhere and this is my starting off point as a subtitler.

It's like graduating college... usually you don't get a high paying job right out of university. Normally you start at the bottom and work your way to the top. Well I see working as a subtitler the same way. I have to start at the bottom and work my way up to higher rates through experience. [/quote]

You are just enabling cheap outsourcers and letting them exploit you. If you provide accurate translations in this field, you need to charge a professional rate.
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | charge +50%

September 4, 2016, 4:26 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: jbjb
Post title: charge +50%

Charge +50% for "no script". There's no need for transcription, when you don't have a script, you translate by ear. You wouldn't first transcribe the text and then translate it. It's like an interpreter saying that sorry, I have to type what you are saying first and then perform a written translation :)
There's no answer to your question for a turnaround time, it depends on the source material and your proficiency. What is the turnaround time for 1 page of text for a person who hasn't used TRADOS before and for a proficient user? Can be 6 hours for the newbie and 15 minutes for the professional. But nobody pays the newbie 20 times more because he is slow.
A proficient translator can do a 45-minute video in 3-8 hours, depending on the material. For a beginner, it can take 8-24 hours. As the rate is the same, you can expect your first subtiling jobs to be below minimum wage when you calculate working time. It will take months of regular jobs for your speed to improve, until the work becomes feasible.
The rate for English-French depends on the client. Major international companies are trying to cut the rate for all languages, including French, to USD 3 per minute, in France the trade unions suggest up to EUR 10-15 per minute.
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | Another newbie as well

September 3, 2016, 8:38 pm
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: BlanKspaCe
Post title: Another newbie as well

Hi everyone!
I am also an absolute newbie in subtitling and on this forum.
I have been doing translation/transcription work (mainly from English to French) for a bit more than 2 years but it was usually as volunteer work for church, friends and friends of friends. I've recently started to charge for my translation work though, $0.08/word, as I graduated and started to look for a job.
So I happen to have applied for a new translation job and they are asking me my rates for subtitling with and without script. As I have zero experience in this field, which I plan to tell them clearly anyway, I was wondering about what could be an appropriate rate for me to charge? What about transcription?
Also what is the average turnaround for a 30-45 mn video? I have never done it but from my transcription work, I think it would take me between 6 and 8 hours so a day?
Thank you so much in advance for your guidance!

[Edited at 2016-09-04 13:49 GMT]

[Edited at 2016-09-05 07:28 GMT]
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | thank you

September 5, 2016, 12:46 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: BlanKspaCe
Post title: thank you

[quote]jbjb wrote:

Charge +50% for "no script". There's no need for transcription, when you don't have a script, you translate by ear. You wouldn't first transcribe the text and then translate it. It's like an interpreter saying that sorry, I have to type what you are saying first and then perform a written translation :)
There's no answer to your question for a turnaround time, it depends on the source material and your proficiency. What is the turnaround time for 1 page of text for a person who hasn't used TRADOS before and for a proficient user? Can be 6 hours for the newbie and 15 minutes for the professional. But nobody pays the newbie 20 times more because he is slow.
A proficient translator can do a 45-minute video in 3-8 hours, depending on the material. For a beginner, it can take 8-24 hours. As the rate is the same, you can expect your first subtiling jobs to be below minimum wage when you calculate working time. It will take months of regular jobs for your speed to improve, until the work becomes feasible.
The rate for English-French depends on the client. Major international companies are trying to cut the rate for all languages, including French, to USD 3 per minute, in France the trade unions suggest up to EUR 10-15 per minute. [/quote]

Thank you for your answer!
So $3 per minute with a script should be enough at my level. Above all, I was afraid to offer too low a rate and become "unfair competition" when some companies are already trying to pay professionals less (from what I understood by reading this thread).
I will give it a try and see if I can pass the company test first.
I am very excited about learning new skills and now I feel a bit less lost. Thank you so much!

PS: I asked about transcription because I was also asked about rates for French transcripts...

[Edited at 2016-09-05 14:24 GMT]
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Subtitling Software Monal 2008 LE | Blacklisted Company

September 5, 2016, 3:43 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling Software Monal 2008 LE
Poster: S_Reynolds
Post title: Blacklisted Company


Dear Sonia,

Can you also provide me with the name of the company as I am about to take a test for them but will not continue if they are the same company.

[quote]SoniaCardoso wrote:

Dear Isabel,

it depends of the job you've asked to do. If you're working on an already timecoded template (which seems to be the case), normally they send you a template in some foreighn language and you just have to delete the foreign text and write your own in the same place. However, this week I had to do a project using this software, and the sstx file they sent me, had no text at all, only the time codes.
I translated the episode, delivered it to the client and refused to work for them any further, because this software is simple the WORST I've ever worked with. It's not pratical, it's not intuitive and it doesn't show you many "technical errors" that you might do (such as leaving a space after each line). I've been acused of leaving a blank space after each line. I replied to the client that I had no way of knowing that I was doing that, since their "brilliant" software doesn't show it.
Plus I've also investigated the company and they appear on the blacklist of bad translation agencies with payment problems, so I decided to cut my losses right there.
If you want a great software to work with, try Spot Subtitling System. It's simply the best, no doubt about it. Unfortunately, it doesn't open this stupid sstx files. It's never good when the files they send you can only be open with a very specific software...

[quote]isabel faria wrote:

Hello all!!!

I am experimenting for the first time this software.

I opened the .sstx file and then I opened the .mpg

I see the image and the List of Subtitling on its right, but there is NO TEXT in any subtitle!!!

SHoudn't the SOurce Text to translate appear under the Line with the Subtitling number, TV in and TC Out and the number of characters?

Did I do something wrong?

Can someone give me a hand?

BR
Isabel

[Edited at 2014-12-10 15:06 GMT] [/quote] [/quote]
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Are Hiventy Asia a Legitimate organisation?

September 5, 2016, 4:08 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Are Hiventy Asia a Legitimate organisation?
Poster: S_Reynolds

I know the French Company Hiventy are legitimate but are Hiventy Asia legitimate.

I have been offered work by them pending a test.

I have seen some reference on proz to them being blacklisted, or at least a company who use .sstx files are blacklisted, which they do.

I wonder if anyone can help before I continue.

Thanks.
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Are Hiventy Asia a Legitimate organisation? | @S

September 5, 2016, 4:39 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Are Hiventy Asia a Legitimate organisation?
Poster: Samuel Murray
Post title: @S

[quote]S_Reynolds wrote:
I know the French Company Hiventy are legitimate but are Hiventy Asia legitimate? [/quote]

Unfortunately you're not allowed to ask this question here, but you have to post a call for entries on the Blue Board (since they don't have any entries yet):

[url removed]
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Are Hiventy Asia a Legitimate organisation? | How do I delete this post?

September 5, 2016, 4:49 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Are Hiventy Asia a Legitimate organisation?
Poster: S_Reynolds
Post title: How do I delete this post?

Thanks for your help.
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | is it? oops!

September 5, 2016, 7:36 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: BlanKspaCe
Post title: is it? oops!

[quote]Faustine Roux wrote:

I am sorry, but $3 per video minute, even if you have a script and a template, is way too low. You're going to get $300 for a 100 minute film. Are you going to translate 2 films a week to make it (slightly) profitable ? I'm afraid to see the result... [/quote]

May I ask you what was your rate when you first started? I see that you have the same language pair as me!

Well seeing it plainly written like that $300 for a 100 minute film is indeed low (and I hope I won't get such big projects right away!)
Since I have never tackled subtitling before, I didn't want to ask for more that my worth at the moment as I will probably be slow at first. But I guess I should also take into account my growth potential as I am confident with my translation skills at least...

Again thank you for your input. I really appreciate being helped in this!
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | French

September 5, 2016, 4:47 pm
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: jbjb
Post title: French

Yes, French is the most expensive language together with German, also Scandinavian and a few others. USD 3 per minute is what big international companies are trying to push all languages down to. It is not a livable wage for a translator in France and can be accepted either because of interest (i.e. you would be willing to translate fan subs for free anyway, so why not get at least some money) or by housewives/husbands who just have a lot of time to spare.
The rates for most French-based (or Europe-based) companies are much better due to trade union pressure and make French one of the last languages in the world where professional translators can still make a living with subtitles. Scandinavia is an example where the rates have become so low across the board that an 8-hour working day with regular speed as a subtitle translator gives you just about the minimum wage of the country. So subtitle translation has become the work of mostly students, not professional translators. And of course there are people, if given a choice between dishwashing and subtitle translation for equal pay, would pick translation.

The way to make money with USD 3 per minute or minimum wage is to work more - as a subtitle translator, you can work 12 hours a day and 7 days a week and earn more than a dishwasher who is usually bound by the 40-hour working week.
Or you can be fast. Translate 2 films a week? It is entirely possible to translate 4-5 films or more with good quality. Really. Not all people can do it. The translators who cannot, say the rates have become too ridiculous and give up subtitling. The others adjust and work faster. It may be impossible for old generation subtitle translators who have become used to working on one film for a week to learn how to do it in 1-2 days.
As a newbie you have a choice - get better-paying jobs from France or accept low international rates (not necessarily USD 3, also USD 5-6 per minute would be considered unlivable for anyone working with French rates) and learn how to translate fast.
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | I see...

September 5, 2016, 10:05 pm
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: BlanKspaCe
Post title: I see...

[quote]jbjb wrote:

Yes, French is the most expensive language together with German, also Scandinavian and a few others. USD 3 per minute is what big international companies are trying to push all languages down to. It is not a livable wage for a translator in France and can be accepted either because of interest (i.e. you would be willing to translate fan subs for free anyway, so why not get at least some money) or by housewives/husbands who just have a lot of time to spare.
The rates for most French-based (or Europe-based) companies are much better due to trade union pressure and make French one of the last languages in the world where professional translators can still make a living with subtitles. Scandinavia is an example where the rates have become so low across the board that an 8-hour working day with regular speed as a subtitle translator gives you just about the minimum wage of the country. So subtitle translation has become the work of mostly students, not professional translators. And of course there are people, if given a choice between dishwashing and subtitle translation for equal pay, would pick translation.

The way to make money with USD 3 per minute or minimum wage is to work more - as a subtitle translator, you can work 12 hours a day and 7 days a week and earn more than a dishwasher who is usually bound by the 40-hour working week.
Or you can be fast. Translate 2 films a week? It is entirely possible to translate 4-5 films or more with good quality. Really. Not all people can do it. The translators who cannot, say the rates have become too ridiculous and give up subtitling. The others adjust and work faster. It may be impossible for old generation subtitle translators who have become used to working on one film for a week to learn how to do it in 1-2 days.
As a newbie you have a choice - get better-paying jobs from France or accept low international rates (not necessarily USD 3, also USD 5-6 per minute would be considered unlivable for anyone working with French rates) and learn how to translate fast. [/quote]

I guess I will go for the second option as a newbie!
I may not be confident but I have pride in my work and I aim for a perfect balance between quality and quantity. I better get started then and learn fast! Thank you!
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[Subtitling Rates] per minute rates | ...

September 6, 2016, 12:44 am
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Forum: Subtitling
Topic: [Subtitling Rates] per minute rates
Poster: Faustine Roux
Post title: ...

[quote]jbjb wrote:

Or you can be fast. Translate 2 films a week? It is entirely possible to translate 4-5 films or more with good quality. Really. Not all people can do it. The translators who cannot, say the rates have become too ridiculous and give up subtitling. The others adjust and work faster. It may be impossible for old generation subtitle translators who have become used to working on one film for a week to learn how to do it in 1-2 days.
As a newbie you have a choice - get better-paying jobs from France or accept low international rates (not necessarily USD 3, also USD 5-6 per minute would be considered unlivable for anyone working with French rates) and learn how to translate fast. [/quote]

A film in one or two days ? And good quality ?
So tell me, if you're going so fast, how do you translate puns, jokes, play on words, songs that rhyme, dialects, complicated jargon, slang? How many times do you revise your film to make sure you didn't miss something, that everything reads smoothly?
I suppose that's why most of the series and films translated by companies offering $3 per minute have most of their jokes mis/untranslated, have spelling mistakes all over the place, and have subtitles that are too fast to be read and that are quite bland.

But sure, let's just translate 1 hour a day, not care about what we're doing and earn minimum wage...

PS: this is a general "you", not specifically addressed to anyone in particular.
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