A foreign program headed for French-speaking audiences goes through several jobs. The original dialogue is transcribed, translated, adapted, then dubbed or subtitled. Each step depends on the others. A mistake at the start shows up at the end.

At dB PROD·FACTORY in Casablanca, we work for French and French-language productions. Here is how these services fit together.

Transcription: the foundation for everything else

Transcription means writing down, word for word, what is said on screen. It serves as the reference for translation, subtitling and dubbing adaptation.

When the original script is missing or no longer matches the final cut, transcription becomes essential. A reliable transcript prevents missed lines, misspelled names and timing gaps.

Translation and adaptation into French

Translating dialogue isn’t enough to dub it. It has to be adapted. The French line must fit the speaking time, follow the lip movement and sound natural coming from the character.

We adapt into French from English, Chinese, Spanish and other languages. For subtitling, the constraint changes: the text has to read quickly, in two lines at most, without losing meaning.

Dubbing into French

Dubbing is our core business. We dub into French only, with a pool of more than a hundred French-speaking voice actors.

For each role, we suggest voices to the client, who approves them before sessions start. Actors record in our closed, acoustically treated studios, guided by a voice director. The voices are then edited and mixed in stereo, 5.1 or Dolby Atmos, to EBU R128 standards.

Sessions can be followed remotely, so our clients can approve takes live, wherever they are.

Subtitling

Subtitling often complements dubbing, or replaces it depending on budget and distribution. We deliver:

French subtitles;
French SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing);
English subtitles;
Arabic subtitles, on request.

SDH subtitles add the sound information needed to follow the story: noises, music, and who is speaking off screen.

Dubbing or subtitling: how to choose

The choice depends mostly on the audience and the distribution. Dubbing suits programs watched by families, children’s content, and fiction aired on TV or streaming platforms. It takes more time and a bigger budget.

Subtitling suits audiences used to the original version, documentaries, festivals and online content. It costs less and is delivered faster.

Many programs need both: a dubbed version for main distribution, and SDH subtitles for accessibility.

Why hand everything to one studio

When transcription, translation, dubbing and subtitling happen in one place, information flows without loss. Proper names, a series’ vocabulary and adaptation choices stay the same from one deliverable to the next. The client has a single point of contact and a single schedule.

Revisions are simpler too. A text change approved by the client is carried into both the dub and the subtitles at the same time.

Content confidentiality

The programs we receive have often not aired yet. The files are processed on our own production and dispatch servers, on our premises. Their confidentiality is part of the job, just like quality.

In short

Transcription provides the foundation, translation and adaptation provide the text, and dubbing and subtitling provide the final version. Grouping them with one provider cuts down on errors and back-and-forth. We have applied this method since 2016, across several hundred projects.

Have a program to adapt into French? Contact us to talk it through.