How a Documentary Finds Its German Voice
Behind the scenes of a full localization: from the first read of the script to the final mix.
Every documentary that reaches our studio arrives as a foreign language film with a German or English speaking audience waiting on the other side. Before a single line is recorded, our team reads the book, the shot list and the original mix, and asks the same question every time: what does this film need to feel like the same film, only in a different language?
That question shapes everything that follows — the cast, the translation, the direction in the booth and the final balance between speech, music and effects. Since 2011 we have localized documentaries and series for ProSieben Maxx, Sixx, Kabel1 Doku, Sky, WELT, BILD TV, Spiegel TV, ZDF, Arte, NatGeo and ProSiebenSat1, and no two productions ask for the same voice.
- Studio founded
- 2011
- Speakers in the pool
- 40+
- Studios — Munich and Berlin
- 2
The right tone begins with the book and ends with the mix. The highest quality in the shortest time is our commitment for every production.
Casting starts with the book, not the audition. We match a voice to a subject’s age, register and the emotional weight of every scene, drawing on a continuously curated pool of more than 40 speakers and actors from across Germany.
In the booth, direction is informed by dramaturgy, not just lip sync. Our directors are filmmakers first, and every take is judged against the rhythm of the original cut, not only against the words on the page.
How long does a full localization take?
It depends on runtime and language count, but our digitized workflow lets us work worldwide without losing time, so even large volumes under tight deadlines stay on schedule.
How many languages can you subtitle in?
Our digital tools let us subtitle in over 200 languages at a competitive price, with the same quality standard across every one of them.
What do we receive at the end of a project?
A broadcast ready, sendefertig package: mixed audio, packaging and animation, and — where needed — closed captions and audio description, delivered through our secure media management system.