Syncscript; A translation application for video content
Syncscript is an application that allows translators of video content to create new translations based on existing scripts, intended for the dubbing of video material. Indeed, as a translator of video content, you often struggle with different documents and files. Based on his own extensive experience with these types of translations, Oscar Siegelaar came up with a solution to facilitate translators.
In the Netherlands, this mainly involves animation and youth series. An earlier exploration of the concept was not stable enough to enter the market. However, we were able to use this first version as a Proof of Concept and used the knowledge gained to redesign the final platform.
The platform was created based on Drupal. A translator is assigned to a project, where a project consists of seasons containing different episodes. The translator eventually translates these episodes into the desired language. The most important part of the platform is the editor. This is a complex screen that uses JavaScript (jQuery) to extract all the data from the backend.
Since it is crucial that the translator can continue translating, all individual translations are first put into the browser's local storage. Then they are stored in the background on a server. This ensures that the user does not experience hiccups or have to wait for a translation to be saved. Also, the editor remembers where in the episode the translator left off. There are plenty of other little tricks that make the translator's life considerably easier. The editor combined with a clean design and uncluttered interface makes this project something we are proud of.
Movies open on your laptop, Excel sheets with the original text next to them, lists in Word with the characters in the background, the new texts to be produced and then taking into account changing video formats from studios.... All that is now a thing of the past.