You might know what narration is,
but do you know the difference between
versioning and dubbing?
Versioning
This is time-sync (NOT lip-sync)
The target language audio has the same length as the source language
Since we don’t match the audio with the lips, we keep the source language quieter than the target language. Therefore, we hear both voice tracks in the final mix
Exception: the narrator's voice is only heard in the target language
Other off-screen characters are often subtitled
VS
Dubbing
This is lip-sync dubbing. The actors achieve lip-sync with the use of a rythmo band. We completely remove the source dialogue, leaving only the Music and Effects tracks (M&E)
Since we want to achieve lip-sync, the translation must be adapted more precisely than with simple versioning
We also ensure the talents match all non-verbal sounds on screen, such as breaths, gasps, laughs, etc
Off-screen characters may be simply time-synced, since we don’t see their lips