Practical guide

Prepare a transcript for translation

A useful translation starts with a source transcript whose uncertain words, speaker labels, and intended use are clear. Prepare that source before asking a person or a language model to translate it.

This is a preparation workflow. It does not mean automatic translation or summarization is available in the Lessrec upload flow. Translation work and delivery requirements can be discussed separately in writing.

Choose the output before translating

A summary selects and condenses information. A translation represents the source in another language. Keep them as separate deliverables so a reader can tell which one they are using.

Prepare a small handoff package

1. Freeze the source version. Name the audio or video file and the transcript consistently. Avoid translating captions for an earlier edit of a video.
2. Check consequential wording. Review names, numbers, negatives, and speaker attribution. Use the transcript review checklist.
3. Keep uncertainty visible. Preserve markers such as “[unclear at 02:18]”. Ask the translator to flag uncertain source wording instead of silently completing it.
4. Add a glossary. Supply approved spellings, preferred translations, units, and terms that should stay in the original language.
5. Specify the audience. A customer-facing video and internal research notes may need different wording. State the target language and regional preference.

Copy this brief

Source file and version:
Source language:
Target language and audience:
Deliverable: translated transcript / subtitle file / separate summary
Speaker labels to keep:
Names and terms to preserve:
Preferred glossary:
Unclear passages and source times:
Editing allowed: [for example, punctuation only]
Delivery format:
Review contact: [written channel]

Check translated captions in the player

Translated text can take more space than the original. Read each cue while watching the video; check names and line breaks, then verify that it remains on screen long enough for your audience. Treat any character-count threshold as a prompt for review, not proof of accessibility or compliance.

The subtitle checker and converter can identify malformed SRT/VTT timing and convert plain cues between formats. It cannot translate the words, retime individual sentences, or judge whether a translation preserves the meaning.