After a multi-lingual voice-over project is recorded, you are off to celebrate the accomplishment. A week later receiving a call to edit a line or dialect requires an additional recording session. It is crazy, problematic and dreadful to record the minor edits all over again. Technically this is called a voice-over or dubbing pick-up session or the PU’s. They are required to be done one or two days later or maybe after a week of the completion of the initial recording.

Voice-over and dubbing pick-up session costs high expenses and time. Also, they are considered difficult because of the time scheduling with various artists involved. Pick-up eventually affects the turn-around time of the project and may even blow up the deadlines. The unexpected or the uncalled for pick-up sessions can be dreadful, and the recording studios make sure there are very less, or no voice-over and dubbing pick-up sessions.

What are the Causes of the Pick-up Sessions?
Pick-up sessions could vary from a few word counts to editing a few lines or pronunciations. Any additional content added after the recording is done also calls for a pick-up session. Following are the common reasons that require a pick-up session:

1. Changes/ Corrections in the Script
After a script is recorded, there is a possibility that the client wishes to add, edit, remove or change some part of the text to align it with the local language or to make it more effective. Even a small change to enhance clarity or quality or brand consistency requires a pick-up session.

2. Edit in the VO Script
Sometimes a client may choose to add or update information in the VO script after hearing the complete recording. It means a pick-up session is mandatory to edit or revise or update the obsolete or incomplete script.

3. Vocalization Issues
Pronunciation or incorrect usage of the local dialects can be devastating for the script and requires a pick-up session to align the accent with the local dialect or correctly pronounce the erred words.

4. Multiple Talent Script Confusion
There are chances that while dealing with numerous character script, a line or so is given to the wrong character. It requires re-recording or editing the part assigned. This human error can cost the production of house expenses and time synchronization issues.

A pick-up session for any reason can hamper the post-production workflow, lead to additional expenses and delay the production timings.

How can you Avoid Voice-over and Dubbing Pick-ups?

There are a few ways the menace of pick-ups can be avoided.

1. Pronunciation Guidelines
Before beginning to record, make sure the pronunciation guidelines are inclusive of all the terms in the script. These have to be studied in light of locale-dialects and country-specific impact.

2. Post-production Audio-editing Tools
Sometimes hiring a post-production editing expert can mellow down the hassle of fixing appointments with the cast. If the intonations match and the recording turns out flawless, this can cut down pick-up costs.

3. Finalize the English Language Script
The English source files must be shortlisted, fully-tested and signed-off. Usually, pick-ups happen because of ideas that emerge after the recording is done. To avoid it, the full script in the English language must be reviewed, signed by all stakeholders and locked.

4. Locale-based Content
The permissibility of the content must be checked with the local laws and regulations. The regional market variables and controls must be conducive to the production of your client’s audio recording.

Final Words
When the client or the stakeholders ask for minor tweaks, pick-ups become inevitable. However, you must make sure that you spend considerable time and energy in the front-end work so that chances of error are minimal. Besides this quality audio recording with proficient localization audio professionals is the key to successful recording outputs.

Find the best partner for your all your voice-over and dubbing requirements – DUBnSUB. We are a dubbing company based in Gurgaon, India with branch offices in Germany, France, the USA and Myanmar. We offer high-quality dubbing and subtitling services at competitive costs in more than 70 languages through a mix of our own and extensive partner network of 200 dubbing studios and with our pool of more than 3,200 native dubbing artists.

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