For localization teams

Subtitle QC for Translation Agencies

Localization agencies deliver subtitles to many clients, each with its own spec. The reliable way to keep quality consistent — and reviewers unblocked — is a two-stage workflow: one standardized automated pass, then a focused human review.

Standardize one profile per client

Pick the delivery limits once and apply them to every file. Most agencies default to the Netflix profile — 20 CPS for adults, 17 for children, 42 characters per line and two lines — then override for BBC (160–180 WPM, 37 characters) or a client's own spec.

Automate the mechanical pass

Run each file through the subtitle reading speed checker before a human touches it. It flags reading speed, line length, line count, invalid timing and overlaps cue by cue, so reviewers start from a short list instead of re-measuring everything by hand.

Deliver a client-ready report

Attach a QC report to the delivery: a CSV listing every cue and its findings. Clients can sort and filter it, and the agency has a record of what was checked. For a paper trail before that, keep the subtitle QC checklist as the sign-off document.

Keep human review for the judgment calls

An automated pass is not certification. Translators still review translation accuracy, sync against the video, whether captions cover on-screen text, and how the file plays back. The machine narrows the work; it does not finish it.