Studio Profile: TV+Synchron

One of Germany's largest voice-over providers, TV+Synchron provides technical expertise across cinema, OTT, streaming, on-demand and linear TV from its state-of-the-art facilities in Berlin.

We sat down with Managing Director Jenny Buch to discuss the processes behind dubbing for film and TV, how TV+Synchron is keeping pace with an everchanging industry and much more.

Date Published: 09/04/2024

Can you tell us a little bit about the history of TV+Synchron?

TV+Synchron Berlin GmbH (TV+S) was founded in Hamburg in 1991 and embraced digital production as early as 1994. In 1999, TV+S relocated to the Ehrlich-Ensemble in Berlin and continued to innovate in the production space throughout the 2000s, expanding its infrastructure with state-of-the-art equipment and receiving certification from DTS.

In 2014, we successfully implemented "accelerated dubbing," enabling series broadcasts just 48 hours after their US premieres. This led to us becoming a trusted partner for the newly emerging SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand) services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

TV+ S joined Keywords Studios in 2019, opening new avenues for growth and development. I joined as Managing Director in September 2022 with the aim of continuing, as well as expanding upon, the great legacy of our company. Today, we’re proud to be working from seven recording studios, three mixing studios, three edit suites and a TPN Gold Shield for our numerous customers in 2024.

TV+S is one of the Industry leaders in dubbing for film and media. What other services and expertise does your studio offer?

In addition to traditional lip-sync and voice-over-dubbing services, we also offer the following services:

Metadata, Subtitle, Force Narratives and Caption Creation
Audio Description Services
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired
Audio Production and Recording
Quality Assurance Services

Looking ahead, our aim is to continue to be a one-stop-shop for all of our clients’ localization needs adapting to new technologies and workflows and leveraging the talented teams across our global network of studios to further our reach.

What does the process of dubbing for film or TV entail?

Successful dubbing demands meticulous attention to detail, collaboration among translators, voice actors, directors, and audio engineers to deliver a cohesive and authentic experience across different languages. There are several key steps involved, and these remain consistent across film, TV or streaming.

During the dubbing script creation process, dialogue is adapted to fit the cultural context and match the lip movements of the original actors. For voice-over production, the lines are translated, shortened, and the most important aspects emphasised, as the original voices are still audible in dubbed documentaries. In the casting process, voice actors are selected based on the likeliness of the original voice of the actors as well as their ability to convey the emotions and nuances of the original performance.

Recording sessions consist of voice actors watching the original scenes to sync their lines precisely with the characters' lip movements, with help from a dubbing director, audio engineer, and lip sync editor. Next, the recorded dialogue undergoes editing and mixing to refine timing, volume, and integrate music and sound effects.

So yes, a very meticulous process!

What have been some of your biggest projects and milestones to date?

Over the course of our 30+ year journey, we’ve been fortunate enough to work on several significant projects, whether that be in the early days of direct-to-DVD releases or the constantly evolving world of OTT-streaming platforms that we see today.

In recent years, a few in particular come to mind:

2018 marked our first collaborations with Netflix, and launched into the space of dubbing for one of the world's leading streaming services launching great titles such as Ozark, Sweet Tooth and many more.
In 2022, we completed our first productions for Amazon Prime Video in partnership with Deluxe Media.
In 2023, as part of an accessibility initiative, we introduced comprehensive subtitle and closed captioning services across multiple platforms for industry-leading clients, ensuring inclusivity for audiences worldwide.

There are many more to mention, but the milestones above reflect our dedication to excellence, and serve as a testament to our agility and innovation in this ever-changing landscape of media localization.

How has joining the Keywords Studios family benefitted TV+S?

TV+S has benefited hugely from joining the Keywords Studios family. It has empowered us to grow and excel in the competitive and ever-evolving media and entertainment landscape we are in, and has allowed us to gain access to a broader knowledge base and well as a broader client base, tap into a great network of colleagues and expand our presence in different global markets.

Where do you see TV+S and the industry of dubbing and subtitling as a whole over the next 5-10 years?

In an age of ongoing market consolidation both on the client’s side as well as in the dubbing industry itself, a high degree of adaptability and innovation is critical for companies like TV+S to remain competitive. Embracing emerging technologies - including the potential benefits of the latest developments in generative AI - exploring new market opportunities, and enhancing the quality of services are essential for navigating the landscapes dubbing and subtitling in the future.