HeyGen's video translation tool makes it easy to translate videos into multiple languages, expanding your content's global reach. With customizable options and user-friendly features, it's a powerful way to break language barriers and connect with a wider audience effortlessly.
Getting Started
To generate a translation, start by clicking 'Create Video.' From this window, you'll have two options:
Upload a Video: Upload directly from your device
Use Video URL: Upload from YouTube or Google Drive
Choose Your Translation Preferences
On the translation page, you'll find a variety of options to customize and create your video. See below for descriptions of each:
Original Language: Automatically detect the language of your video or choose it manually.
Target Language: Select the language for translation, with an option to choose a preferred locale for regional accents.
Number of Speakers: Automatically detect how many people are speaking in the video or manually select the number of speakers.
Enable Dynamic Duration: Dynamic duration allows the translation process to adjust segment durations for improved translation and audio quality.
Translate Audio Only (no lip sync): Translate the spoken audio without syncing to the speaker’s lip movements.
Include Captions: Add translated captions to the video for accessibility and clarity.
Translate Text In-Video (beta): Translate all visible text in the video to the target language.
Once you've covered everything, just press submit and your video will be ready soon!
🛎️ Note: Enterprise users can select their brand voice, choose local voice files, and retain high-quality footage by using the original video specs.
Video Translate File Requirements
When using HeyGen's Video Translation tool, your source video must meet specific requirements for file size, type, and input language. These details can be found under the "Requirements" info button within the tool.
We're continuously adding more supported languages based on user feedback. Currently supported languages include:
Input Languages:
Arabic, Catalan, Danish, Dutch, English, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese.
Output Languages:
Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (American Accent or Your Accent), Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian.
Video files uploaded locally or linked from YouTube/Google Drive must meet these criteria:
File type: mp4, mov, webm
File size: up to 5GB
File length: 2 seconds to 10 hours (depending on your subscription type)
Google Drive Link: file must be shared with "anyone with the link" access
Youtube Link: Make sure you're using the full URL address and not a shorten one.
Vimeo Link: Make sure you're using the full URL address and not a shorten one.
Translation Best Practices
Follow these guidelines to enhance the quality of your translation output.
Camera Angle
Ensure speakers face the camera directly or are at no more than a 45-degree angle.
Proximity to Camera
Keep speakers within 10 feet of the camera for clearer audio and better capture of facial expressions.
Single Speaker
Make sure only one person speaks at a time to improve lip sync accuracy.
Shot Composition
Use close-up shots and minimize camera cuts for smoother results.
Background Noise
Reduce background noise as much as possible to enhance audio quality.
Sharing + Downloading Your Translated Video
Once your video is created, click into the project to share your work. From there, you can download the video or share the video link directly. You can also generate and download captions, and export the ASS file to save locally on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the video specs / requirements for downloading in the Translation tool?
Free users can access up to 720p, while Creator and Team plans get 1080p, and Enterprise users have access to 4K.
Why did my translation fail?
Video translation can fail due to several factors, including improper speaker positioning, too many visible speakers, frequent camera cuts, or background noise. Follow the steps outlined in the 'Translation Best Practices' section above to ensure the best possible output.
My translation failed due to moderation. What does that mean and what can I do?
If your video failed due to moderation, you can submit it for manual approval by emailing [email protected] or using the chat feature. Please include the video ID so our moderation specialist can review it and get back to you as quickly as possible.
My translation is inaccurate - what can I do?
AI translation, while advanced, cannot guarantee 100% satisfactory results. It's constantly learning and improving, but there can still be occasional mistranslations. For users who require higher translation accuracy, HeyGen offers additional features in our Enterprise accounts, such as Script Proofread. This allows you to adjust the translation for more accuracy before finalizing. For more details, reach out to [email protected]
Why is the lip sync off?
There are several factors that can affect lip sync quality. Follow the steps outlined in the 'Translation Best Practices' section above to ensure the best possible output.
Can I use API to translate instead?
Yes, you can translate videos using our API instead of directly through the HeyGen platform. The HeyGen API allows developers to programmatically generate videos, create and customize avatars, and access a range of other features that may be available on the platform.
This option is ideal for those who prefer a more flexible, hands-on approach to integrating HeyGen’s video and avatar capabilities within their own systems or applications. The API provides the tools to create custom workflows, automate video production, and incorporate HeyGen's technology into broader projects, allowing you to create videos without needing to use the HeyGen app interface directly.
For more details on API capabilities and pricing, refer to our HeyGen API Plans article.