AI video production solves the picture. Narration and subtitles still have to be handled separately. Many clients assume the video is finished once the visuals are generated, but the narration and subtitles decide whether viewers understand and keep watching. Here are the options.
Narration: AI voice or human voice
| AI voice | Human voice | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Natural by now, but limited variation in tone | Emotion, pauses, sounds like someone talking to you |
| Changes | Edit the script and regenerate, fast | Script changes mean re-recording |
| Best for | Explainers, tutorials, multilingual versions, content that changes often | Brand films, storytelling, anything meant to move people |
You can also record it yourself: a phone in a quiet room gives usable quality.
Writing the narration script
- Write the way you speak, not the way you write. Read it aloud once; wherever you stumble, rewrite.
- A one-minute video takes roughly 130 to 150 English words. More than that and it's read too fast.
- Each block of narration matches one shot in the script, and the lengths have to line up. See the script format.
- Mark the pronunciation of names, acronyms and numbers; AI voices especially need it.
Placing subtitles
- Subtitles sit in the lower part of the frame, clear of the main subject. AI-generated shots sometimes put the subject low, so we adjust per shot.
- Vertical videos need to avoid the areas covered by app interfaces at the top and bottom.
- Keep lines short enough to read at a glance, roughly 35 to 40 characters.
- Subtitles-only videos with no narration also work, for social feeds watched on mute.
What multilingual versions need
- Lock the original-language script first. Translate from the final version, not while it's still changing.
- Have a native speaker or professional translator check the translation. We can help translate, but industry terms should be confirmed by you.
- Languages run to different lengths; some shots need extending.
- Any text inside the picture (product names, slogans) has to change too.
Frequently asked questions
Can the AI voice sound like a particular celebrity?
No. Imitating a real person's voice raises likeness and personality rights issues. You can choose the voice's gender, age and tone.
Can AI voices handle Taiwanese or Hakka?
Quality is currently unreliable; we recommend a human voice.
The narration is recorded and now the script changes. What then?
An AI voice is simply regenerated; a human voice needs that section re-recorded. So record only after the script is final.
