Live streaming, recording and live captioning for multilingual events

For conferences, hybrid meetings and online events, we can coordinate the technical services surrounding professional conference interpreting, including live streaming, multilingual recording and live captioning.

These services can be provided individually or combined as part of the same multilingual event setup.


Live streaming

Camera operator and live production desk streaming a multilingual conference

Stream your multilingual event to participants who are not physically present, while allowing them to follow the event in the appropriate language.

The interpreting setup can be integrated with the streaming environment so that, where supported by the platform, remote participants can choose between the original audio and the relevant interpreted language channel.

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Multilingual live streaming

Streaming a multilingual event requires more than simply sending the main audiovisual feed online.

The interpreters must receive the correct source audio, and the remote audience must have access to the appropriate interpretation.

Depending on the event and platform, this can involve:

  • selectable interpreting channels;
  • separate streams for different languages;
  • integration with onsite simultaneous interpreting;
  • remote interpreting;
  • remote speakers;
  • hybrid audiences;
  • technical monitoring during the event.

We can coordinate the multilingual part of the workflow with the client’s venue, audiovisual supplier or streaming provider.

For complex hybrid events, a technical rehearsal beforehand is advisable.


Recording

Technician recording a multilingual conference with separate audiovisual feedsRecord an interpreted event while preserving the languages that will be required afterwards.

Instead of recording only the original floor audio, the technical setup can, where supported, preserve separate interpreted language feeds so that different versions of the event can subsequently be produced.

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Recording multilingual events

The recording requirements should ideally be defined before the event.

For example, an English>Italian/Spanish conference might require:

  • the original floor recording;
  • an English-language recording;
  • an Italian-language recording;
  • a Spanish-language recording.

This is particularly important when the recordings will later be used for:

  • internal distribution;
  • training;
  • publication;
  • webinars or online platforms;
  • conference archives;
  • post-event communication.

We can coordinate the recording requirements with the interpreting and audiovisual setup so that the necessary audio feeds are available from the outset.


Live captioning

Professional captioner producing real-time captions at a multilingual conference

Provide real-time written captions of spoken content, produced by professional real-time captioners specialising in live speech-to-text.

In multilingual events, live captioning often works alongside simultaneous interpreting. For example, at an event in Spain interpreted into English, Italian and German, the English captions may be produced from the English translation, allowing participants to listen in English while also following English captions.

Live captioning can be particularly valuable for accessibility — for example, for deaf or hard-of-hearing participants — and as additional support when following technical presentations.

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Captioning and interpreting

In multilingual conferences, captioning can be produced either from the original speaker or from one of the interpreted languages.

Spanish speaker → English simultaneous interpreter → English real-time captioner → English captions

This allows participants to listen naturally to the interpretation while using captions as additional visual support.

How live captions work

Live captions are different from the subtitles of a film or pre-recorded video.

Because they are created while somebody is speaking, the text normally appears progressively and continuously updates in real time. Words or short segments may change or be corrected as the captioner refines the text.

Participants should therefore not expect the fixed, carefully timed subtitles they are accustomed to seeing in films.

Live captions are not a substitute for interpreting

Technical support for conference interpretingWe do not recommend replacing professional interpreting with live captions and expecting participants to read them continuously throughout a multilingual conference.

Consider an 8-hour conference delivered entirely in Chinese when you do not understand Chinese. You would have to spend the whole day following English text that is appearing and continuously updating on screen while being unable to understand what you are hearing.

Would you really choose that — particularly when the text itself is constantly updating — over simply listening to the conference naturally in English?

For sustained multilingual communication, participants should normally be able to listen to professional interpretation in their language, with live captions available alongside it where appropriate.


One multilingual technical setup

Technical team providing live streaming, recording and live captioning at a multilingual conferenceLive streaming, recording and captioning often interact with the interpreting infrastructure.

Depending on the event, we can therefore coordinate these services together with:

  • simultaneous or consecutive interpreting;
  • interpreting booths, consoles and headsets;
  • remote simultaneous interpreting;
  • hybrid-event integration;
  • Zoom or other online platforms;
  • remote speakers and participants;
  • audiovisual and interpreting technicians;
  • technical rehearsals and sound checks.

If you already have an AV company, venue technician, production agency or streaming provider, we can work directly with them and coordinate the requirements of the interpreting component.

You do not need to know exactly which technical solution you require.

Tell us about your event, the languages involved, where participants will be joining from and whether you need streaming, recording or live captioning, and we will help you define the appropriate setup.