Translate at Home: multilingual livestreams with remote simultaneous interpretation

Clevercast Translate at Home (T@H) lets you send a multilingual live stream using remote simultaneous interpretation. No interpreters have to be present at the event. They can watch the live stream at home and translate it in realtime. Clevercast merges all translated audio streams and/or closed captions with the broadcasted video and audio. The result is delivered as a global live stream with multiple audio languages.

You can add Clevercast player to your website by copying its embed code. It allows your viewers to switch to their preferred language while watching the video. Clevercast uses adaptive streaming to provide the best possible experience on any device and platform. We use global CDNs for delivery, so viewers anywhere in the world can request the stream from a local server.

Translate at Home allows simultaneous translation to any number of languages. It doesn’t require expensive equipment or advanced knowledge of live streaming. You can broadcast the live stream with OBS Studio, Wirecast, vMix or any other encoder. You can also use an in-browser studio or restream your Zoom meeting.

Translators need a fast, wired internet connection and a good computer and headset (in case of audio translations). You send them a secure link to their language room in Clevercast. They use it to watch the live stream, translate it and communicate with each other via their browser (preferably Mozilla Firefox). Several translators can alternate for the same language.

How does it work?

» Start by creating a T@H Event in Clevercast. Add the interpretation languages.

» Configure your encoder to send an RTMP or SRT broadcast to Clevercast, containing a single video and audio stream.

» Clevercast creates a Language Room for each translation. Provide your interpreters, who should follow our best practices, with the secure link to their room.

» Interpreters open the link in their browser. They can see and hear the incoming livestream, connect their microphone (audio) or keyboard (captions) and start translating.

» Copy the embed code to your website. Viewers can click on the headphone button to select their preferred language (see demo video).

Brands and organizations using Translate@Home

Why choose Translate at Home?

In some cases, it may not be possible for all interpreters to be present at the broadcast location. But there are also other reasons to prefer T@H over a broadcast with multiple audio tracks or channels.

» Unlimited number of languages. If you’re not using T@H, you are limited by the number of languages supported by your encoder.

» Ease of use. No complex setup with multiple audio streams that need to be merged with your video broadcast.

» Low cost. Translators don’t need to travel, and you don’t need expensive equipment (eg. interpreter booths) at the event location.

» Fast deployment. T@H can be set up in no time at any location. You can use any RTMP or SRT encoder.

Note: don’t expect the translated audio streams to be completely on par with a multilingual production on site. If you need audio of the highest quality or a dynamic mix per audio channel, you should choose an on-site production with an SRT multi-track or RTMP multi-channel broadcast.

Requirements and features

Translators should use a wired internet connection (even a good Wifi connection can lead to audio distortion) and a good computer and headset.

Since an interpreter’s connection and equipment determine the audio quality, this should be sufficiently tested in advance. It is also imperative that interpreters follow our best practices.

Clevercast T@H allows the floor audio to play in the background of audio translations. The volume of the floor audio can be modified during a live stream with audio translation.

If audio interpreter(s) are muted, Clevercast automatically turns up the volume of the floor audio, so viewers can hear the speakers in the broadcast. This way, T@H can be used if multiple languages are spoken in the floor audio.

By default, interpreters hear the floor audio. But they can use interpreter relay to switch to another interpreter’s translation as the source for their translation.

Clevercast allows interpreters and event managers to chat during the live stream. Event managers can also listen to translations in real time.

Approved by clients, interpreters and viewers

Our clients not only get a multilingual streaming solution, but also the necessary support. Upon request, we can provide remote event supervision or a custom setup.

Based on their feedback, we continue to develop T@H into an easy-to-use tool that allows interpreters to get the best out of themselves.

Clevercast Player provides viewers, anywhere in the world, with the best possible video and audio quality in their preferred language.

US Chamber of Commerce – International Events and Congresses

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Still – Press Conferences with realtime translation in 4 languages

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Zinzino – Hybrid Conference with RSI to 12 languages

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EU Conference with 9 languages

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Caterpillar – Live Events with realtime translation

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SPAR – Live Marketing Events with realtime translation

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SIAC – Virtual Conference of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology

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Live Medical Congress from Chile using T@H

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8 Multilingual Marketing Webinars for Davines

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mindandvision GmbH – T@H with Einfache Sprache

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Sar-El Group – 7 day conferences in 12 languages

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Europalco – Multilingual Live Events

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Avivox – Multilingual Live Events

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Neolife Multilingual Webinar with T@H

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DPG Media – Multilingual Press Conferences

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Schwarzkopf – Multilingual Workshop

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Amway – Platinum Meeting

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Stauff – multilingual company communication

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On Air Multimedia – weekly multilingual streams

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Learnence – multilingual live events

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Get Started with Translate@Home

Getting started for event managers and broadcasters

First read our getting started guide to create and manage a T@H event. If multiple languages are spoken in the floor audio, also read this.
If you are using an encoder, check our broadcast guidelines. For OBS Studio, see these example configurations.
Instead of using an encoder, you can also restream from Zoom or an in-browser studio (eg. Streamyard, restream.io, Lightstream). To avoid issues with intercontinental live streams, use our US ingest hub.
Make sure to let your (potential) interpreters take the T@H connection test in advance. If you have issues, check our T@H testing and troubleshooting manual. If you have issues with broadcasting or streaming, check our livestream troubleshooting guide.

When you understand how Translate@Home works, here are some more advanced topics:

Single language (video + translation) restreaming to other platforms (eg. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter).
Set up 1080p RTMP broadcasts from outside of Europe with a local ingest hub (if you are not able to use SRT)

Getting started for interpreters

See what the language room interface looks like and how to use it.
Check out the requirements for interpreters (computer, browser, headset, internet connection).
Best practices that interpreters should follow (important: don’t use WiFi).
Guides for interpreter handover and how to set your microphone volume.

All of the above information is also included in our interpreter manual. To generate closed captions by transcribing the audio in real time, see our transcription manual.

FAQs

Try it yourself !

The best way to understand how Translate@Home works is to try it yourself. The only requirement is that you can send an RTMP or SRT broadcast to Clevercast. When you are logged into Clevercast, click on the question mark in the upper right corner for our user manuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Live Streaming

How do viewers choose their language?

You embed Clevercast player on your website(s). The player on your site will automatically show all available languages through a dropdown menu (headphone button). Viewers use it to select their preferred language.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. Clevercast automatically transcodes your incoming broadcasts into multiple resolutions for adaptive streaming, including HD. Languages can be selected in the same way on iOS and Android devices.

How many languages are possible?

Clevercast T@H doesn’t impose a limit.

How many concurrent viewers can watch the live stream?

Since we use global CDNs (Akamai, Amazon CloudFront, Fastly) to deliver the live stream close to your viewers, any number of concurrent viewers is possible.

Can I limit the accessibility of the live stream?

Yes. You can create white- and blacklists for countries, domains and IP addresses.

Can Clevercast simulcast the translated languages to third party platforms?

Yes, simulcasting the video with a single language (eg YouTube, Facebook) is currently available as an optional feature. Price depends on your set up, contact us for more info.

Recording & Video On-Demand

Can Clevercast record the translated video server-side?

Yes, if recording is enabled for your account. The live stream can be recorded as a single mp4 file containing all audio (= languages) and video (= resolutions) streams. You can download it afterwards from Clevercast.

Can Clevercast host the recording afterwards as Video On-Demand?

Yes, if this is enabled for your account. Clevercast can let you trim your recording and publish the result to an on-demand video item. Clevercast player can also be embedded on your site for Video On-Demand. Language selection will work in the same way as the live stream.

Can Clevercast use the Video On-Demand for pseudo-live streaming?

Yes, if pseudo-live streaming is enabled for your account.

Platform

Can I customize the look and feel of my embedded player?

Yes. Clevercast player can be branded as desired. You can also use our player API.

Do you have statistics?

Yes, we have both realtime and post-event statistics like number of viewers, concurrent viewers over time, location of viewers, used devices, referrers… But there are no per-language statistics.

Can Clevercast also host the page on which the video is embedded ?

Yes, you can use our Webinar solution if you don’t want to host the video on your own site. In that case, you can limit the number of viewers by requiring them to register or by inviting them.

Can I have a redundant setup?

Clevercast provides a backup URL for a redundant broadcast. If the main live stream becomes unavailable, Clevercast player automatically switches to the backup stream. However, your translators will also have to switch to the backup language rooms.

Simultaneous Translation

What are the requirements for interpreters?

They must be able to send the audio stream to Clevercast without much distortion or packet loss. This can roughly be translated into the following requirements:

A bandwidth of at least 5 Mbps up and down.
A wired connection to the internet! Even a good wireless connection with plenty of bandwidth may still cause audio distortion.
A recent version of Mozilla Firefox. (Although Google Chrome also supports WebRTC, we currently don’t recommend using it.)
A headset with noise cancelling for audio output and input, and a suited location. Too much jitter will cause volume fluctuation and glitches in the audio stream.
No excessive packet round-trip time. If packets arrive too late, the audio will be dropped or distorted. Our ingest servers are located in Europe, so translators in Europe will mostly be fine.

For more info, see our guidelines for interpreters.

How do I know if an interpreter meets the requirements?

Do sufficient testing! Each interpreter should test in a situation that matches the live event as much as possible.

Can an interpreter use Wifi?

No. Even if it works during testing, it may still cause distorted audio during the live event.

Does Clevercast T@H allow multiple translators for the same language?

Yes, they can translate sequentially from the same room. Translators in a language room can communicate with each other via text chat.

Can translated audio streams contain the floor audio ?

Yes. Clevercast allows the event manager to modify the floor audio volume in the translated audio streams. To do this, press the ‘Manage Language Rooms‘ button on the event page.

Does T@H support different languages in the floor audio?

Yes, if automatic adjustment of the floor audio volume is turned on in your account settings.

Various

Should I be wary of network congestion if interpreters use the same connection?

Yes. If translators are in an intranet with much more traffic than during the test (eg. people viewing the live stream, multiple translators at the same location) this may cause problems (eg. dropped packets, audio distortion) that did not arise during testing.

What is the latency of the live stream?

By default, we use HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) with segments of 6 seconds. Due to player buffering this will result in a minimal latency of 18 seconds, but this may be higher on some connections and devices (with a maximum of 2 minutes on iOS devices).

We can configure your account to use smaller HLS segments, but this may cause disruptions for viewers with a slow internet connection.

How does your pricing work?

Our plans are based on the number of languages, the duration of your live stream and the data traffic used by your viewers. Use our Price Calculator to calculate the cost of your Clevercast Multilingual Live Streaming plan.

If you want to use our webinar solutions, you will need a multilingual webinar plan instead.

Europalco – Multilingual Live Events

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Neolife Multilingual Webinar with T@H

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Amway – Platinum Meeting

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Stauff – multilingual company communication

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Approved by clients, interpreters and viewers

Our clients not only get a multilingual streaming solution, but also the necessary support. Upon request, we can provide remote event supervision or a custom setup.

Based on their feedback, we continue to develop T@H into an easy-to-use tool that allows interpreters to get the best out of themselves.

Clevercast Player provides viewers, anywhere in the world, with the best possible video and audio quality in their preferred language.