Not Sure Which Languages to Choose?
Ever listened to an AI-dubbed video in another language? Doesn’t always hit the mark, but you can fix it. And we’ll tell you how.
YouTube Now Lets You Edit Auto-Dubs
According to reports, some creators have already seen over 25% of watch‑time coming from non‑original‑language viewers after adopting multi‑language audio.
But YouTube itself has made it clear: auto-dubbing isn’t perfect yet. In fact, recent updates prove they’re still actively improving the feature. Most notably, YouTube now allows creators to manually edit auto-generated dubs (a clear sign that the system isn’t ready to run without human input).
This shift is part of the evolving YouTube localization workflow in 2025, where creators are expected to take a more hands-on role to improve dubbing performance.
If you want to review and tweak your dubs before publishing, here’s how:
- Open YouTube Studio on your desktop and sign in.
- Go to the Content tab and select the video you want to manage.
- Click on Languages.
- In the Language column, choose the language you want to preview or adjust.
- Under the video, open the Preview menu and select the appropriate language.
- Hit play to review how the dub sounds.
From there, you can decide if edits are needed. And in most cases, they are.
Here are some AI translation editing tips:
First: What You Can Do Without Being Fluent in the Target Language
You don’t need to be a native speaker of Spanish, Hindi, or Japanese to improve your dubbed videos substantially. With the right tools and strategies, you can start humanizing AI translations even without fluency. Here’s what you need to do:
#1. Simplify, Shorten, Localize
Most non‑English languages tend to use more words to express the same idea. That means your English original might sound fast‑paced or tight, whereas the target language version will stretch out.
Use an AI tool (for example, ChatGPT) to:
- Shorten long, complex sentences into simpler ones.
- Break ideas into shorter phrases (which helps dubbing pacing).
- Inject niche‑specific local slang that resonates with your audience (e.g., gaming slang, creator‑vibe tone).
After you’ve done that, regenerate the auto‑dub track in YouTube with your simplified script so that pacing and length better match the original video.
#2. Teach the AI Correct Pronunciations
AI voices often mispronounce proper names, brands, and titles. For example: "AIR Media‑Tech" may come out as “A‑I‑R (spelled out letter by letter) Media‑Tech”.
A simple fix: in your script, write the brand/name the way the voice engine will pronounce it correctly. e.g., write “air Media‑Tech” in lowercase “air” so the voice treats it as one word and pronounces it correctly.
Or take the gaming brand “Ubisoft.” Many voices say “You-be-soft,” but the correct pronunciation is closer to “Oo-bi-soft.” To fix this, you can write it phonetically as “Oobi-soft” in your script (and test it in the voice editor to confirm).
Do this for all tricky elements: guest names, place‑names, product names, specialist jargon.
#3. Break Longer Phrases into Shorter Ones
Dubbing lives and dies by rhythm. Long, winding sentences become awkward when voiced in another language. Insert line breaks or split sentences into smaller chunks so the dubbed voice has natural pauses.
Example:
“In today’s video, I’ll explain how the YouTube algorithm works and what specific actions you can take to improve your channel’s growth and performance over time.”
Could become:
“Today’s video is about the YouTube algorithm. I’ll show you how it works, and what you can do to grow your channel faster.”
Shorter chunks = more natural cadence = easier to sync voice & visuals.
Frustrated with robotic auto-dubbing?
Reach out to us and get a voice that actually sounds human. Your audience will hear the difference and stay to watch.
#4. Use Punctuation to Evoke Emotion & Rhythm
Dubbing voices are better when the script uses punctuation cues:
- ! = excitement or emphasis
- ... = a pause or suspense
- ? = rising tone
Example:
“Okay!
Now we’ll look at the final results…
And talk about what they really mean?”
Sounds better than:
“Okay, now we’ll look at the final results and talk about what they mean.”
So before you generate your dub, scan your script:
- Add punctuation where you’d pause if speaking.
- Use symbols that reflect how you want it to sound.
- Read it aloud: if it sounds too flat, the AI will sound flatter.
#5. Remove Fillers & Repeated Words
Natural speech in your original language likely includes things like “uh,” “um,” “you know,” “like,” or repeated phrases, especially if you speak off the cuff. That’s totally normal in spoken content and can even add personality.
But when it comes to dubbing with AI, these fillers don’t translate well. AI voices often read them literally, with no nuance. The result? They sound robotic, awkward, or just plain confusing in the target language.
So, clean these out of your script before dubbing.
#6. Choose the Right Voice in YouTube (or Your Dubbing Tool)
Many auto‑dub systems allow you to select among voices. Here’s how to choose:
→ For energetic, personality-driven content (like gaming, vlogs, entertainment):
- Pick a dynamic voice with expressive intonation and a fast, natural rhythm.
- Avoid voices that sound overly slow. It kills the mood.
- Look for options labeled “expressive,” “young,” or “casual” if available.
→ For educational, explainer, or tutorial-style content:
- A calmer, more neutral voice may work better.
- Prioritize clarity and pacing over personality. Your goal is to be understood.
→ For storytelling, lifestyle, or emotional content:
- Choose a voice with subtle emotional range, one that can express surprise, pause for impact, or rise in tone for suspense.
- Listen to samples in advance if possible. If it feels too flat, it probably won’t hold attention.
Tip: Sometimes a different gender voice performs better for tone and clarity in another language. Focus on fit, not matching. The right voice makes your content sound human, local, and trustworthy.
Second: Bring in the Native Speaker to Level Up the Quality
This is where AI dubbing with human review makes all the difference.
Once you’ve done the above and have a basic dubbed version working, the next step is human editing. Skip this, and your retention could take a real hit.
What the native speaker should do:
→ Fix the existing script. The native should review your edited script (from Step 1) and ensure it reads naturally in the target language (tone, slang, cultural references).
→ Rewrite sections to match the tone/slang/emotion of the original. If your original video has personality (jokes, sarcasm, brand‑voice), these need to carry across. The human reviewer rewrites lines so they land the same way in the target language.
This means:
- Swapping in slang or references that your new audience understands.
- Rewriting jokes so they’re actually funny in that language.
- Preserving sarcasm, punchlines, or emotional beats that make your brand unique.
- Keeping the energy and voice consistent with your original delivery.
→ Record audio samples with emotion. If you're planning to scale your dubbing with AI voice cloning tools, a native speaker can also help by recording voice samples that match the tone and style of your brand.
Ask them to:
- Read 1–2 hours of your content in a natural, expressive way.
- Include a range of emotions: excitement, humor, seriousness, calmness, etc.
- Follow your pacing and tone from the original video.
These samples become training material for voice cloning models, helping you generate future dubs that sound like you, just in another language.
Result: a dubbed voice that’s not only correct, but emotionally accurate and brand-aligned.
This is what we call a hybrid localization strategy: combining AI tools with expert human input to balance efficiency and quality.
Final: Why Fixing the AI Matters (and What Happens if You Don’t)
Here’s the hard truth: purely AI‑generated dubbing without human refinement can result in retention rates that are 4‑5 × lower than a properly localized version. That’s because viewers pick up on tone, fluency, and pacing, even if subconsciously. If something sounds “off,” they’ll drop off.
You have two choices:
- Handle it alone.
- Or come to us at AIR Translation Labs, we translate 3‑5 of your most popular videos, deliver fully localized versions, and you’ll feel the difference fast.
For example, the channel Brave Wilderness partnered with AIR to launch a full-scale localization strategy. Together, we chose to blend AI with professional human dubbing, translation, and regional optimization.
The results in just 6 months?
- 9 localized channels launched (including Spanish, German, French, and more)
- 27.2 million views from localized content alone
- 134,000+ new subscribers gained across international markets
- New revenue streams unlocked through regional sponsorships and localized ad models
By combining AI + human editing localization, cultural adaptation, and native voiceover talent, Brave Wilderness really connected with their audience all around the globe. That’s the difference real localization makes.
What You’ll Get With AIR
For starters, the team from AIR Translation Labs will help you choose the best strategy for global growth: fully localized channels for each language, multi-language audio tracks on a single channel, or just high-quality localized subtitles.
→ Here’s what we offer for fully localized channels:
- Selecting the right languages based on your content & audience potential.
- Dedicated, branded channels for each language.
- Script adaptation and cultural localization for every video.
- Native voice actor dubbing + AI for voice cloning to match your original tone and energy.
- Localized metadata: titles, descriptions, and tags optimized for each region.
- Custom thumbnails tailored to resonate with local audiences.
- Ongoing content management for consistent publishing across all channels.
With YouTube’s auto‑dubbing tool, you’ve got a powerful launchpad. But the difference between “just okay” and true international growth lies in using the best localization workflow YouTube creators can access today: combining tech and people.
If you’re ready to level up your localization and truly engage a global audience, we at AIR are ready to help.
Contact us to get started.
