Translation and voice, together or separately
- Translate a script, then voice it: script → target languages → voiceover → render.
- Voice only: paste or write a script in any supported language and generate the voiceover. See the voice generator.
- Your voice provider, or ours: use the built-in voices, or add your own API keys (GenAiPro or Minimax) and pay the provider directly.
How to translate a channel (step by step)
- Pick languages from data. In YouTube Studio, check your audience's countries and subtitle languages. Start with 1–2 markets, not 10.
- Translate the script. Have a native speaker review names, idioms and numbers before you generate the voice; that's far cheaper than fixing finished audio.
- Generate the voice per language with a voice that suits the tone of the channel.
- Render the localized video (VIP and Lifetime plans).
- Publish: either as an extra audio track on the original video, or on a separate language channel. Localize the title, description and thumbnail text too.
- Measure per language for a few weeks before adding more.
TubeChef vs YouTube auto-dubbing
YouTube now dubs videos automatically for many creators, for free. Use it if it covers your languages. Here's where each approach fits:
| YouTube auto-dubbing | TubeChef translation + TTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Included in YouTube | Part of a paid TubeChef plan (or your own TTS provider's fees) |
| Input | The audio of your published video | Your script, before the video is made |
| Languages | 27 languages according to YouTube (Feb 2026). English videos can be dubbed into many languages; most others into English only | 30+ languages for translation and voice |
| Editing | "You cannot edit automatic dubs." You can review before publishing, or unpublish | Translate the script first, review it, then voice the corrected text in the voice generator |
| Voice | Generated by YouTube; expressive speech in some languages, "it won't always be used" | Choose a built-in voice or your own provider's voice |
| Video length | Videos over 120 minutes are ineligible | Up to 2 hours per video |
| Output | An extra audio track on the same video | A separate localized video file: upload it as its own video or add its audio as a track |
YouTube details: YouTube Help: Use automatic dubbing and the YouTube Blog, 4 Feb 2026, checked 26 Oct 2026.
When to use YouTube auto-dubbing: you publish talking videos in English (or a supported source language), the target language is on YouTube's list, and you're happy with automatic voice quality.
When to use TubeChef: you make faceless or narration-led videos from a script, need a language pair YouTube doesn't offer, want to work from the script rather than the finished audio, or want a separate channel per language.
Using both: YouTube says you can "always provide your own dubs or turn them off completely". So you can upload a TubeChef-voiced track for key languages and leave auto-dubbing on for the rest. See also how to turn off YouTube auto-dubbing.
Good practice for multilingual channels
- Start with 2–3 videos per language before committing.
- Get a native speaker to review at least the first scripts.
- Don't translate other people's videos: reused content isn't monetized and may infringe copyright. See Is AI content allowed on YouTube?
- Channel Ripper is available in the dashboard, desktop app and CLI. Use it on channels and content you own or have rights to.
FAQ
How many languages does TubeChef support?
30+ languages for translation and voiceover.
Can I use my own TTS provider?
Yes. Add your own GenAiPro or Minimax API key and pay the provider directly, or use the built-in voices.
Is YouTube auto-dubbing better?
It's free and requires no work, so use it if it covers your language pair and the quality is good enough. TubeChef is for when you need control over the script, the voice, or the languages.
Will dubbing hurt my original video's reach?
YouTube says auto-dubs have "no negative impact on your original video's discovery algorithm". It hasn't published equivalent guidance for separate language channels, so measure them separately.
What's the longest video I can translate?
Up to 2 hours per video.