Interpreting technology for hybrid events: on site and online at the same time
Part of your audience is in the room, the rest joins online. Where should the interpreters work from? How does the interpretation reach both groups? And what about sound and image?
Hybrid events have many interfaces, especially when it comes to interpreting equipment. That is exactly what we are here for. Bring us in early, and we will plan the equipment and the interpreting team together with you, so you can focus on your programme.
What is a hybrid event?
One event, in the room and on screen
At a hybrid event, part of the audience is in the room while others join online via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex or an event platform. Both groups follow the same programme at the same time. Speakers can also be on site or join remotely.
What this means for interpreting
Hybrid interpreting means the interpretation has to reach two places at once: in the room via receivers and headphones, online as a separate language channel on the platform. And the interpreters need to hear everyone clearly, whether at the lectern or at a laptop. Connecting interpreting equipment in the room with online technology is exactly our job.
Where the interpreters work from
Either from the booth in the room, in which case we also feed their interpretation into the platform. Or they interpret remotely. As a rule of thumb, the interpreting team works where most of the speaking takes place. For full-day events, or if you value technical support and an interference-free working environment for top performance, we recommend our interpreting studio in Overath. It is the solution for everyone who wants to play it safe.
Hybrid interpreting: interpreting equipment for hybrid events
Interpreting equipment from one source
We provide everything a hybrid event needs: interpreting booths, receivers and headphones in the room and the connection to your conference platform. We link both so that the interpretation reaches the room and the online audience at the same time.
In the room and online at the same time
Usually the interpreting equipment is in the room: the booths are set up there, and the on-site audience listens via receivers and headphones. We supply microphones, loudspeakers and table microphones as conference equipment as well. We then connect the online technology so that participants and speakers joining remotely can take part without interruption.
Your platform, our equipment
Are you using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GoTo Meeting or an event platform? Then we integrate your tool into our interpreting equipment. If you have not chosen a platform yet, we will recommend a suitable one. For the transmission we use professional video conferencing technology, so that everyone online sees and hears as well as in the room.
Event examples: hybrid events with interpreting
Remote interpreting equipment for hybrid events
Hybrid video conferences: our hybrid full-service package for you
simultando also offers a full-service package for hybrid events in which the interpreters work remotely. Today this is the usual approach for many events. For full-day events, or if you value technical support and an interference-free working environment for top performance, the team interprets from our interpreting studio. We are happy to discuss which option suits your event.
Remote interpreting is particularly suitable when there is little space for booths in the room. It also saves travel costs and reduces the carbon footprint of your event.
Interpreting via an interpreting hub: how it works
When interpreting remotely from our interpreting hub in Overath near Cologne, the interpreters work in professional booths. Their interpretation goes straight into your conference platform. The audience in the room hears it as usual via the interpreting equipment on site, i.e. receivers and headphones.
Remote technical support
We provide remote technical support for your online participants and the interpreters, making sure sound and image arrive cleanly in the video conference.
Hybrid formats are where the AI question comes up most often, because online audiences frequently need more languages than the room does. Technically the two combine well: people for the main languages, AI simultaneous translation as an additional channel. When that makes sense is explained on our page about AI interpreters. How people and AI come together technically at one event is described in our article Implementing AI simultaneous translation.
Frequently asked questions about interpreting equipment for hybrid events
What is a hybrid event, and does it need special interpreting equipment?
At a hybrid event, part of the audience is on site while other participants or speakers join online. The interpreting equipment therefore has to connect the room and the conference platform so that the interpretation reaches both.
Can our own conference platform be used for interpreting?
Yes. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GoTo Meeting and many event platforms can be integrated. If no platform has been chosen yet, a suitable one can be recommended for the event.
What is included in the service for hybrid events?
Depending on requirements, the service includes:
- advice on the right equipment for the event
- interpreting equipment in the room and connection to the conference platform
- provision of a platform or integration of the existing one
- conference and video equipment for the transmission
- organisation and coordination of local interpreters
- technical support throughout the event
- on request, a rehearsal with the online participants beforehand
- on request, recording of the language channels and the original audio
How do participants who join online hear the interpretation?
Via a separate language channel on the conference platform, for example the interpretation feature in Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or via an app or web link. Participants choose their language themselves.
Can speakers join online?
Yes. Their audio is fed into the room's sound system and to the interpreters so that both the audience and the interpreting team can hear them clearly. A stable connection and a good headset are important, and a technical rehearsal beforehand is usual.
Do the interpreters have to be on site at a hybrid event?
No. They can interpret from the booth in the room or remotely. Working remotely saves space in the room and travel costs. For full-day events, or if technical support and an interference-free working environment for top performance are required, an interpreting studio (interpreting hub) is a good choice.
Which platforms are suitable for hybrid events with interpreting?
Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex and many event platforms can be connected. Zoom offers its own interpretation channels including relay. Microsoft Teams has interpretation channels but no relay, which can be limiting with more than two languages.
What does interpreting equipment for a hybrid event cost?
The price depends on the equipment in the room, the online connection, the number of languages, the duration and the technical support. A reliable quote is possible as soon as the date, venue, languages and number of participants on site and online are known.
How early should a hybrid event with interpreting be planned?
As early as possible, because the platform, the room and the equipment need to be coordinated. A rehearsal with everyone involved before the event is recommended.
Can the interpretation also be fed into a live stream?
Yes. The language channels can also be transmitted to a live stream so that viewers without access to the conference platform can hear the interpretation too.
What our customers say
"We have relied on simultando's full-service package for our international sales meetings since 2014. The preparation and organisation on site are always flawless. The interpreters always provide an excellent interpretation, as our colleagues from England have repeatedly confirmed. Especially with products like ours, this is certainly not self-evident: presentations and speeches at our events are highly technical. We are happy to have found a reliable partner who we have worked with for many years now, and who has always provided perfect support for our conferences."
"As part of an international training programme for teachers, we commissioned simultando with translations from English into German and vice versa. Du to the Covid crisis, the Boston Perkins Institute's Syllabus course had to be held online. The course is a continued education programme for teachers and integration assistants working with deafblind children, and its subject requires knowledge of specific technical terminology and a good understanding of the course context. We had 22 tutorials translated ahead of the course itself, which proved as the ideal way of preparing for the subject. The communication with simultando in the run-up to the event and during the entire course was excellent. Thanks to clear agreements on processes and terminology, the simultaneous interpretation for the six live course dates was of exceptionally high quality. We thank the extremely dedicated and competent team, and can clearly recommend simultando."
"Since 2014, simultando has been our partner for kick-off events, trade fairs or customer events that we hold together with our American manufacturing partner Caterpillar. Apart from having a reliable product, what is really important in the construction machinery industry is offering excellent service. Ms. Schu and her team offer impeccable service, both when it comes to the organisation ahead of the event and when providing the service on site. Just like we do in our daily business, we seek long-term cooperation and are already looking forward to our next event together!"
Do you need interpreting equipment for your hybrid event?
Would you like to bring together participants on site and online? We provide the right combination of interpreting equipment, interpreters and technical team for your hybrid event.
Tell us about your event and we will be happy to advise you.
