Hi, new audiophile here.
I always wanted to dub scenes of movies or anything.
There exists some software to dub in sync with videos, via the rythmo band technique (text with indications for the mouth scrolls horizontally in sync with the video).
Those are all paid and few of them exists, the only one that's free is an old software from 2008 named Cappella.

Some use cappella, others edit with premiere pro or other editing software.

That's why I'm asking if anyone knows a software, a plugin or anything that could help dubbing ?

Thanks for considering

 

JokerSync/Joker - Dubbing and post-synchronization tool --> https://github.com/JokerSync/Joker

 

Unfortunatelly I tried Joker. One of the rare outside to be free.
The real problem is that the audio doesn't work or is absent. You can't hear your videos.
I created an issue a while ago but the project is long dead for now.

 

Hello @THX, I asked the AI and got the following result, I hope the result helps you!

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

I'm sorry to hear about your frustrating experience with Joker—it's a shame when a promising open-source tool falls short, especially one that's hard to come by as a free option for dubbing and post-sync work. From what I can gather, Joker (originally from the Phonations project, now forked and maintained under JokerSync on GitHub) is indeed a digital "rythmo band" system designed for audio-video synchronization in post-production, supporting interfaces like MIDI, LTC, and Sony 9-pin for precise timing. The last notable activity was a 1.1.5 release a few years back, which aligns with your sense that it's effectively dormant—no commits, issues, or maintainer responses in ages.

Since audio playback failing (or being outright absent) is a core dealbreaker for a tool like this, and your open issue hasn't gotten traction, let's focus on practical next steps. I'll outline some troubleshooting angles you might not have tried yet, plus solid free/open-source alternatives that handle dubbing/post-sync without the same pitfalls.

Quick Troubleshooting for Joker
If you're up for one last shot (e.g., on macOS 10.8+ or Windows, per the docs), these could rule out simple glitches:

• Audio Driver Check: Ensure your system's audio output is set correctly in Joker's prefs (it might default to a MIDI/LTC passthrough that mutes standard playback). Test with a basic WAV import outside of sync mode.
• Dependency Refresh: The project relies on Qt and custom libs (PhSync, PhMidi, etc.). Rebuild from source if using the GitHub repo—clone git clone https://github.com/JokerSync/Joker.git, then follow the README for CMake/QMake setup. This might patch any outdated audio routing.
• Platform-Specific Hack: On Windows, try running as admin or switching audio devices in Task Manager. For macOS, check Console.app for AVFoundation errors during playback. If none click, yeah, it's probably time to bail—the repo's inactivity suggests deeper, unfixable rot in the audio stack.

Free/Open-Source Alternatives for Dubbing & Post-Sync
Here are vetted options that prioritize reliable audio handling, video preview, and sync tools. I focused on free tiers with no paywalls for basics, and ones actively maintained as of 2025. They're not identical to Joker's "rythmo" niche but excel at lip-sync, ADR, and post-audio alignment.


Tool Key Features Platforms Why It Fits (vs. Joker) Drawbacks Download/Source
Aegisub Advanced subtitle timing with audio waveform preview, karaoke-style sync, video import for lip-matching, export to ASS/SRT. Great for manual dubbing alignment. Windows, macOS, Linux Rock-solid audio playback (uses FFmpeg backend); free, open-source, and updated monthly. Handles "absent audio" issues via direct file import. Steeper learning curve for non-sub work; less automated sync than AI tools. aegisub.org (GitHub: typesetsf/aegisub)

FFmpeg + Subtitle Edit FFmpeg for CLI audio/video muxing/sync (e.g., ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -itsoffset 0.5 -i audio.dub output.mp4); Subtitle Edit for GUI waveform-based timing and dubbing previews. All (cross-platform) Bulletproof audio handling—no dropouts; free, scriptable for batch post-sync. Subtitle Edit adds visual sync tools. CLI-heavy for FFmpeg; combine tools for full workflow. ffmpeg.org, subtitleedit.org

Blender (Video Sequence Editor) Built-in strip editor for layering video/audio tracks, sync via waveform zoom, dope sheet for precise cuts, and Python scripting for custom dubbing. Windows, macOS, Linux Free, open-source, active dev (daily builds); flawless audio routing via OpenAL. Export dubs directly. Overkill if you don't need 3D; UI can feel bloated for pure audio. blender.org (GitHub: blender/blender)

Shotcut Non-linear editor with multitrack audio, waveform scrubbing, filters for sync (e.g., delay compensation), and export presets for dubbed videos. Windows, macOS, Linux Intuitive timeline with reliable playback; open-source, updated quarterly. Handles imports without audio glitches. Less specialized for lip-sync; no built-in MIDI/LTC. shotcut.org (GitHub: mltframework/shotcut)

OpenShot Simple timeline for video/audio layers, keyframe sync, waveform view, and effects like pitch correction for dubs. Windows, macOS, Linux Beginner-friendly with stable audio (libopenshot backend); free, community-driven updates. Basic compared to pro tools; occasional export bugs on large files. openshot.org (GitHub: OpenShot/openshot-qt)

If your workflow leans toward AI-assisted dubbing (e.g., voice cloning for sync), check free tiers of Descript (script-based editing with overdub) or ElevenLabs (upload MP4s for post-sync voice swaps)—but they're freemium, so quotas apply. For something closer to Joker's analog-feel sync, Aegisub + FFmpeg is your best zero-cost bet.

If you share more details (e.g., your OS, video format, or what the issue GitHub link is), I can dig deeper or even mock up a FFmpeg command to test. What's your setup like?

 

Anyhow, Steinberg Nuendo has all the tools inside for a straightforward dubbing process.
They offer pretty big discounts quite frequently. Of course you could check with our Sister..

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nuendo+adr

 

Any DAW. Just load the video and start recording. It's fun!

 

I'll check out Joker, but I'm not confident about it.
DAWs are perfect for recording, Only thing they miss is text editing to create a rythmo band, But I could find a workaround somehow.
Steinberg looks promising, I'll give it a look

Thanks for those answers