French 
Spanish 
Chinese 
The lockdown in spring 2020 accelerated the development of RSI solutions.
We have supported our interpreters from their first missions to today, collecting feedback from hundreds of colleagues, and can propose the following recommendations and offer the best RSI solutions that have been used and tested in countless meetings.
It is clear that the success of meetings with RSI depends on a host of factors, including the following:
1. The platform you choose for RSI
It is necessary to work with platforms designed especially for RSI. Choosing a different route may not cause a complete disaster, but you will likely have a less-than-ideal outcome. In this age of RSI platforms, it would be unprofessional to propose or accept a meeting on a regular collaborative platform such as Microsoft Teams, Workplace, or WhatsApp.
Only RSI platforms will provide you with the necessary technical tools:
For remote participants:
- Interpretation channels available
- Slide view or sharing other materials
- Screen sharing
- Option to record video channel and all audio channels
For conference interpreters:
- Choosing the input channel
- Relay function available
- Handing over the mic to your colleague
While it is important to use one of the RSI platforms available on the market (and which remain in frequent use), don’t forget that they offer solutions of varying quality and are designed with different needs in mind: bilingual/multilingual meetings, with/without relay, etc.
Ideally, these platforms should be used in conjunction with an interpreting studio or hub, where interpreters can work in optimal conditions, supported by qualified technicians who can step in any time to offer their assistance.
2. Minimal equipment requirements for remote speakers and listeners
Even with the most operational platforms, sound quality is always less than ideal. With that in mind, speakers should have the following minimal equipment:
Computer
• Windows 7+ ou MacOS 10.11+
• Browser : Google Chrome v68+
• RAM : 8GB+ (16GB recommended)
• CPU : Intel i5+ (i7 recommended)
• • Sound card (HD quality recommended)
• Webcam
• USB headset with mic
• Permissions: give Chrome access to your camera and mic
Ethernet cable
Wi-Fi is not reliable and often causes interruptions, pixelation, frozen video, and complete or partial loss of sound.
You need to connect your computer to the router using an ethernet cable.
Recommended bandwidth
• For audio: at least 64 kbps (128 kbps recommended)
• For video: at least 320 kbps (1.2 mbps recommended)
3. Testing and meetings
It is necessary to organize tests or run-throughs ahead of time to check everyone’s connection – both users and conference interpreters. These tests are organized in partnership with the provider of the simultaneous interpreting platform.
The meeting can then begin, and interpreters get to work. As is always the case with simultaneous interpreting, they switch frequently.
Difficult working conditions mean shorter working hours for RSI: conference interpreters switch frequently (every 10-15 min) to make up for the unreliable sound quality that is always worse than for in-person meetings. Interpreters have a higher cognitive load, as they need to monitor the speaker, the slides, and the chat, and face the constant risk of developing tinnitus.
Finally, the success of the interpretation will always depend on:
• The skill level of the conference interpreters. Most interpreters who have graduated from prestigious interpreting schools and are members of AIIC have begun to work with RSI; the quality of their work is guaranteed and recognized. We know them and have worked with them and for them for over 40 years. We know their areas of expertise and the quality of their work – which cannot be replaced by a new generation of interpreters who claim to be bilingual, are underpaid and under pressure from RSI platforms.
• Proper meeting preparation: just like for in-person work, and perhaps even more so in RSI, interpreters must always prepare for their work and make use of all of the documents available ahead of time (agenda, slides, presentations, videos, websites, etc.)
