Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI)

Zoom, Teams, Meet and Webex — the same quality as in person, with no travel.

How RSI works on each platform

RSI vs in person: when to use each

Why recurring RSI engagements prove quality

The quality of interpretation depends on the interpreter, not the delivery channel. Alex Barros uses the same preparation — technical glossary, event decks, agenda in advance — for both RSI and in-person events. The most concrete proof of this is recurrence: lingo has maintained monthly RSI boards with Carlyle, Macquarie and BlackRock since 2019, without interruption and without a recorded quality complaint in any of these engagements.

This matters because private equity funds with fiduciary obligations to their LPs do not tolerate degraded quality in recurring governance meetings — if remote interpretation were inferior, the engagement simply would not have been renewed year after year. Well-executed RSI is not a second-class substitute; it is the same quality, delivered through a different channel.

What lingo sets up before each call

For events with a specific technical glossary, lingo asks for at least 48 hours' notice for proper preparation — presentation deck, agenda and the company's proprietary terminology. For pure RSI without that requirement, 24 hours is enough for simple events.

On the day of the event, the interpretation channel is set up 30 minutes beforehand with the platform host — with no additional software installation for participants, who simply select the language in the app they already use. For events with many participants (hundreds to thousands), lingo guides the host through setting up the feature in advance to avoid problems at the start of the call.

How to prepare a remote meeting with interpretation

Remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) depends less on equipment and more on preparation. The meeting organizer needs to confirm three points before the date: the platform and the plan contracted, the list of languages and the schedule, including time zones. With that defined, lingo sets up the interpretation channel, tests access and sends entry instructions to participants.

A good preparation script includes: sending the agenda, slides and list of participants in advance; indicating who will be the host or co-host responsible for enabling the channel; agreeing on who speaks in each language; and running a short audio test before the start. In recurring meetings, the glossary accumulated between sessions increases accuracy at each meeting.

Choosing the platform: Zoom, Teams, Meet or Webex

Zoom offers the native Language Interpretation feature, available on Pro, Business and Enterprise plans; the organizer enables the channel in the settings and each participant chooses the language in their own application. In Microsoft Teams, interpretation requires a Teams Premium license. In Google Meet, the feature is available in the Enterprise edition. Webex also offers interpretation in its corporate plans.

If the company does not have the necessary plan, lingo advises on alternatives, such as using an external platform for the meeting or setting up a parallel audio channel. The choice of platform should take into account what the audience already uses, because asking hundreds of people to install a new application usually reduces attendance.

There are dedicated pages for each platform, with the configuration steps and the particularities of each, for the organizer to consult before the meeting.

Audio quality and connection: what makes a difference

• Use headphones with a microphone close to the mouth instead of the laptop microphone.
• Prefer a wired or stable Wi-Fi connection, avoiding shared networks and slow VPNs.
• Mute the microphone of anyone who is not speaking, to avoid noise and echo.
• Ask participants who listen to the interpretation to use headphones, so the interpreter's audio does not leak into the microphone.
• Avoid two speakers talking at the same time, since overlap harms interpretation and transcription.

In remote interpretation, the interpreter depends entirely on the audio received. Clear sound, without noise and without dropouts, is the factor that most influences final quality, more than the type of platform.

Roles in a meeting with RSI

In meetings with remote interpretation, three roles coexist: the host, who controls the meeting and enables the language channel; the interpreter, who works in a virtual booth with access to the speaker's audio; and the technician, who monitors channel quality throughout the meeting. lingo provides the interpreter and the technical monitoring, and guides the host on the settings.

For meetings with many languages or many participants, it is common to designate a second co-host to manage entry and questions, leaving the main host focused on running the content.

Security, confidentiality and recording

Board meetings, M&A and due diligence involve sensitive information. For that reason, the interpreter works under a confidentiality agreement, and lingo does not record the audio by default. If the client wants to record the meeting, the decision and the configuration are the organizer's responsibility, and it is advisable to notify participants.

For matters of maximum sensitivity, we recommend a human interpreter, platforms with authentication and restricted access, and an alternative communication channel in case the connection fails. lingo guides the client on these choices during planning.

When to move an in-person event to remote

Remote interpretation eliminates interpreter travel, freight and equipment setup, which reduces costs and makes it possible to organize meetings at short notice. It usually works well for recurring boards, training, meetings between branches and events with participants in several countries.

Trade fairs, congresses with parallel rooms and large auditoriums, however, remain better served by the in-person format, with UHF receivers. At hybrid events, the two can be combined: receivers for those in the room and a language channel on the platform for those attending remotely, with the same team and the same glossary.

What makes up the remote interpretation quote

The RSI quote covers the interpreters, technical monitoring and platform setup. There is no freight, setup or physical booth, and that is what usually lowers the cost compared with in person. The amount depends on duration, languages, the number of interpreters needed (in long meetings, a pair), the level of preparation required and how far in advance the request is made.

For monthly or quarterly recurrence, such as boards and results meetings, the accumulated glossary and the interpreter's familiarity with the subject add quality, and lingo can organize the team in a stable way throughout the year. Request a quote in 60 seconds by stating the date, duration, languages and platform.

Time zones and multilingual meetings

International meetings often run into difficult hours for some participants. Remote interpretation helps because the interpreter works from anywhere and does not need to travel, which makes it easier to serve early-morning or late-night meetings with the right team. In meetings with more than one target language, each channel is run by a dedicated interpreter, and the participant chooses the language in the platform's selector.

We recommend confirming the time in both time zones in the invitation and planning breaks in long meetings. For sessions longer than two hours, a pair of interpreters ensures rotation without a drop in quality.

Most common use cases

• Board and committee meetings with foreign investors or partners.
• Results presentations and meetings with analysts.
• Corporate training and onboarding of international teams.
• Due diligence and negotiations in the approval phase.
• Webinars and hybrid events with participants in several countries.

lingo has served recurring remote meetings since 2019, with the same team and the same glossary across meetings. For each case, we indicate whether it is worth using a human interpreter, AI with backup or captioning as support.

Checklist for the 24 hours before the meeting

• Confirm the platform plan and test the host's access to the interpretation feature.
• Send the link, the language-selection instructions and the time in the relevant time zones.
• Resend the agenda and final slides to the interpreter, with last-minute updates.
• Notify speakers about headphones, microphone and speaking pace.
• Confirm who monitors the chat and who handles questions in each language.

Frequently asked questions

Related services

Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA · CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34 · São Paulo, SP