Captions provide vital assistance to Deaf or Hard of Hearing students, and can increase retention. But selecting an appropriate type can be dauntingly complex.
Captions may either be burned directly into the video track or created as separate files and associated with media content, each having their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Customization
Subtitling videos and streams enhances them in many ways, including increasing access for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, those learning English as a second language, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), ADA compliance by providing captions for non-dialogue audio cues such as sound effects or background activity that doesn’t feature dialogue, SEO benefits and improving search engine optimization (SEO).
However, when selecting between open and closed captions it’s essential to consider your audience and specific video goals. Closed captions provide viewers with greater control, customization, compliance and multilingual reach allowing you to reach additional viewers.
Closed captions appear as separate text files on videos they correspond with, most commonly in SRT format. Viewers can toggle their activation or deactivation via their browsers as per personal preference and accessibility needs.
Open captions, on the other hand, remain permanently displayed without being turned off or changed by the viewer. While this provides consistency between viewing sessions, this may become problematic if viewers prefer tailoring their captions based on individual needs or preferences.
With the right partner, open and closed captioning services can easily fit into your existing workflow. By automating the captioning process, your content will be timestamped automatically for upload with just the click of a button.
Universal Accessibility
Universal accessibility refers to the removal of obstacles that impede individuals with disabilities from fully taking advantage of products or services they want or need. One example of universal accessibility is captioning video content for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers.
Closed captions provide businesses looking to satisfy ADA compliance with an advantage that open captions cannot. While open captions are fixed into video tracks and cannot be toggled off or on, closed captions are stored separately as files that can be activated via viewer settings – making this an invaluable asset when meeting compliance obligations.
Closed captions allow viewers to tailor them according to their language preferences and viewing environments, including font size and style adjustments for optimal reading comfort. Furthermore, any errors that arise can quickly be rectified and reuploaded when discovered.
Closed captioning is ideal for real-time videos such as webinars and sports broadcasts, since its adaption based on audio cues makes them the ideal accompaniment for real-time content like webinars. They’re also great for SEO purposes as search engines can read these text files and rank videos higher in searches. Closed captions also work well in public places as they allow viewers to watch without interfering with conversations around them or distracting others; making it accessible even in noisy or distracting environments such as an airport waiting area or train ride.
Dynamic Captioning
Closed captions allow hearing-impaired viewers to remain visible during any video they view, although special decoder equipment must be present for their display. As such, this technology is typically only utilized within certain environments like classrooms or religious services; however, newer devices such as cupholder-mounted electronic displays or wireless glasses displaying text directly in front of wearer’s eyes have significantly reduced both cost and complexity associated with closed captioning devices.
Closed captions differ from open captions in that they must be enabled manually by viewers themselves through software such as video-editing software, while closed captions must be activated manually from a separate file by themself – necessitating knowledge of how to navigate their video player or app in order to activate them and could alienate some who don’t feel confident using such technology.
Closed captions can be provided in various file formats depending on their target platform of delivery. Some apps like TikTok and Instagram require specific transcription file formats while YouTube and Vimeo support multiple languages in their caption files. It is essential that caption files meet these requirements to reduce costly transcription costs as well as ensure accuracy; additionally it’s also wise to double check transcript and video for accuracy before publishing closed captions online – they should cover an entire program from beginning to end and remain legible throughout its entirety.
SEO
Content creators can leverage captioning services for various benefits, from making their video accessible for those with hearing loss and other impairments to increasing SEO by making video searches and indexation possible through search engines. But selecting an ideal captioning service can be challenging as there are numerous services with different advantages and disadvantages to consider.
Closed captions are the go-to choice for platforms that do not offer subtitles such as YouTube and TikTok; however, open captions may be an ideal solution if your target demographic includes multiple national or global audiences. Furthermore, these captions can help enhance viewer experience by reducing background noise and improving clarity during noisy environments.
When selecting a captioning service, it is essential to consider cost and turnaround time. Look for services offering affordable pricing plans with guaranteed accuracy based on your individual needs. Depending on how often audio or transcript files need captioning services, subscription plans might also be necessary depending on their volume.
Consider selecting a service with customer support and user communities so if any issues arise with using the software you can seek advice from experienced individuals.