Did you know that Mac Norwood is known as the ‘father of closed captioning’ for his instrumental role in bringing closed captions to mainstream television during his tenure at the U.S Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in the 1970s.
Closed captions are a form of video accessibility that displays spoken words, sound effects and background noise as text on the bottom of the screen. Captions are usually embedded into the video file format and can be turned on or off by the viewer. The captions are typically synchronized with the audio track of the video content. The process of generating captions typically involves speech recognition technology and manual transcription of the audio.
For live programs, captions are generated in real-time using speech recognition software or live captioning through captioning experts. For pre-recorded programs, captions are typically added during post-production and stored in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal.
When the television receives the signal, the decoder circuitry displays the captions on the screen. Closed captions make video content more accessible for people with hearing disabilities and those in noisy environments.
Closed captioning was designed to support individuals who are deaf or have difficulty hearing. However, its applications have expanded, proving to be useful in a range of scenarios. For instance, when audio is difficult to hear due to background noise, such as in a busy airport, or when a quiet environment is required, like in a hospital, captions can be relied on as a source of information.
According to the studies by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, National Captioning Institute, and National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders have shown that closed captions can improve reading speed, comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, recall of information, and comprehension of audio-visual content for people with hearing loss, those learning English, and individuals with ADHD or other cognitive disabilities.
Another study says that almost 99% of respondents in a National Captioning Institute survey reported using closed captions at least once a week. These studies demonstrate the importance of closed captions for a variety of populations.
How are closed captions created?
Closed captions can be created in the following ways:
1. Manual Creation:
This method involves a person listening to the audio and transcribing it into text. The transcriber must also add time codes to ensure that the captions appear at the correct moments in the video. This method is the most accurate but can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Of course for timecode creation expert take aid of available offline or cloud based subtitling softwares.
2. Automated Captioning:
This method uses automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology to generate captions. The ASR software analyzes the audio and generates a transcript, but the captions generated by this method are often filled with errors and require editing for accuracy. This method is faster than manual captioning but less accurate.
3. Hybrid Method:
This method combines manual and automated captioning to create more accurate captions. The ASR software generates an initial transcript, which is then reviewed and corrected by a human transcriber. This method is more accurate than automated captioning but takes more time than manual captioning.
4. Pre-Recorded Captions:
This method involves creating or purchasing pre-recorded captions and then adding them to video content. This method is fast and easy, but the captions may not be synced perfectly to the audio, and the captions may not reflect any changes made to the video after the captions were created.
Regardless of the method used, it is important to ensure that the captions are accurate and properly synced to the audio for the benefit of the audience.
Steps required while creating closed captions:
Step 1: Timecoding and frame rate:
Timecode is used to accurately synchronize the captions with the audio and video of a recording. By using timecodes, you can specify exactly when each caption should appear and disappear on the screen.
Frame rate is used to ensure that the captions are displayed in sync with the video. If the frame rate of the video and the frame rate of the captions do not match, the captions may appear to be out of sync or move too quickly or slowly compared to the video.
Step 2: CPL and CPS
CPL and CPS are two important factors every expert considers while creating Subtitles. CPL- character per line dictates number of characters that can exist in single of line of subtitle and CPS – character per second which guides number of characters that can appear per second. is a file format used for creating closed captions for digital media.
These two factors are crucial for better viewer experience. Based on type of program these factors count is decided.
Step 3: Embedding text
Embedding text in closed captions refers to the process of incorporating the text of the captions directly into the video file or embedding text at an accurate time frame in respective file format. This means that the captions are an integral part of the video and can be displayed without the need for an external file or a separate stream when embedded in video.
Embedding text in closed captions can make it easier to distribute and play the video, since the captions will be available regardless of the device or platform used to view the video.
To embed text in closed captions, the captions must be created in a format that is supported by the video codec used to encode the video. Some common formats for embedded captions include SRT, WebVTT, and CPL. The captions can be embedded using a video editing software or a dedicated captioning tool.
If captions are used as file extension they can be turned off but when they are directly embedded in video they cannot be turned off.
Step 4: Technical QC
Technical QC (Quality Control) is a process that involves thoroughly reviewing and checking the technical aspects of closed captions to ensure they meet certain standards and specifications.
Technical QC of closed captions is important because technical errors, such as syncing issues, incorrect frame rates, and missing captions, can negatively impact the user experience and make the captions difficult or impossible to understand.
The technical QC process typically involves checking the captions against a set of defined quality standards, such as correct timing, accurate text, and proper formatting.
This may involve using specialized software to analyze the captions, as well as manually reviewing the captions to ensure they are technically correct and free from errors. Any issues found during technical QC must be corrected before the captions can be considered complete and ready for distribution.
Step 5: Linguistic QC
Linguistic QC (Quality Control) is a process that involves thoroughly reviewing and checking the linguistic aspects of closed captions to ensure they meet certain standards and specifications.
Linguistic QC of closed captions is important because linguistic errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and incorrect word usage, can negatively impact the user experience and make the captions difficult or impossible to understand.
The linguistic QC process typically involves checking the captions against a set of defined quality standards, such as correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
This may involve using specialized software to analyse the captions, as well as manually reviewing the captions to ensure they are linguistically correct and free from errors. Any issues found during linguistic QC must be corrected before the captions can be considered complete and ready for distribution.
The goal of linguistic QC is to ensure that the closed captions are accurate, high-quality, and meet industry standards, allowing the captions to be used effectively and providing the best possible viewing experience for the audience.
Naarg has 3500+ linguists in various languages, more than 1200 technical experts, supporting global brands who can provide you with services in different languages.
During the cc closed captions process, it becomes easy for Naarg to provide output because of linguists’ support only. Not just linguists but also the 1200 experts with specialized technical knowledge are part of this Closed Captioning company which supports all the global brands. Being the best closed captioning company has expertise in handling rare accents too.
How do closed captions work?
You might be wondering how closed captions work? Here is a short description of working of closed captions.
- Closed captions are a helpful tool for those who are hard of hearing or deaf. They are added to the video signal through a process of encoding in line 21 of the vertical blanking interval.
- To view closed captions, a decoder circuitry is needed, which may be built into a television set or available as a set-top box. Newer televisions usually have an onscreen menu that allows users to turn closed captioning on or off.
- Most program captions are pre-recorded before they are transmitted, but some programs, such as live news broadcasts, require real-time captioning.
- For live captioning, a stenographer or captioning service listens to the broadcast and types a shorthand version into a program that converts the shorthand into captions. The captions are then added to the television set signal.
Closed captions provide a valuable service to those who have difficulty hearing. They allow individuals to enjoy television programs without meaningful dialogue or audio cues.
The process of encoding and decoding captions is quick and efficient, making it a seamless experience for the viewer. Overall, closed captions are essential to making television accessible to everyone.
How to add closed captions to Content?
Prepare the captions:
You can either create the captions yourself or use an automatic captioning tool or service. If using manual captioning, you will need to transcribe the audio into text and then time it to match the audio.
Choose a caption format:
There are various caption file formats, including DFXP SRT, SCC, Realtext, SBV, JSON, XML, HTML, text, and many more. Choose a format that is compatible with your video player or platform.
Add captions to the video:
Depending on the video platform you are using, there are different methods for adding captions to a video. Some popular video platforms, such as YouTube and Vimeo, allow you to upload the caption file directly to the video.
Verify and test the captions:
Once the captions are added, it is essential to verify that they are accurate, adequately synced with the audio, and displayed correctly on different devices.
Naarg’s speciality is its support of global Brands to cross the language barrier to reach a wider audience. We understand what a media team wants, and its purpose and Naarg ensures you get the best ROI.
In today’s market, many audiences face issues understanding what audio is trying to convey. We take pride in our best closed captioning services providing the best output to the global market.
Want to know more about how to create subtitles. Reach us at info@naargmedia.com to resolve your queries and create captivating subtitles that increase the reach of your video.