Kaltura - How Human Captioning and Machine Extended Audio Descriptions Work [UW-Madison]
Overview of ordering captions and extended audio descriptions
Beginning in fall 2026, all newly published or embedded media in Canvas and Kaltura MediaSpace will automatically receive human-created captions and machine-created extended audio descriptions.
When captions and extended audio descriptions are automatically ordered
These services are automatically ordered when you share media using the most common publishing methods. Human-generated captions and extended audio descriptions are ordered when you:
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Change a video’s publication setting in Kaltura MediaSpace from Private to Unlisted or Published
Limitations of v2 Player and Extended Audio Descriptions
Currently, only the v7 Player in Kaltura is capable of displaying extended audio descriptions, the older v2 Player is not able to display extended audio descriptions. In order to update to the latest player, please re-embed your content.
Exceptions to ordering
In some situations, human-generated captions and extended audio descriptions will not be ordered automatically:
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If your video is left as Private in Kaltura MediaSpace.
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If your video has already received human-generated captions and extended audio descriptions.
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If you are part of the McBurney Exception Group, which receives faster turnaround time on their media.
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The Office of Compliance has granted approval for your video to not receive captions and/or audio descriptions because these accessibility features result in a fundamental alteration of content.
To learn more about requesting a fundamental alteration exception, see the UW-Madison Fundamental Alterations guidance.
Foreign language videos
Videos that are not in English will not automatically receive human-generated captions or extended audio descriptions. If your media is in a language other than English, you must order human captions and audio descriptions directly through the vendor.