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InterPro - Teaching & Learning - Accessibility - Captioning
Closed Captioning
Description
Closed Captions are a text version of the audio content within a video, synchronized with the action on screen. Captions should be accurate, use correct punctuation, state in brackets who is speaking at the start of a new speaker, and indicate relevant ambient sound or emotional tone (Definition from Create Accessible Video & Audio Content)
UW-Madison strongly recommends providing captioning for all audio and video content. Captioning increases accessibility and provides all learners with an additional way to learn.
UW-Madison requires captioning if a learner within a credit-course had a disability accommodation. Please contact LDT for more information on ensuring learners have the tools they need.
Access
There are three main ways to caption videos for courses.
3Play, a paid service.
Kaltura Machine captioning.
YouTube Studio's automatic captioning.
Application and Limitations
Comparison Chart
Tool |
3Play |
Kaltura |
YouTube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Per minute cost from | Free | Free |
| Method | Contract service | Machine capture (uses technology to create captions) | Machine capture (uses technology to create captions) |
| Ease of Use | Easy | Requires human intervention for ADA appropriate captions | Requires human intervention for ADA appropriate captions |
| Time to Production | 15 days for the lowest cost option | Varies, between a few minutes and a few hours + the time to manually clean up captions | Varies, this process is automatic and does not have a set time. It also requires additional time to manually clean up captions |
| LDT/UW Supported | Yes. Work through LDT for 3PLay Conversion | Yes. LDT will provide guidance on using Kaltura's machine captioning and editing captions | Minimal support from LDT. DoIT does provide directions on using YouTube Studio's capturing feature. |
3Play is a paid service. If you would like to use this service, please contact Online Support.
Kaltura and YouTube use automatic captioning and require someone to manually fix the captions generated by the software.
Kaltura has a specific process for captioning that makes requesting and editing captions straightforward. For more information, see Kaltura - Ordering Machine Captions for Media in Kaltura MediaSpace [UW-Madison], or if you are part of EPD, see below for the internal process. You can check on pending caption requests within Kaltura, and you will receive an email when the captioning process is finished.
YouTube creates automatic captions for any video uploaded to its site. This process is automatic, but this also means that it can be difficult to know when the captioning has been completed. YouTube's official statement on time commitment is: Processing time depends on the complexity of the video's audio. No alert will be sent when the captioning is complete.
EPD Kaltura Captioning Process
If you are working on an EPD course, please contact Online Support for more information on captioning.