Using closed captioning

You can add closed captioning to any video or audio slide, or to any video or audio comment.

• Viewing captions in VoiceThread
• How to add a caption to a slide or comment
• Professional caption integration
• Automatic VoiceThread Captioning
• Editing captions

Find instructions for using closed captions in VT Universal here.

Viewing captions in VoiceThread

If you’re viewing the slide from the standard VoiceThread site, turn on closed captioning by clicking on the “CC” button in the top-right corner of the VoiceThread, and selecting “On”. Any slide or comment that has been captioned will display those captions as long as this option is on.

How to add a caption to VoiceThread

Only the person who created a VoiceThread or someone who has editing rights for that VoiceThread may add captions. Get started by accessing the caption dialog for your slide or comment.

For central media slides:

1. Navigate to the slide that contains the video.
2. Hover your mouse over the video icon on the left side of the page.
3. Click on the CC button in the top-right corner of the VoiceThread.
   
4. Click “Add captions”.
5. Select your caption file.
6. Click “OK”.

For comments:

1. Start playing the comment.
2. Click on the CC button at the bottom of the comment.
   
3. Select your caption file.
4. Click “OK”.

This will open the caption dialog box, where you can upload or request your caption. If you are uploading a file manually, just click on “Upload Captions” on this dialog and upload your file.

VoiceThread accepts caption files in these formats:

• DFXP
• SRT
• SAMI
• SCC
• SBV

Free machine captions

VoiceThread currently offers machine-generated captions at no cost. To use this, select the language spoken in the recording and click on the “Order” button next to the option for “Machine Captions from VoiceThread”.

There is a 4-day turnaround time, and you will receive an email notification as soon as the caption is ready to be viewed. This option will be guaranteed free through December 31, 2023, and we will evaluate whether we can keep it free at that time.

Professional caption integration

If your institution has a license with 3Play Media or AutomaticSync Technologies, then you can integrate that license with VoiceThread to enable one-click professional captioning. If this option is available to you, then that option will appear in the “Caption services” menu. Select the priority level and language from the menus below (if available), and then click on the “Order” button. Your slide or comment will be captioned automatically as soon as your caption provider completes the request.

Note that wait times may vary from several hours to several days depending on the service.  While the caption file is processing, you’ll see a clock icon next to the caption service in this interface.  Once the caption is complete, you’ll see a check mark instead. You will also receive an email notification from VoiceThread once the caption is available to view.

Learn more about setting up a closed caption integration here.

Automatic VoiceThread Captioning

If your institution has the Platinum Service Tier, then every audio or video recording you create in VoiceThread will be captioned automatically. You don’t need to do anything at all to initiate the process. As soon as you save your recording, the captioning process will begin. Captions should appear in 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the length of your recording.

• Note: Don’t forget to turn captions on in the top-right corner in order to see them.

To make edits to the automatic captions after they are completed, please see “Editing Captions” below.

Contact us if you are not sure whether your institution has Automatic VoiceThread Captioning.

Editing captions

Once a caption has been added to a slide or comment in VoiceThread, you can always edit it to make changes or correct any mistakes. To begin, follow the steps above to open the Closed Caption window, and then click on “Edit captions”.

This will open the caption editor, where you can make manual changes to the text. Make sure you save before closing the editor, and those changes will be visible in the VoiceThread instantly.