Introduction
Videolinq offers a cost-effective and efficient way to create GenAI automated captions and subtitle closed captioning from recorded media and edit the data to improve accuracy. The final version of the captions can be exported in the SubRip Subtitle (SRT) or WebVTT (VTT) format for further use as media-on-demand with closed captioning on any streaming platform. In addition, captions can be exported as transcripts in PDF format. Automated closed captioning is a fee-based service. This article explains how to create captions, caption files, and transcripts from a pre-recorded file.
Upload Media
In the media dashboard, click on the "Sources," "Content Management," and "Media Files" tabs. Use the "Upload a file" feature to import a pre-recorded file in the MP4 format. For fast processing, we recommend using a low-resolution/bitrate version file. For example, if your program is a 1080p 6 MBps file, 60 minutes long, prepare a 360p version file at 1 MBps and upload it to create the captions or translation.
Create Captions
To create closed captioning from the native language in the recorded media, (1) point and click the checkbox of the uploaded file. (2) Drop down the "Language" option, and select the audio source language. (3) Confirm the "Translate" option is set to "None". To begin the caption creation task click "Start".
Wait until the closed captioning creation process alert disappears.
When the closed captioning creation process ends, check the checkbox, and click on the "Editor" button.
Inside the editor: A popup window will open. Here you can preview the video, search for specific words, edit captions, and add a line break to create a paragraph (to align transcripts better). Did you make a mistake? Click on the reset option to restore the original version. When ready, export the caption files in the SRT or VTT format. Export transcripts in PDF format.
Create Subtitles
To create subtitles (a text translation from the original language) do the following: Upload a media file as explained in the first step of this article. To use a file you uploaded already, (1) check the box, (2) release the previous captions file when applicable, (3) drop down the "Translate" drop-down option, and select a desired language to translate to. For example, let's select Spanish. Click "Start".
Wait until the closed captioning creation process alert disappears.
Caption files get the name of the original clip by default. Let's change the caption file name for easy identification. Click the "X" to release the captions file.
Click the pen icon, rename the file, and save.
Connect the Spanish captions to the video file by (1) clicking on the plus sign (2) drop-down to select the file you just renamed, and attach it.
Now open the Editor, (1) click the file checkbox and, (2) click on the Editor icon.
Inside the editor: A popup window will open. Here you can preview the video, search for specific words, edit the Spanish captions, and add a line break to create a paragraph (to align transcripts better). Did you make a mistake? Click on the reset option to restore the original Spanish-translated version. When ready, export the caption files in the SRT or VTT format. Export transcripts in PDF format.
Let's create another translation from the original media source (1) disassociate the previous caption file from the source media, (2) check the box of the media source, (3) select the next target language for translation.
Wait until the closed captioning creation process alert disappears.
Repeat the step to release the new captions file, rename it, and (1) associate it back with the media file from the (2) drop-down option.
Let us see the French translation (1) check the video box (2) click on the Editor icon.
Use the Editor to correct mistakes in the captions and export the SRT, or VTT files.
Watch a Webinar
The webinar does not cover translations. To learn how to create translated closed captioning select the "Create Translations" section of this article.
Supported Languages
The creation of automated captions, and subtitle closed captioning from video-on-demand (caption and transcript files) is supported in 60+ languages.
Known issues our team is working on:
Some languages will not show proper captions in the "Edit for media files" preview player.
Captions do not work on iOS when using the Safari browser.
Transcripts of some languages with non-Latin characters do not print well.
Tips & Tricks
When creating closed captioning for video, we recommend using a computer or mobile device with a screen size of 1024 pixels or more.
Use the preview player in the editor to jump into a specific time frame in the video. The corresponding caption lines will sync to the video.
Create a playlist from multiple media files and assign the playlist as the video source for the channel. Start the channel and enable automated closed captioning, The channel will use the content of the playlist as a video source, and add the automated closed captioning to the content.
Did you make too many mistakes in the Editor? Click on the "Reset" option to restore the original caption job and start editing from the start.
Videolinq supports 60+ languages for the creation of captions & transcripts from files, but we can only add closed captioning to live streams in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Portuguese. Keep this in mind if you plan to use files + captions as a single clip, or a playlist, as a video source for a live channel.
This product is not necessarily ADA compliant, and we recommend that you also check with federal regulations to ensure compliance.