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Use human-generated closed captioning
Use human-generated closed captioning

Learn how to add captions created by a stenograph operators to live streams.

Updated over 10 months ago

Background

Videolinq is integrated with leading closed captioning tools and can insert closed captioning created by human operators to live streams. The following steps explain how to enable a Videolinq channel to add real-time human-generated closed captioning on a live stream.

Stream Configuration

Step 1:

Create a new channel or use an existing one. Click on "Sources".

Step 2:

Create a new source or modify an existing one.

Step 3:

Give the source a name, select the target media server region, and check the RTMP encoder option. When done, click "Create".

Step 4:

Expand the tab under the preview player and click on the "CC" tab. Check the 3rd option. The "Closed captioning credentials" will appear. Copy this information and pass it to your closed captioning service. Ask them to use one of our partners (1CapApp, Streamtext, AI Media Falcon/iCap, Telestream Captions, or Voice Interaction).

Step 5:

Click on the "Encoder" tab and copy the RTMP path and stream key. Place these values in your RTMP encoder of choice. Start the stream on the encoder.

Step 6:

The preview player will show a live video. Click on the green "Go Live" button at the top right corner. The button will turn to red "Streaming" and show a counter.

Get the Operator Link

Step 7:

Go back to the "CC" tab and click on the small icon to open a popup window.

Step 8:

Copy the URL provided and pass it to your closed captioning operator, and ask them to begin sending captions.

Step 9:

Enable captions in the channel preview player and confirm you see them.

Setup Destinations

Step 10:

Now that the video with the captions is visible in the channel preview player, let's create a new destination. Click on the destination icon to add a destination(s).

Step 11:

Create a new destination or use one created before.

Step 12:

Select a social media or video service from the list, or use the generic RTMP option. See instructions on how to create a specific destination in the help center.

Step 13:

Click on the green play icon to activate a destination. The icon will turn to a red square and a video with closed captioning will be sent out to the selected destination(s).

Create a Player

Step 14:

Create a player to embed on a website: click on the Player tab. Click on the widget link. Follow these steps to create a player.

Operator TO DO List

The stenograph operator (closed captioning vendor) will receive from you:

  • Credentials to contribute live captions. These are the host, stream key, and password they need to configure a Videlinq partner tool to connect their CART or closed captioning software via the partner service to Videolinq.

  • A URL link to open a player and listen to the live video you send to Videolinq, as a reference source to the captions they create.

  • We provide individual instructions on how to use each tool in our Closed Captioning section of the help center. Share with your operator the relevant article pretending to their setup.

Best Practice Step-by-Step

Start a live stream in this order:

  1. Connect the RTMP encoder. Confirm video shows in the channel preview player.

  2. Push "Go Live" to activate the channel. We recommend setting up the Scheduler to autostart the channel as soon as the RTMP encoder connects.

  3. Ask the closed captioning operator to use their credentials and begin sending captions. Confirm you see the captions in the channel preview player.

  4. Configure a destination(s) and enable the destination. Both live video with captions will sent to the target destination.

Stop a live stream in this order:

  1. Stop the destination(s).

  2. Ask the closed captioning operator to disconnect from Videolinq.

  3. Stop the channel (click on the Live red icon). When using a Scheduler RTMP autostart, stop your RTMP encoder. The channel will go back to "Standby".

  4. If not using a Scheduler, stop your RTMP encoder.

Tips & Tricks

  1. Remember to activate a channel (push Go Live) with a live video stream before the operator connects their system.

  2. Begin sending live video with closed captioning to target destinations after you verify that the video in the channel has captions. If you don't see captions, ask the closed captioning operator to confirm their configuration, restart the session, and connect again.

  3. Idle connections between the closed captioning operator and Videolinq will terminate after some time of inactivity. Confirm seeing the captions on the video in the preview player, and ask the operator to send data (for example "test test test") every 5 minutes, during long pauses, when waiting for the broadcast to begin, or during breaks.

  4. The caption operator can stop and disconnect from Videolinq without affecting the live stream. This is very helpful during long broadcasts when operators need to rotate, or if the operator needs to troubleshoot their connection.

Experiencing a problem when connecting a remote closed captioning operator to a channel? Click on the green chat bubble in the lower right corner of the media dashboard and ask for help!

Optional: Complete your setup quickly with our paid support service.

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