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Humans are a visual species. Most of us find videos more memorable, more popular, and more engaging than any other type of content out there. Video is continuing to grow in popularity and importance and businesses, organizations, and individuals must become acquainted with new tools and best practices. Closed captioning, unfortunately, is one of those tools that are often overlooked, although it offers a multitude of benefits, including reaching a wider audience. Let’s go through the main reasons why you need audio transcription.
Why Are Closed Captions so Important?
1.Improve Accessibility
Closed captions were initially created for the deaf and hard of hearing to assist them with comprehension. It is estimated that around 6 percent of the global population has some level of hearing loss.
By not investing in audio to text transcription, you could be neglecting a significantly large audience for your content. By improving accessibility, you will not only grow your audience but show your viewers that you care about every single one of them.
2.Aid ESL and Foreign Language Students
Using closed captions has also proven helpful for those in the process of learning a non-native language. The internet is a great medium for connecting audiences with media from across the globe. You may be surprised to know just how many of your viewers could be non-natives. Ensure that everyone is accommodated so that your content can reach more people.
3.Comply with the Law
If you live in the United States, you are probably familiar with The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act sets requirements for accessible technology. More specifically, captioning on educational videos that are available to students as well as the public is a requirement to ensure effective communication for all individuals.
The Americans with Disabilities Act applies mainly to the public sector, while the Rehabilitation Act applies to federal agencies and federally funded programs.
4.Improve SEO
Search engine optimization plays a huge part in growing your organic visitors and can help meet your marketing goals. Closed captions can improve your video SEO, as search engines don’t crawl video, only text. If you want your videos to rank high on Google or other search tools, you need to back it up with captions and transcripts of audio.
5.Improve Average Watch Time
Closed captions are also known to improve the average watch time. It’s all about giving them the option to turn on the eye-catching captions. Once you want to grab a viewer’s attention, they’re more likely to watch the video until the end. So, if you want to keep your viewers engaged, captions may be just the thing that you keep them on-board longer.
How Can I Use Audext to Caption Videos?
Audext is a great online audio transcription software that can help you implement closed captions. The platform is not only extremely easy to use but also fast:
- First, make sure your audio does not have loud background noise.
- Log into your Audext dashboard and upload your video file under “New upload” or “New transcription.”
- Enter the identity of the people who are speaking in the video.
- Submit your file and wait until the software transcribes it to text.
- Edit the transcript if needed.
- Download your .doc or .txt file.
- Create subtitles from the transcription using the available online converter.
Which Caption Format Is Right for My Video?
There are a lot of caption formats out there, which can be classified as simple, intermediate, advanced.
The most popular, widely accepted, as well as the easiest to create caption formats, are SRT and WebVTT. Intermediate caption formats include SCC and SMPTE-TT, which are mainly used in broadcast television. Alas, advanced caption formats are used for more complex needs like closed caption placement or stylistic preferences, and they include file formats such as XML, CPT.XML, CAP, .asc, and .cap.
If you want to create your own closed captions, go for the SRT file. You can easily create one using Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). Of course, in the end, the caption format you use will depend entirely on which format the video player accepts. Luckily, most will work just fine with the common file formats mentioned above.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
