Video Captioning Options

Summary

There are several different services available for captioning videos to comply with Web and IT Accessibility Guidelines and Procedures. Benefits that occur when accurately captioning visual content include an increase comprehension of content, improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and a remedy for situational or temporarily unavailable audio.

Body

Introduction

There are several different services available for captioning videos to comply with Web and IT Accessibility Guidelines and Procedures. Benefits that occur when accurately captioning visual content include an increase comprehension of content, improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and a remedy for situational or temporarily unavailable audio.

Instructors with an immediate need to provide accessible video or audio media files to a student should contact the Office of Disability Support Services, Email:DSS@oakland.edu (248) 370-3268, 103A North Foundation Hall, Or visit their website.

Videos intended for a public audience should be reviewed with Communications and Marketing.

Web multimedia should include both synchronized captions and a descriptive transcript. To choose the best option, consider the options below:

If you do not require use of a Screen Reader you can view a comparison chart.

You Tube

 

1. Use Case

Ideal when not all of your content is scripted, and when creating department marketing materials. Work with Communications and Marketing to ensure Brand Guidelines have been met.

 

2. Benefit

There are 3 ways to achieve captioning depending on the transcripts you have:

  • Type the text in as you watch the video; both the timecode and text as captions will be added. Upload a transcript (without time code).
  • Youtube will parse the transcript and add timecode.
  • If the captions already exist, the editor can edit any remaining errors.

 

3. Ownership

End User is required to use tools to create and edit content.

 

4. Cost

Free

 

5. Toolkits and resources

Accessibility- Video Captioning

 

6. Additional Information

YouTube Captioning
YouTube Creating Transcript Files

Back_To_Top

 

Google Docs

 

1. Use Case

Ideal when you need to transcribe a video as you record it. This will tool will produce a transcript you can upload to the tool producing the video.

 

2. Benefit

Google Docs has a feature called Voice Typing. It is only useful for a few lines that need to be captioned at a time and most helpful for Youtube videos.

 

3. Ownership

End User is required to use tools to create and edit content.

 

4. Cost

Free

 

5. Toolkits and resources

Google Help
Google Help Caption Tracks

 

6. Additional Information

Google Help

Back_To_Top

 

Camtasia

 

1. Use Case

Ideal when creating internal and public facing help tutorials and supplementary academic content.

 

2. Benefit

Software allows you to "Copy" and "Paste" a script to create captions.

 

3. Ownership

End User is required to use tools to create and edit content.

 

4. Cost

Requires a Department purchase for each user license.

 

5. Toolkits and resources

Accessibility- Video Captioning

 

6. Additional Information

Camtasia Captioning Information.

Back_To_Top

 

Panopto

 

1. Use Case

If using Panopto for class recordings, the Panopto captioning should be enabled.The primary choice for most academic short clips is YouTube captioning.

 

2. Benefit

Panopto has automatic captioning available.

 

3. Ownership

End User is required to use tools to create and edit content

 

4. Cost

Panopto is a campus solution

 

5. Toolkits and resources

Accessibility- Video Captioning

 

6. Additional Information

Panopto Accessibility Features

Back_To_Top

 

Verbit

 

1. Use Case

Ideal for short turn around time. Verbit is a 3rd party transcription and captioning service that specializes in Higher Education content. Transcribing is double checked by a human reviewer before client receives completed work.

 

2. Benefit

Upload your video and audio files to the vendor. You can monitor the status, download captions/transcripts, and edit captions after they have been processed.

 

3. Ownership

Paid service vendor will complete for a fee. Minimum 8 hour turnaround or 5 business days.

 

4. Cost

You will be required to login to view pricing. Pricing Information

Departments are responsible for the charges.

 

6. Additional Information

NA

3Play Media

 

1. Use Case

Ideal for for highly technical or specialized academic content supporting diverse speakers, various accents and dialects. 3Play Media is a third party transcription & captioning service.

 

2. Benefit

Upload your video and audio files to the vendor. You can monitor the status, download captions/transcripts, and edit captions after they have been processed.

 

3. Ownership

Paid service vendor will complete for a fee- minimum 2 hour to 5 day turn around time.

 

4. Cost

You will be required to login to view pricing. Pricing Information

Departments are responsible for the charges.

 

5. Additional Information

NA

 

Reference Material from Other Universities

WebAIM - Utah State University - Captions, Transcripts, and Audio Descriptions

Eastern Michigan University - Creating Accessible Resources

Michigan State University - A Guide For Captioning Video

Penn State Captioning Guidelines and Policy

University of Iowa - Captioning and Transcription

University of Michigan - Captioning

University of Washington - Creating Accessible Videos

Instructors with an immediate need to provide accessible video or audio media files to a student should contact the Office of Disability Support Services, Email:DSS@oakland.edu (248) 370-3268, 103A North Foundation Hall, or visit their website. Instructors are encouraged to make accessible media available to all students in a course if an accessible solution is provided to one student. Faculty members without an immediate student need but wanting to bring files into compliance are encouraged to evaluate one of the free solutions.

Videos intended for a public audience should be reviewed with Communications and Marketing. Communications and Marketing will assist with options.

Web multimedia should include both synchronized captions and a descriptive transcript. To choose the best option, consider the options below:

Screen reader supported format

Video Captioning Options
  YouTube Google Drive Camtasia Panopto Verbit 3Play Media
Use Case Ideal when not all of your content is scripted, and when creating department marketing materials. Work with Communications and Marketing to ensure Brand Guidelines have been met. Ideal when you need to transcribe a video as you record it. This will tool will produce a transcript you can upload to the tool producing the video. Ideal when creating internal and public facing help tutorials and supplementary academic content. If using Panopto for class recordings, the Panopto captioning should be enabled.
The primary choice for most academic short clips is YouTube Captioning
Ideal for short turn around time. Verbit is a 3rd party transcription and captioning service that specializes in Higher Education content. Transcribing is double checked by a human reviewer before client receives completed work. Ideal for for highly technical or specialized academic content supporting diverse speakers, various accents and dialects. 3Play Media is a third party transcription & captioning service.
Benefit There are 3 ways to achieve captioning depending on the transcripts you have: 1. Type the text in as you watch the video; Both the timecode and text as captions will be added. Upload a transcript (without time code). 2. Youtube will parse the transcript and add timecode. 3. If the captions already exist, the editor can edit any remaining errors. Google Drive has a feature within Google Docs and Google Slides called Voice Typing. It is only useful for a few lines that need to be captioned at a time and most helpful for YouTube videos. Software allows you to "Copy" and "Paste" a script to create captions. Panopto has automatic captioning available. Upload your video and audio files to the vendor. You can monitor the status, download captions/transcripts, and edit captions after they have been processed. Upload your video and audio files to the vendor. You can monitor the status, download captions/transcripts, and edit captions after they have been processed.
Ownership End User is required to use tools to create and edit content End User is required to use tools to create and edit content End User is required to use tools to create and edit content End User is required to use tools to create and edit content Paid service vendor will complete for a fee. Minimum 8 hour turnaround or 5 business days Paid service vendor will complete for a fee- minimum 2 hour to 5 day turn around time
Cost Free Free Requires a Department purchase for each user license. Panopto is a campus solution You will be required to login (upper right) to view pricing. Pricing information can be found here
Departments are responsible for the charges.
You will be required to login (upper right) to view pricing. Pricing information can be found here
Departments are responsible for the charges.
Toolkits and Resources Accessibility - Video Captioning Google Help
Google Help Caption Tracks
Accessibility - Video Captioning Accessibility - Video Captioning    
Additional Information YouTube Captioning
YouTube Creating Transcript Files
Google Help Camtasia Captioning Information. Panopto Accessibility Features    

 

Video Captioning Pricing for 3Play Media

  • 3Play Media

     

    CRITERIA

    COST/PRICE
    Please metric per file, per minute, per word, etc.

    TURNAROUND

    Transcription of Audio File

    $2.15/min
    $2.25/min
    $2.75/min
    $3.25/min
    $4/min
    $7/min

    5 business days
    4 business days
    2 business days
    1 business day
    8 hours
    2 hours

    Transcription of Video File

    Same as for transcription of Audio File

     

    Captioning of Video File(transcript provided by university)

    $0.90/min

    Depends on file duration, but typically 2-3 hours

    Transcription and Captioning

    Same as for Transcription of Audio File

     

    Caption encoding

    $10 per file

    Depends on file duration, but typically 2-3 hours

    Difficulty surcharge

    $1/min

    N/A

    Urgent request surcharge (with turnaround limit)

    $3.25/min
    $4/min
    $7/min

    1 Business day
    8 hours
    2 hours

Video Captioning Pricing for Verbit

  • Verbit

     

    CRITERIA

    COST/PRICE
    Please metric per file, per minute, per word, etc.

    TURNAROUND

    Transcription of Audio File

    $1.25/min

    5 business days

    Transcription of Video File

    $1.25/min

    5 business days

    Captioning of Video File(transcript provided by university)

    $0.10/min

    30 Min

    Transcription and Captioning

    $1.25/min

    5 business days

    Caption encoding

    No extra cost

     

    Difficulty surcharge

    No extra cost

     

    Urgent request surcharge (with turnaround limit)

    $2.25/min

    8 Business hours

Reference Material from Other Universities

WebAIM - Utah State University - Captions, Transcripts, and Audio Descriptions

Eastern Michigan University - Creating Accessible Resources

Michigan State University - A Guide For Captioning Video

Penn State Captioning Guidelines and Policy

University of Iowa - Captioning and Transcription

University of Michigan - Captioning

University of Washington - Creating Accessible Videos

Screen reader supported format

Additional Support

  • OU Technology Center
  • 44 Oakland Center
  • Rochester, MI 48309-4479
  • (248) 370-4357
  • Office Hours: M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm

Details

Details

Article ID: 307
Created
Mon 4/7/25 12:22 PM
Modified
Tue 4/8/25 9:02 AM