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University of Florida

DIY Captioning

DIY Captioning

UF offers several software platforms that offer automatic captioning or transcriptioning functionality. Captioning appears embedded within the video while it plays, and transcriptioning may be available via a separate document, or may display outside of the video window.

Automated captioning does not meet ADA requirements for fully accessible videos because of lower accuracy rates.

Automatic transcripts and captions generated by Zoom and Stream are a great starting point for creating accessible content and can be edited for accuracy.

Zoom automatic audio transcripts will create a draft transcript that will need to be reviewed, edited, and enabled as closed-captioning.

For more information visit our Zoom Closed Captions and Live Transcription page.

This guide will show you how to add Captions to your Video in Canvas. Since all videos embedded in Canvas are hosted on Mediasite, captions will need to be added in MyMediasite.

Part One: Downloading the MP4 file from MyMediasite.

  1. Go to the presentation page in MyMediasite.
  2. Scroll down to see a Downloads button on the right side of the menu:
    A screenshot showing a download icon accompanied by the word
  3. Once selected, click All media files (.zip) to start the download:
    A screenshot of a downloads window with a blue header. The content includes the title

Note: Once downloaded, you will need to open the zip file, navigate to the Content folder, and locate the mp4 file.

Part Two: Generating a VTT Audio Caption File with Microsoft Stream.

Microsoft Stream can automatically generate captions on the videos that you upload. To upload and enable auto-captions on your videos, perform the following steps:

  1. Log into Microsoft Stream using your Gatorlink username and password.
  2. Select the “Create” tab and select “Upload video.”
  3. Use the Browse button to find your mp4 or drag in a video to begin the uploading process.
  4. In the “Details” panel, select the language being spoken in the video from the “Video Language” drop down (see image).
  5. In the “Permissions” panel, verify that you have selected your desired visibility options.
  6. In the “Options” panel, ensure that the “Autogenerate a caption file” checkbox is selected (see image).
  7. Publish your video by selecting the “Publish” button once your video is uploaded.
  8. Generating captions can take 1-2 times the length of your video. Your captions are ready when a Transcript tab is available next to your video player, and a “CC” (Closed Captions) button will also appear in your video player controls.

Part Three: Quality Check the VTT file.

Important Notice: When creating and adding Captions, please do not skip the step of quality checking the AI generated captions provided in Microsoft Stream. The captions must be ADA Compliant, which is achievable through performing a human accuracy check.

The transcribe tool in Microsoft Stream can make a few mistakes, so it is important to play your audio and go through the transcription to check for any errors.

Part Four: Adding Audio Caption File to video in MyMediasite.

  1. Navigate to your presentation. Click Edit Details.
    A menu listing various options including
  2. Go to the Delivery tab.
    A screenshot showing a navigation menu with tabs labeled
  3. Select the Audio Transcriptions check box and select the Manually Upload an Audio Caption File radio button.
    A screenshot showing a selected checkbox labeled
  4. Click the Select File(s) button. When the File Explorer dialog appears, search for and select your Audio Caption VTT file.
  5. Once selected and opened, select Language.
  6. Click Save.

Captioning Complete:

The captioning file is an addition to your MyMediasite video and does not alter the video in any way. The process simply activates the CC button, allowing for the captions to be toggled on and off by the viewer.

Premiere Pro offers speech-to-text and captioning features. You can also customize your text for a more personalized look using Premiere Pro, but here are the basics to get you started.  

  1. Open the Premiere Pro Captions workspace by heading to the top right of your window and hovering over Workspaces > Captions.   
  2. Generate a transcription by clicking ‘Transcribe Sequence’. Here, you can choose your language, and choose whether you’d like to transcribe one portion of the video or the entire sequence. After making your selection, click ‘Transcribe’. Premiere Pro will then automatically generate a transcription of your audio.  
  3. Edit your captions. The transcribe tool in Premiere Pro can make a few mistakes sometimes, so it’s important to play your audio and go through the transcription to check for any errors. You can simply click on the text you’d like to edit to make any changes needed.   
  4. Finally, click on the ‘Create Captions’ button. Premiere Pro will automatically add captions to your timeline. 

For a more advanced look at how to take things a step further with customization in Premiere Pro, click here.

Captions will only happen live. They are not available in the recorded version of the meeting.

  1. Visit the G Suite page and select Hangouts Meet. If not already signed into Google, you may be prompted to log in using your Gatorlink username and password.
  2. Join the meeting.
  3. You will be asked to allow use of your microphone and cameras.
  4. On the bottom right of the page click Turn Captions On.

Note: When you turn on captions, they will only be visible to you on your device. In order for other participants in the meeting to see captions, they will have to turn captions on as well.

More in-depth instructions are available here:
Hangouts Meet Accessibility
Use Captions in a Video Meeting