How to Choose the Best Captioning Software

Which software do you use for adding captions?

The Kapwing Auto-Subtitle Maker : You can quickly burn subtitles and add captions directly to your video. This is perfect, as your subtitles cannot get lost along the way. It works on an AI-powered auto-generate feature that creates subtitles, automatically edits them, and perfectly matches them to your audio in the video.

Finding a provider who can give you a good closed captioning service will require you to do some careful reviewing and planning. You need to make sure that you think about everything, from accuracy rates to cost and even turnaround time. You also need to ask yourself the following questions if you can, so you can get the best result out of your service overall.

How Fast will I get my Caption File?

Turnaround times can vary depending on which captioning service you decide to go through. Sometimes you might be left waiting for a week, other times you might be left waiting a few hours. If you need your captions sooner, then a lot of services will charge you a rush fee for this.

This can range from $3 to $6 per minute of audio you have. If you want to get the best result out of your service, then you need to make sure that you don’t go with someone who does this. Instead, choose a flat-fee service as they can often give you the service you need.

What Accuracy are you Guaranteed?

If you have ever used the YouTube closed captioning service, then you will know that sometimes the accuracy can be somewhat hit and miss. If you want to ensure the captions you are getting are accurate then you need to make sure that you go through a service who offers a guarantee. The captioning software from Verbit is very good and you are always guaranteed a high level of accuracy so keep that in mind if you can.

Are there Any Hidden Costs?

Advertised prices are very different to the price you end up paying. A company may give you a caption rate at around $0.80 per minute and this sounds great, but when you add on all of the extra fees, you will soon find that you end up paying way more than this. Some companies will also charge you more if you want to have a set level of accuracy.

What about Securing my Files?

It’s vital to know that your files are protected at all times. You may have sensitive data which you want to have transcribed and this is understandable, but if your service does not offer you any kind of protection then this will undermine your security. You need to find a caption provider who can give you a maximum level of protection and you also need to find someone who can help you with the general security of your videos too.

How are the Files Delivered?

Sometimes the files that you receive will be uploaded to a server. Other times, they will be delivered to your email address. Either way, you need to make sure that you are happy with the delivery method as this could determine how you receive the files and whether or not it is a secure way of doing it. If you want some help, then contact your company to see if they can fill you in on the details.

Can I do my own closed captioning?

You can manually create a transcript file by typing the spoken content of your media file into a plain text editor. Many people find it easier to first put the media through automatic speech recognition software (like Dragon, Dictation, or Camtasia).

What is the difference between CC1 CC2 CC3 and CC4?

CC1 through CC4—Closed captioning appears in a small banner across the bottom of the screen. CC1 is usually the “printed” version of the audio. CC2 through CC4 display content provided by the broadcaster. Text1 through Text4—Closed captioning covers half or all of the screen.

What is the difference between subtitles and captioning?

They differ from each other in definition and purpose – captions are designed for viewers who cannot hear the audio in a video, while subtitles are designed for viewers who can hear, but do not understand the language being spoken in the video.

How much does it cost to do closed captioning?

Captioning rates can range from $1 per minute to $15 per minute. Some vendors round up per minute, which can add up quickly if you have many short files. Some vendors also charge fees.

Is closed captioning better?

There are several benefits to choosing closed captioning for a video over subtitles, depending on your needs. As they’re primarily designed for those who cannot fully hear the audio, they offer a truly accessible way for more viewers to engage with the content.