Working with Caption Tools

While caption files can be created using a text editor, it is easier to use captioning software.  There are many online, standalone applications and captioning features built into authoring environments like Camtasia Studio.

Captioning tools
Captioning with MAGpie 2.5
Captioning with Camtasia Studio

Captioning Tools

While captioning tools have their specific process for creating caption files, they all have the following capabilities:

• Importing a media file for viewing and synchronizing
• Creating  or importing the transcription of the presentation
• Chunking the transcription into small snippets of text
• Time stamping each snippet to synchronize with the audio
• Publishing media specific caption files and or container formats

Online Captioning Tools

• DotSub- free, video subtitling site featuring  view, upload, transcribing and translating capabilities
• CaptionTube - manually add closed captions to videos and export to YouTube.
• Subtitle Horse - online subtitle/captions editor. It can translate flv/mp4 files and get the subtitle-code in different formats, such as Timed Text or SRT
• Easy YouTube caption creator - create a caption text file (.sub format) that allows captions to be added to YouTube video files that have been uploaded.
• Overstream - Add captions to existing video streams

Downloadable Tools Captioning Tools

• MAGpie - free tool for Windows and Mac from NCAM.  Version 2.5 is not supported on Mac 10+ (Intel version)
• Subtitle Workshop - freeware subtitle editing tool. It supports all the subtitle formats you need and has all the features you would want from a subtitle editing program.
• World Caption - free tool for  Macs for Quicktime compatible video. Requires a transcript of the video.
• Captivate: Used to create captions for Flash video

Captioning Services

• Automatic Sync Technologies CaptionSync: is an 24/7 automated captioning service. They provide accurately timed captions, including DFXP format in a few minutes, at a fraction of the price of traditional captioning.
• Caption Colorado: provide of captioning for real-time and archived media including support for DFXP.
• The Media Access Group at WGBH provides captioning services for broadcast, online, and DVD-based media, including support for DFXP

Captioning and Publishing with MAGpie

MAGpie 2.5 is a good free captioning tool from NCAM  for Windows.  It is a Java-based application and requires the latest version of Java runtime installed on the computer.  It will export the captions synchronized with the media file to major media file formats including .dxfp format for Flash.  At this time, MAGpie 2.5 is not compatible with Apple OS 10+ operating system.

MAGpie requires Quicktime player.  It is important to follow the installation instruction for proper installation of the software.

Steps for Creating the Caption file

1. Create the Caption Track
• Create a new project or open a pre-existing project 
• For a new project create a Caption track.  Be sure to give the caption track a unique name if multiple caption tracks are being planned
• Retrieve the media file that needs captions.  MAGpie is associated with QuickTime Player so it will accept all media formats that are supported by it.   The media file will appear in the media player outside the main screen.  It can be controlled from the screen or by using the keyboard.
• Change or accept default styles for caption track
• Enter OK
  
  


2. Time Stamping Transcript. The Caption Authoring Interface has two sections: 
• A section for media player controls
• Section for creating captions.  The caption section consist of a table with 5 columns; first cell is for row number, next two for start and end time, next for speaker information and final cell for caption text.  The enter key will place the cursor in the first cell in the caption column
• The captions can be either typed real time from the media presentation or by importing a text file of the transcript.  This file can be one continuous text stream or chunked into snippets with 45 - 50 characters
• Synchronize the transcript with the media file by entering the time code for each snippet of text:
• In the caption cell use the enter key to create separate cell row for each snippet
• Place the cursor in the Start time cell in first row and use F6 key to start the media player.  Press the F9 key when the first word in the row is spoken.  This will insert the start time for that snippet and move to the next row cursor to next.  Keep doing that till you end of the presentation  
  
  


3. Export the file to the required file formats.  MAGpie can export the file package for QT - .smil; Real Media .smil; WMP .sami, plain caption file .txt, Flash .dxmp
   
   
   
   

Resources for MAGpie

WebAim: Tutorial on MAGpie 2

MAGpie 2.5 Tutorial

Captioning and Publishing with Camtasia Studio

This is a commercial product that offers a trial license. The product offers many options that enhance the captioning process.

• Speech-to-text: to auto generate the captions from the audio track. Requires user specific voice files
• Place captions on or below the video
• Add captions inserts text at the location of the playhead if no caption is present
• Export to a caption file. Limited to .srt and .sami formats

Steps for Creating the Caption file

1. Create a project and import the movie and move it to the audio/video track
2. Select Captions from the More Options in the Task List bar.  It will place the Caption tab on the Task List bar and open a Captions Pane 
   
   


3. Transcript- Limit each snippet to 40-45 characters and use a font size that will limit the display to maximum 3 lines. There are 3 ways to create transcript
• Type the transcript in the edit field or
• Cut and past the text of the transcript in the edit field.  The content does not have to be chunked
• The text will appear in the edit field.  The first three lines will be in black and the remain text will be in red image
  
  


• Synchronize the transcript with the media file.  Be sure the playhead is at the beginning of the movie.  Select Sync captions from the task list. Movie will start playing. Press the enter key when you hear the first word and keep doing that keeping the snippet in to 2-3 lines till all the text has turned to black.    The system will place the time code on the snippet.
• The caption file can be exported to either .srt or .sami format.
• Produce the captioned presentation.  Camtasia by default produces Mp4, FLV and .sami and .srt caption files.  It also offers other options format options under custom selection.
• Camtasia can produce the code to embed the media on the web page.
  
  

Resources:

Creating Captions with Camtasia

Flash CS4 Accessibility

Captioning Quicktime- Webaim

Captioning Windows Media Player- Webaim

Captioning Quicktime -University of Wisconsin