Captioning, Transcripts, and Recordings
Captioning, Transcripts, and Recordings
When recording (audio or video) there are several things that you need to keep in mind to ensure that your content is accessible.
Good recordings, especially if there are slides involved, keep many of the concepts related to slide structure in mind.
Clear, Crisp Audio: When you are recording any audio, you want to make sure you are setting yourself up for optimal sound quality. If you have good audio, your students are more likely to be engaged. Two of the best options for quality audio are to use a headset/microphone duo set or a lavalier microphone. The benefits to these two options are that they get close enough to your mouth and pick up ample sound quality without a lot of echo. It is not recommended that you use your built-in computer microphone since these are generally not top quality and pick up a lot of ambient noise and room echo which can be distracting during a lecture. Reduce any echoes and background noise. If you have the ability to record in a room with carpeting vs. wood floor, there will be fewer echos. It’s important to make sure you review a sample of audio before recording the entire lecture to make sure it is clear. It’s much easier to record a short clip and check for clarity than it is to record the entire lecture and realize that you need to re-record for clarity.
Audible Descriptions and Annotation Considerations: When you are filming, it is important to describe anything that is on the screen that you’re drawing attention to. If you say something like “see here” an individual who has a visual difference will not be able to see. If you are making any annotations, you need to also ensure that you are verbalizing what you have annotated on the screen. Additionally, you need to consider the color you’re using to annotate with as it should also meet color contrast standards.
User Controls Experience (Player): To meet accessibility guidelines, the user must always have the ability to control the player. The individual viewing the content may need to review what was played. The user must be able to start, stop, pause, and rewind the video on demand. Videos should not start automatically playing. Users must be able to adjust the volume of the video.
SRT: If you are recording any video, including screencasts, you must include a SRT. Including a transcript also is suggested as an accompaniment to the SRT, but it is not required. SRTs allow learners with auditory processing difficulties or deafness to process recorded content. It provides multiple means of representation for all learners.
Machine-generated captions and transcripts do not meet 508 compliance!
Transcript: If you are recording audio only, you must include a transcript of any audio. It allows learners with auditory disabilities and auditory processing difficulties to access course content and provides multiple means of representation for all learners for studying, note-taking, and search functionality. It also allows English Language Learners (ELL) or students working in chaotic environments access to the materials.
ABS’s Guidelines for Verbal Description (Art Beyond Sight)
Add Caption Tracks to Your Video Files (Google Drive Help)
Audio (W3C)
Audio Description De-Mystified (cielo24 ebook PDF)
Captioning Key (National Association of the Deaf)
How to Use HappyScribe to Convert SRT to Transcript (Google Doc)
Improving Reading Skills with YouTube Closed Captions (Control Alt Achieve)
Mysteries of Accessibility: Recording Audio and Video (Hawkes Learning YouTube)
Present Slides with Live Captions (Google Help)
Real-time, automatic captions or subtitles in PowerPoint (Microsoft Support)
Recording in PowerPoint 365 (Google Doc)
Transcription vs. Captioning (3play Media)
Use Captions, Subtitles, and Alternative Audio Tracks in Videos (Microsoft Support)
Using HappyScribe to Convert SRT to Transcript (Google Doc)
Video Accessibility Checklist (3PlayMedia PDF)
Video and Audio (University of Minnesota)