Captioning Live Broadcasts

What is manual captioning?

Manual captioning during a live broadcast is done by a human, making it more accurate but also more expensive than auto-generated captions. Here is a breakdown of services:

  • Manual transcribing: A person writes down what is said in real-time in a transcription format.
  • Live captioning: A person transcribes audio to a captioning platform.
  • CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) services: Professional transcription using stenography for speed and accuracy. It provides verbatim or "raw" content.
  • Text interpreting (or note taking): A cleaned-up version of the content, removing confusing areas for clarity.

Requirements for manual captioning

To make a live broadcast accessible, you need:

  1. A captioning services provider (CART services recommended) who can hear all audio (e.g., phone, video conferencing software, in-person).
  2. Video conferencing software with at least two channels (can be on the same screen or separate windows):
    • The live video broadcast.
    • The live transcription broadcast with a slight delay (0 to 15 seconds delay*).

* Note: A YouTube Live event can be adjusted where the delay is seemingly 0 to 1 seconds. The captioner hears the audio feed first because the live broadcast is on a 30- or 60-second delay.

CART services providers should:

  • Type at 225 words per minute accurately (e.g., spelling, grammar, punctuation).
  • Be fluent in the spoken language and understand specific jargon and accents.

Factors affecting manual captioning

Like auto-generated captions, manual captioning can be affected by:

  • Audio Quality: Background noise, Internet connection type, and equipment quality.
  • Content: Complex jargon and difficult-to-spell words.

Improving the captioning experience

  • Prepare your transcriber with the content beforehand.
  • Do audio and transcription checks with your audience.
  • Provide accessible slide decks and presentation files to everyone.

You should think about recording your broadcast so people can watch it later. This way, you can fix any mistakes made or technical issues during the live broadcast. Usually, this involves editing the captions for the recorded video separately from the live captions.

Should you use manual captioning?

Consider the limitations of live auto-generated captions. CART services are more accurate, especially for people with hearing and cognitive disabilities. If requested, it’s a reasonable accommodation.

Planning ahead

Ensure you have enough lead time (recommended 10 business days) to request a captioner, especially during busy times of the academic year (e.g., commencement).