Transcribing Preparation

• Broadcast live: Determine if you are recording the video for later use and where it will be hosted. You will need to provide the closed captioning file format appropriate for your hosting platform.
• Prerecorded: Captioning services providers have multiple formats available when processing prerecorded content. Which one you need will again depend on your hosting platform. If you do not provide the hosting platform, we will provide you with all formats.

We often go slightly off script, but providing even the draft script or transcript can help the transcriber not only with the pace of the video content but potential spelling considerations including jargon, proper names, or typically misunderstood and misspelled words.

For Performances: Transcribers are not allowed to go straight off a theatrical script due to copyright issues. They must transcribe what is actually spoken in the audio/video content.

For Presentations: If you have a list of names you need to speak, provide them in a document for the transcriber, so they can copy them into the captions.

If there are multiple speakers, please identify them and spell their names correctly for the transcriber to use throughout the transcript.

For Performances: Actors may be portraying multiple characters or identities. Please identify each. If the transcriber needs assistance identifying the differences between them, provide screen shots of each character or identity (e.g. change of clothes, change of makeup) with clear labels. If you can provide the script, that will also allow the transcriber to follow the general pace of when they should be speaking.

For Presentations: If you are allowing engagement throughout your presentation, identify the people who will be talking during that presentation or have them identify themselves. If someone asks a question that cannot be heard by the rest of the audience, repeat it, so both the audience and transcriber can hear it.

Captioning services providers have transcribers with expertise in a variety of fields. If you identify the subject matter, that can aid them when choosing who transcribes your audio/video content.