Do your videos need a little something extra to draw viewers in? If you’re looking for an easy way to spice up your content and make it more accessible, then adding captions and subtitles could be just the thing.
Not only do captions and subtitles provide an added layer of value for users who may be hard of hearing or speak different languages, but they also offer plenty of advantages when it comes to SEO and reach.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the steps on how to add captions and subtitles to videos easily whether it’s on YouTube or any another platform!
So, keep reading if you want to learn more!
What Is The Difference Between Captions And Subtitles?
Captions and subtitles are both tools used to allow the addition of visual text that can be read alongside a video, often for translation or accessibility reasons.
The primary difference lies in how they are utilized captions are designed to show dialogue, sounds and other audio cues, while subtitles merely display a translation of the spoken words without any additional cues.
Captions tend to be more comprehensive than subtitles as they help viewers understand what is going on in the video even if they don’t speak the language being spoken.
As such, captions make video content more accessible by providing more context.
Types Of Captions & Subtitles
Captions and subtitles come in many different forms, each with its own pros and cons. Here are the most common types:
1. Open Captions: These are captions that are permanently embedded into the video and cannot be turned off. Open captions are the best choice for videos that are posted online, as they make it easier for viewers to follow along.
2. Closed Captions: These are captions that can be turned on and off, making them the best choice for videos that are meant to be played in a theater or on television.
3. Subtitles: These are captions that simply display the dialogue spoken in a video without any additional audio cues.
4. Translations: These are captions that provide translations of the dialogue spoken in a video, making it easier for viewers who don’t speak the language.
Why Should You Add Captions Or Subtitles To Your Videos?
There are a number of reasons why adding captions and subtitles to your videos is a good idea.
Some of them include:
1. More Engaging
Adding captions or subtitles to your videos can make them more engaging for viewers.
This is because captions or subtitles provide viewers with another way to follow along with and understand the video content.
Additionally, captions or subtitles can be helpful for viewers who are hard of hearing or who speak a different language than the one in which the video is filmed.
2. Improved SEO
Adding captions or subtitles to your videos can also improve your video’s SEO.
This is because search engines will be able to index the text of the captions or subtitles, making it easier for people to find your video when they search for relevant keywords.
3. Increased Viewership
Adding captions or subtitles to your videos can also help to increase viewership, as studies have shown that people are more likely to watch a video if it has captions or subtitles.
This is especially true for videos that are longer than two minutes, as viewers are more likely to lose interest in a video that does not have any text to guide them through the content.
4. Greater Understanding
Captions or subtitles can also help viewers to better understand the content of your video.
This is because they provide viewers with a written record of what was said in the video, which can be helpful for people who want to review the information later on.
Additionally, captions or subtitles can be useful for people who speak English as a second language, as they can help to provide context for the video content.
5. More Accessible
Making your videos captioned or subtitled can also make them more accessible for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This is because they will be able to follow along with the video by reading the text on the screen, rather than relying on audio cues alone.
Additionally, captioning or subtitling your videos can make them more accessible for people who are watching in a noisy environment, as they will still be able to follow along even if they cannot hear the audio clearly.
6. Easier Translation
If you caption or subtitle your videos, it will be easier to translate them into other languages.
This is because all of the text will already be written out, making it simply a matter of translating the text into another language rather than having to create new audio tracks in different languages.
This can be helpful if you want to reach a wider audience with your videos but do not have the resources to create multiple versions in different languages
7.Compensates For Poor Audio Quality
Don’t give up on footage that is marred by poor audio quality or background noise. With captions and subtitles, you can ensure your viewers still have a chance to understand the clip instead of having to scrap it or re-record.
Adding captions and subtitles can also help viewers better understand videos that contain a lot of technical jargon or difficult-to-understand concepts.
8.Improves Overall SEO
When you transcribe your video, it not only improves accessibility but can also boost your SEO ranking.
Search engines are able to scan and evaluate the transcript which yields more visibility for search engine queries as well as increased viewership of your content!
With captions or subtitles generated from a transcription, you’re sure to be optimizing both user experience and web exposure.
How To Add Captions And Subtitles To Video Step By Step Guide
Crafting captions or subtitles for your video may seem like a long and complicated task, but don’t fear! We’ve got you covered if you are uncertain how to add them.
Here’s what it looks like:
1.1st Record Your Video
The first step is to record your video with quality audio. This will ensure that when captions or subtitles are added, viewers can clearly hear and understand the content.
2. Transcribe Your Video Manually Or Generate An STR File Using A Software
The second step is to transcribe your video into a text format. This can be done manually or through the use of software like Otter, which will generate an STR file for you.
Transcribing your videos manually may be an arduous task and take an exhaustive amount of time. Opt for a more efficient alternative like Jubler software, which can help automate the process.
3. Edit And Synchronize Your Script
The third step is to edit and synchronize your script. This involves editing the text to ensure that it accurately reflects the audio of your video, as well as making any necessary adjustments to ensure that the captions or subtitles are properly synced with the audio.
4.Decide On The Caption Style
The fourth step is to decide on the caption style. This includes factors such as font size, color and position of the text, as well as any stylistic elements that you want to include.
Moreover, you also need to choose that the captions will be open or closed and in what language they will be added.
5.Auto-Captioning Features
The fifth step is to make use of auto-captioning features. Auto-captioning tools are available through many different platforms, and can help streamline the process of captioning or subtitling your video.
6. Add The Captions Or Subtitles To Your Video
The fifth and final step is to add the captions or subtitles to your video. This can be done using a range of tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X or Avid Media Composer.
Once you have finished adding the captions or subtitles, your video is now ready to be shared with the world!
7.Publish Your Video And Captions Or Subtitles
The last step of the process is to publish your video and captions or subtitles. This can be done through a variety of video streaming platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo or Facebook.
It’s also important to ensure that your captions or subtitles are properly formatted for the chosen platform. Once you have done this, your video is all set to be shared with viewers around the world!
Best Ways To Produce Captions For Your Video
1. Brainstorm
The first step in creating captions for your video is to brainstorm a list of potential topics that your video could cover.
Once you have a list of potential topics, you can then start to narrow down your choices and decide on a specific topic that you would like to cover in your video.
Once you have decided on a topic, you can then begin to brainstorm a list of potential questions that your video could answer.
2. Write A Script
After you have completed your research, the next step is to write a script for your video.
The script should include all of the information that you want to cover in your video, as well as any questions that you want to ask your interviewees.
Additionally, the script should also include a general outline of the structure of your video.
Manual Transcription
Out of all the options for captioning your videos, manual transcription is by far the most time-consuming and cumbersome.
You’ll need to watch every bit of footage multiple times and accurately type down each line spoken (as well as non-speech elements if you want captions). On the bright side, this DIY process won’t cost a cent!
Professional Transcriptionist
If you want to ensure that your captions are accurate and polished, then hiring a professional transcriptionist or manual transcription service can be the way to go.
Not only will they have an eye for nuance and regional accents, but they’ll also be able to edit with greater precision than computer software.
Of course, this comes at a cost – both financial and temporal so make sure you weigh up all of your options before making any decisions.
If it’s quality accuracy you’re after though, reputable services like GoTranscript, or Scribie come highly recommended!
Transcription Software
Captioning software is the most straightforward and effective way to add captions to your video. With transcription software, you can effortlessly transcribe your videos without any additional stress or effort – allowing you to gain all of its immense benefits!
By utilizing transcription software, you can quickly and affordably add captions to your videos online. However, it is crucial that you review the transcript since AI-based transcription could result in certain errors.
Most Convenient Free Tools Software To Automatically Add Captions with Ease!
Here are some of the most convenient free tools you can use to automatically add captions to your videos:
1. YouTube Captioning Tool
This free tool helps you automatically add captions to your YouTube videos. It also supports speech-to-text transcription, meaning you can easily create captions without having to manually transcribe your video.
2.Movavi Video Editor
Ready with your SRT file? Select between hard and soft subtitles, in the same manner as closed or open captions.
Then upload your completed file to Movavi Video Editor for synchronization of text and audio lines. In this way, you can guarantee that each element is perfectly synchronized!
When you’re finished with your masterpiece, export it to the format of your choosing. Movavi Video editor allows for easy output in mov, mp4, avi and other popular video formats.
3.Jubler
Jubler is your one-stop shop for all subtitle needs. It has the capacity to create brand new subtitles or boost already existing ones.
Additionally, you can delicately tinker with live videos including adding fresh captions and fine-tuning alignment of current text through its convenient “live edit” mode!
Final Words
I hope after reading this article now you have a better understanding of How To Add Captions And Subtitles To Videos.
No matter which method you choose for captioning your videos, make sure you review and refine the captions to ensure they are accurate and effective.
Good luck