ADA comliance/CC in a web presentation? at DVinfo.net

Kevin McRoberts · October 29th, 2013, 02:01 PM

Just got a request about this, a client is designing an online training course and is asking if closed captioning can be available and optional. Is this even possible with an .mp4 deliverable? Should I just plan on baking in subtitles, and if so, is there an easy/fast way to do this? I'd rather not plug in title cards through ~2.5hrs of technical material

Seth Bloombaum · October 29th, 2013, 04:18 PM

No matter how it's done, it takes some time. Whether you're using an external file as below, or plugging it in as open captions in your NLE, you still need to designate what text displays when, a very granular process with no shortcuts.

The moderne method, not so well known, is to use a player that can link up an external WebVTT file. I'm sure we'll see much more of this as time goes by, as it is required in the U.S. in most education & training video that is even remotely federally funded.

As you might imagine, the WebVTT format includes a sort of timecode range in which the title displays, the title in plain text, and minimal formatting markup.

I like JWPlayer, which can link to the CC file and display a button to select the CC... but there are others.

Actually, "no shortcuts" isn't quite true. I think Youtube is doing a quick and dirty automatic CC from the soundtrack, but it's frequently wrong.

Here is an example of what a VTT file looks like:

Code:

WEBVTT

00:00.000 --> 00:10.000
This text is related to the first ten seconds of the video

00:10.000 --> 00:20.000
This text is related to the next ten seconds of the video

October 29th, 2013, 02:01 PM	#1
Kevin McRoberts Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 700	ADA comliance/CC in a web presentation? Just got a request about this, a client is designing an online training course and is asking if closed captioning can be available and optional. Is this even possible with an .mp4 deliverable? Should I just plan on baking in subtitles, and if so, is there an easy/fast way to do this? I'd rather not plug in title cards through ~2.5hrs of technical material __________________ Freelance pudgy bearded lighting camera operator www.mcbob.tv

October 29th, 2013, 04:18 PM	#2
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: ADA comliance/CC in a web presentation? No matter how it's done, it takes some time. Whether you're using an external file as below, or plugging it in as open captions in your NLE, you still need to designate what text displays when, a very granular process with no shortcuts. The moderne method, not so well known, is to use a player that can link up an external WebVTT file. I'm sure we'll see much more of this as time goes by, as it is required in the U.S. in most education & training video that is even remotely federally funded. As you might imagine, the WebVTT format includes a sort of timecode range in which the title displays, the title in plain text, and minimal formatting markup. I like JWPlayer, which can link to the CC file and display a button to select the CC... but there are others. Actually, "no shortcuts" isn't quite true. I think Youtube is doing a quick and dirty automatic CC from the soundtrack, but it's frequently wrong. Here is an example of what a VTT file looks like: Code: WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:10.000 This text is related to the first ten seconds of the video 00:10.000 --> 00:20.000 This text is related to the next ten seconds of the video __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001. Last edited by Seth Bloombaum; October 29th, 2013 at 06:24 PM. Reason: added example