1.2 Time-Based Media

Audio Description

Audio Description is a form of narration that provides a spoken description of visual elements in a film or television program. Audio description, originally designed for people with visual impairments, can also enhance the experience for those with neurodiversity or who are listening to content without watching.

It is typically provided as an additional audio track that can be turned on or off and can include:

• Visual details: Descriptions of scenery, characters, and actions.
• Sound effects: Explanations of non-dialogue sounds.
• Emotional context: Descriptions of the mood or atmosphere of a scene.

Quick win! Describe as you go

For audio and video content, speakers should always describe key visuals and actions as they happen. This is especially helpful during live presentations. Simple practices include:

1. Introducing all speakers.
2. Reading aloud any text or data shown on the screen.
3. Describing relevant action or movement in the room.

Captions

Captions are text transcripts that appear on the screen of a video or film, providing a written representation of the spoken dialogue and important non-verbal sounds. They can be open (can’t be turned off by the viewer) or closed (can be turned on or off by the user.)

Captions benefit a wide range of people, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, language learners, people in noisy environments, and individuals with cognitive impairments.

Quick win! Edit your auto-generated captions

Tools like YouTube and Canvas media platforms can auto-generate a caption file. This is a huge time-saver, but always edit the captions for 100% accuracy before publishing.

Text Transcripts

Text transcripts for time-based media, such as audio or video files, are written documents that provide a complete textual representation of the spoken dialogue and important non-verbal sounds. They are essentially a verbatim record of everything that is said and heard in the media content.

By adding relevant audio descriptions to the transcript, you can transform it from a simple textual representation into a comprehensive account of all the essential visual and auditory elements within the time-based media file.

Quick Win: Reuse Accurate Captions to Create Transcripts

The easiest way to generate a full text transcript for your time-based media is to download the final, edited caption file from your video platform (like YouTube, Kaltura, or Panopto).

Most caption files, once cleaned up for accuracy, are already formatted as plain text.

Audio Only

For audio only files, include a text transcript near the file or include information about how users can access the text transcript.

Video Only

If you are sharing video only content without any audio, for example a silent animation, include a descriptive text transcript. You can also include an audio track that narrates the visible actions, but it’s good to also include a descriptive text transcript. This will help users who need a text version, like those using braille displays.

Video with Audio

If your video has sound or audio, include captions that describe all relevant sounds. Also provide a descriptive text transcript near your video file that’s easy for users to access. The Described and Captioned Media Program provides tips and resources for captioning and describing your video content.

Live Audio or Video

If you are sharing video live, include closed captions for users to follow along with the audio. Where possible, ask speakers to identify themselves before speaking.

Other Types of Time-Based Media

For tips on other types of time-based media, see Time-Based Media: Understanding Guideline 1.2.