How offline captioning is different from live captioning

It may seem like captioning is all the same, but there are many different variations, nearly all of which fall into two categories; live and offline captioning.

What is live captioning?

Live captioning is a way for a transcript of what’s being said to appear live as the speaker is talking.

Usually, live captioning is done with a stenographer in the room, typing at a staggering 300 words per minute to keep up with what’s being said.

In the UK, verbatim captioners are known as palantypists, stenographers, or Speech to Text Reporters. In the USA they are known as CART writers, and in some European countries as Speech to Text Interpreters.

We also provide live electronic notetaking. Notetakers type at 90 words per minute. Notetaking is ideal for sign language users as the word density is lower. In the USA this is known as C-Print or Typewell.

Then there is voice writing or respeaking. Voice writers use voice recognition software and speak at up to 160 words per minute. They work with an editor to reduce errors made by their software.

With remote captioning, the person transcribing everything can be anywhere in the world, listening in via the internet and transcribing what’s being said in real time.

Remote captioning is cheaper than live, on-site captioning and also allows for bookings at short notice.

What is offline captioning?

Offline captioning is the simple act of adding captions to a video after the fact, in other words, a video that is not watched live.

Offline captions come in two different forms, subtitles and closed captions.

Subtitles show what’s being said on screen, so either the dialogue between characters or what the narrator is saying in a voiceover.

Subtitles are usually found in foreign movies, when the viewer can’t understand the original language, but can still hear the original dialogue and sound effects.

Closed Captions are slightly more encompassing than subtitles. They not only show what is being said on screen, but they will also show other sounds and music that are happening.

Closed captions can include a telephone ringing offscreen, the emotion of an actor’s voice, or a buildup of tense or dramatic music.

When to use offline captioning

There is a persistent myth that captions are only for deaf or hard of hearing people.

The truth is, subtitles or captions should be an option for every video.

Whether it’s YouTube videos, educational videos, amateur movies, professional documentaries… anything that is watched by an audience can and should have the option of captions.

Captions help people who speak English as a second language, with many people reporting they learned to speak English by watching movies and TV.

If you are making video presentations for your business, then captions are more than useful, helping keep all staff members informed and involved with what’s going on. And of course, transcripts are available to read back at a later date, keeping everyone on the same page about what was agreed.

For educational purposes, captions are a matter of law, enshrined in the Equality Act. They have also been proven to help comprehension and test results.

On top of that, they are an excellent way for foreign students to keep up with what’s going on, especially if the speaker or tutor has an accent or mumbles.

Contact 121 for all your offline captioning needs

When it comes to offline captioning, 121 Captions are the leading experts in the country.

We have years of experience live captioning events, lectures, and conferences, all over the world and in many different languages.

From our UK recording studios we provide the best value offline captioning service you will find, providing subtitles in over 30 document formats (eg .SBV for YouTube, .STL for DVD Authoring, XML for Final Cut Pro) or burn-in the subtitles to any video format.

All our offline captioning work is checked and re-checked as part of our commitment to quality, with a money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied with our work.

To find out more about our offline captioning services, contact us today.