WebVTT Captioning & Subtitle Support - IBM Watson Media

1/10/2019 WebVTT Captioning & Subtitle Support | IBM Watson Media
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Looking to add closed captions or subtitles to your video content? Need WebVTT captioning support?
While closed captions can be associated with aiding the deaf and those hard of hearing, their benefit
creators. In this article, learn about captions, why you should be investing in them and how viewing h
increases their use. Also learn about the WebVTT format for subtitles and caption, how to create them
formats to them as well. This is topped off with discussing how to add captions to your videos on IBM
video streaming offerings.
• What are closed captions?
• Closed captioning VODs
• What is WebVTT?
• Creating WebVTT files: DIY
• Convert SRT to WebVTT online
• Using services to create caption files
• Adding closed captions to videos on IBM Watson Media
• Closed
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For those looking for information on captioning for live content, read our CEA-608 Live Captions articl

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What are closed captions?
Sometimes cited as simply CC, closed captions are optional text that can be displayed as part of the v
the dialogue but can also be text cues for audible only events, like something that occurs off screen. T
those who are deaf and hard of hearing to still enjoy and understand video material. That said, there i
viewers who are watching content totally muted, to which captions are a natural fit for this audience.
To learn more about captions, the reasons for using them and regulations behind them, check out our
article.
Closed captioning VODs

Once content owners begin to formulate a strategy for captioning their VODs (video on-demand) files
associating this content with a caption file. These caption files will contain both text and time stamps
subtitle should appear and disappear from the screen.
There are a variety of different caption file formats to choose from. This can sometimes lead to conte
file format is the best?”. Features across the different formats are very similar, though, and it can ofte
you’re using. In the case of IBM’s video streaming services, WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks) is sugge
What is WebVTT?
Sometimes abbreviated as VTT, which is the file extension, WebVTT is a caption format for displaying
Due to general mobile capability, and being a W3C standard, WebVTT has emerged as a popular file fo
In terms of structure, a VTT file could literally be created in a text editor, although there are more effic
sample of what might be in a VTT file.
WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.000

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This building was built in 1954.
00:00:13.050 --> 00:00:15.800

For it's 50th anniversary, though, it was remodeled.
That’s
Sign it.
UpIf all someone had were two captions for their video, that would literally be the entire text fil
“.vtt” and uploaded as a caption solution for that VOD (Video On-Demand). So while it’s possible to ed
subtitle file, there are more efficient methods.
Creating WebVTT files: DIY

There are a variety of programs that aid in the creation of WebVTT files. The following could be consid
(DIY), as they do require someone watching and captioning content. For a more “automatic approach
accept a video file and do the translation work for you. Assuming you’re looking to do this yourself, be
you.
Subtitle Edit (Windows)

This free software, seen to the right. lets you playback a video file
while creating the subtitles/captions. This makes it easy to sync up
and view how the content will look with the captions. It also
includes the ability to convert different formats. So if you have a
format that is something like PAC (*.pac, binary) it can be used here
and exported as WebVTT. In fact, the service touts compatibility
across 200 different subtitle and caption formats.
Gaupol (Windows)
Another free program, Subtitle Workshop allows content creators to
preview the video while creating captions. The key benefit of this in
general is removing some of the headache of manually pausing a
video and switching over to a notepad or something else where the captions are being created. This a
preview of the video with the subtitles, to proof for accuracy. Support for WebVTT was also recently a
April.
Subtitle Workshop (Windows)

This program, which is free, enables the viewing of the video while subtitles are being added to simpl
processes are also available, to aid in simplifying the creation process. These subtitles can then be sa
including VTT files. The actual program has not been updated since 2013 and is largely considered di
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in its current state.
There are additional programs that can be used to create subtitle files as well, such as Aegisub (Wind
(Windows or Mac). However, they create subs in a different format, like SRT (SubRip Text, aka SubRip
converted to WebVTT.
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Convert SRT to WebVTT online

There can be scenarios where a content owner is generating or has a lot of captions in a different form
SubRip Text, and sometimes abbreviated as SubRip Subtitles, this caption format has a slightly differe
setup as “timestamp” then “caption”, SRT goes caption/subtitle number, timestamp and then the cap
part of the timestamp. An example would be:
1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:13,400
This building was built in 1954.
Thankfully, there are numerous ways to convert these files to a WebVTT format without having to man
each line of caption information. While there are program solutions around this, such as the previousl
of these are online, cloud based solutions.
SubRip to WebVTT Converter (Online)

Very simple layout, this online solution allows content owners to upload a SRT file. With the click of a
button, the service then prompts them to download the captions converted to a WebVTT format.
Rev (Online)
This online tool allows you to upload one or numerous SRT captions files. After a successful upload, t
of output formats, including WebVTT. The only downside is that inserting an email address is required
the user.
WebVTT.org (Online)
This cloud based solution involves actually copying the SRT text directly and then outputs in a WebVT
copy and pasted into another program like Notepad to create the file. How the conversion is achieved
as most of the changing occurs by replacing all commas in the timestamps with a period. It still leave
there, although this shouldn’t break it from working. It’s also important to have a line space between
Without it, the solution can accidentally clump multiple captions together.
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Using services to create caption files

Captioning files under a do it yourself approach can be very time consuming. Organizations with vast
to outsource this process, or tap into ways to utilize speech-to-text to achieve faster results. This is w
they can be paid to create these caption files for you. Below are a few services that offer this capabilit
CaptionSync
This service provides two methods for generating captions. One is to give them a video file and a trans
produce captions with timestamps for the moment that the dialogue should appear. Alternatively, the
create the transcripts themselves before then creating the captions for it.
Amara
Although they have a community based offering, there is also a professional services approach as we
owners fill out a form and then send a link to it already hosted. So in this case, a content owner might
first and then send a channel link to Amara. Afterwards, they will create a subtitle file that can be use
specializes in offering multiple languages as well.
Rev
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This service has a straight forward business model. One minute of video translates to a cost of $1, so
$40 to caption. Their process involves uploading a video file, their team going to work on it, and then
vtt file, in return.

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Adding closed captions to videos on IBM Watson Med

Equipped with caption files, the next step is to associate them with video content on a service provide
offerings.
This involves first uploading the video to an account. Afterwards, someone has to check that video an
present a number of options, one of which is called “Closed Captions”.
This view will show previously uploaded captions and present the ability to add more captions or uplo
When adding captions, content owners are given options to designate a language, set as a default and
will be used to notify when it’s fully processed. In references to languages, virtually any language is s
language tracks can be associated with the same video. The actual closed caption/subtitle file must b
in a different format, they need to be converted first, as outlined above.
After a WebVTT file is uploaded, the user will be taken back to the overall Closed Captions screen for
should be able to see the new language and file shown in this menu, with a notation that it’s “process
to “published”.
Once uploaded and published, content owners can later download the WebVTT files. The use case ca
error, and this way it can be downloaded, edited and uploaded again. Settings for the captions can als
switching the language or setting it as the default caption option. Users can also unpublish caption op
When setting a default, this means that the caption/subtitle track will display automatically when the
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one track can be set as the default. If it’s desired that a viewer has to select an option, the current de
modified and be removed as a default.

Closed
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caption user experience
When successfully published, closed captions are easy to access on
the viewer’s side. A button will be added to the player controls that
shows “CC”. When enabled, captions will appear inside the video
player. This can be used to toggle the captions on or off.
The “CC” button can also be used to select from a series of captions

if they are available, with an emphasis on different languages.
Once enabled, white text will appear near the bottom of the screen.

For improved visibility, the is surrounded by partially transparent
black as to not interfere with elements inside the video track.
Summary
Closed captions play an important role for video content. Not only
does it broaden the potential audience for content, and answer
possible legal considerations, but it also addresses changing
viewing habits that sees many muting and watching video content.
WebVTT is a popular method for adding either captions or subtitles
to content as well. IBM Watson Media has also enabled content
owners to add this to their VOD (video on-demand) assets as well.
Want to begin using captions and subtitles on your own VODs?
Get Started with a Free Trial of IBM’s video streaming offering
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Written by Anthony Romero in Product Updates
Posted on 26 Jun 2017
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