Subtitles vs captions: A brief guide for the transcription of video

May 24, 2023

The internet's global reach is rapidly increasing the need for greater accessibility, which is why it's becoming more essential that you ensure that your video content is accessible to anyone. Learning about subtitles vs captions and then adding them to your videos can help you get this done.

However, contrary to the popular opinion, the two forms of video transcription are not exactly the same. Although both subtitles and captions can help your content get to more people but there are subtleties to each to consider before deciding on one or the other to use for your video. Let's look at closed captions vs. subtitles in this quick and easy guide to assist you in making the most appropriate choice.

What is captions ? What is captions?

Captions translate dialogue, but they do so using the same language used in the video. They also include extra information that subtitles do not include, such as explanations of noises in the background, as well as the identification of speakers. They aren't always at the bottom of the screen -- occasionally, they'll show in different locations to indicate the source of the sound within the scene.

Open captions vs closed captions

There are two kinds of captions, open and closed.

The Open C activations can't be disabled and are "burned" to the video's own.

closed captions captions can be turned up and down by the viewer and are usually found within a settings menu. There are two different types of closed captions.

608 captions :Also called Line 21 also known as CEA-608, EIA-608 captions. These were the norm for analog TV. The captions don't provide the customizable or aesthetic choices that 708 captions offer.
708 captions :Also known as CTA-708 or CEA-708 or EIA-708 captions. These are the new standards for captioning TV digitally. The captioning type that this is used for supports aesthetic customization, however it does not work for TVs with analog inputs.

Caption style styles

There are three primary types of captions that can be displayed including pop-on, roll-up and paint-on.

Roll-up captionsare employed to live-stream events as well as real-time programming.
Pop-on captionsare used for pre-recorded content.
Captions that are painted onare uncommon in captioning systems of today, however there are occasions when they are used- like for an initial caption for a video that has been recorded in order to minimize any delay in captions or loading time.

How to utilize captions

Captions are used mostly for identifying background sounds, the presence of speakers, music as well as other audio signals. These are specifically designed for those in the d/Deaf communities and those with hearing disabilities, however they're gaining recognition in all users. In fact, half of Americans claim to watch media with subtitles "most times."

Captions are also used to satisfy ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) conformity requirements. Marketers aren't always familiar with specific compliance laws -- 50 50 percent of respondents don't believe that the law requires websites of government institutions for government institutions to have accessibility (there is; it's known in Section 508). So, it's the best option to default to adding captions.

32% of the population think captioning is the standard settings for content. Source: Preply

How can I include captions to video

One of our preferred methods to caption video is making use of Rev, a speech-to-text platform which is currently the sole source of the automated captions. Rev gives users access to the option of AI transcription and transcription by humans alternatives.

What is subtitles? ?

Subtitles translate the dialogue straight, often into another language (though this isn't a hard law). The most popular example of this can be seen in foreign films. Subtitles are usually displayed in the lower right corner of the screen.

Subtitles in different forms

There are three main kinds of subtitles: subtitles aimed at those who are deaf or people who are hard-of-hearing (SDH) and non-SDH as well as forced narrative.

SDH: Created for people who cannot hear the on-screen dialogue or audio signals. SDH subtitles include information about sound effects, music, and other similar.
non-sDH Commonly referred to as just "subtitles." Non-SDH subtitles are designed for users who can listen, but cannot comprehend the screen language or other audio-related cues.
Forcing narrative (FN):FN subtitles are overlays of text that help to understand graphic and dialogue on screen or any other data that's not entirely explained. In the case of an American video displays a text message in Spanish and a FN subtitle would show its English translation.

How to apply subtitles

When subtitles are used, the video producer or broadcaster typically assumes that the viewers don't speak the language used in the video. However, there are instances where there are instances where the subtitles and on-screen spoken language match.

There are a handful of crucial indicators for when to make use of subtitles.

In the event that you wish to improve accessibility
When you want to better match user preference -- 75 percent of viewers watch video with the sound off
When not everyone speaks the same language as you do in your video
When you want to improve your video's SEO value -- as video transcripts allow the search engines to crawl the dialogue in your video

How can I include subtitles to video

Add subtitles to your video similar to how you make captions for videos. There are many devices and platforms that you could utilize, for example:

Caption vs subtitle FAQs

Discover answers to frequently requested questions on captions and subtitles.

Are subtitles captions?

In an "functionality" way, it is true. A majority of viewers use subtitles and captions in a way. However, in its technical subtitle definition vs caption definition? No.

Subtitles are subtitle is the transcription of dialogue on screen as well as spoken words in another language into the language of the user's home. It almost always appears at the bottom of the screen. Types comprise subtitles for the d/Deaf or hard of hearing (SDH) and non-SDH and narrative forced subtitles.
A caption is a transcript of the sound on screen. Captions display in the exact language as what is spoken in the video. They also include information such as musical cues and audio. Types include captions that are open and closed captions.

What is the reason subtitles are referred to as closed captions?

Based on the location you're getting content from, subtitles can also be referred to as closed captions. It's because, just like subtitles, closed captions (compared to open captions) can be toggled to turn off or on.

Who is the person who writes subtitles?

Stand out with videos with with captions as well as captions

As well as increasing your video's accessibility captions and subtitles can also assist in the creation of more efficient video content. In this day and age of Facebook's feeds that are crowded with unreadable videos, viewers often rely on captions to determine whether or not your video is interesting and relevant for their interests. And, if they like your video's message, they'll stop scrolling (or what else is happening) and watch.

Learn about uploading subtitles and captions for your videos in our Help Center. Illustrations by Joseph Melhuish. Updated on May 16, 2023.

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