VoiceThread Closed Captioning

This article is for instructors seeking to add closed captioning to their VoiceThread posts.

VoiceThread Captioning Overview

• VoiceThread automatically provides machine-generated captions on audio or video comments within 5-10 minutes, depending on the length of the comment.

• VoiceThread also allows instructors to request captions in different languages, but it will take about four days to return.

• Instructors can add their own captions by uploading a caption file or edit captions.

Lastly, VoiceThread has a built-in caption editor that is made available once captions have been either uploaded or created under the captions tab for the VoiceThread.

1. Under CC in VoiceThread, you can find the different languages available if captions have been setup, or captions can be turned off by selecting Off or on by selecting a language.

2. Edit/Download captions is where you access the VoiceThread tool editor, to download the captions, or upload your own captions to.

Enabling Closed Captions

Students are able to turn captions on and off by navigating to CC under a VoiceThread. If students wish to have captions on, they should select a language. Otherwise, they can turn captions off by selecting Off.

Requesting/Adding Captions

Instructors can request or add captions to their VoiceThreads for better accessibility to students.

1. For an instructor or faculty to request captions, navigate to the VoiceThread and select CC towards the top right and select Add Captions.

Uploading Captions:

To request captions, continue to step two. Otherwise, to upload caption files select Upload Captions. You will have to select it from your operating systems' files. VoiceThread only accepts caption files in these formats: DFXP, SRT, SAMI, SCC, and SBV. When finished make sure to click OK.

Requesting Captions:

2. Select the Language from the dropdown box.

3. Select Order.

4. Click on OK to close out and save.

5. The captions will take about four days to arrive and will notify the requestee by email.

Downloading Captions

Instructors can download the caption files of their VoiceThread to add to another video format such as Kaltura.

1. Begin by navigating to your VoiceThread and selecting CC.

2. Select Edit/Download captions.

3. Click on Download and the .dxfp caption files will appear in your computer’s downloads folder.

Editing/Removing Captions

Captions can be removed or edited using VoiceThread’s built-in caption editor which allows for enhanced accuracy on closed captioning. Caption editing is not the same as creating captions for a VoiceThread, it only allows you to change previous captions.

1. Begin by navigating to your VoiceThread and selecting CC.

2. Select Edit/Download captions.

3. Under Manage Captions:

   1. Select Edit Captions if you would like to utilize VoiceThread’s built-in closed caption editor.

   2. Select Remove if you would like to remove captions from the VoiceThread. Then select Remove again to confirm.

4. In the built-in caption editor, you are able to view the time stamps where there are supposed to be captions and change what it says by rewriting the textbox.

5. Once finished editing, click Save Captions to finalize changes. Then you can click on the X in the top right to exit.