In order to be considered accessible, audio and video files must have either a transcript or closed captioning.  There are a number of services that will produce these for a fee, but this workshop will focus on free and easy ways to produce transcripts and closed captioning.

Closed Captioning:

dotsub.com
dotsub.com is a free, cloud-based closed captioning & hosting service.  Users can upload video and dotsub.com  produces captions by allowing the user to play back their video and transcribe what they hear.

Specifications:

• dotsub.com will accept most video files (up to 2G in size)
• Users can specify the privacy settings for each video they upload to the service
• Users have the option of translating the captions once they are transcribed
• dotsub.com then produces a link and embed code to allow users to share their transcribed videos

References
dotsubLLC. (2007-2012). Ready to dotSUB your videos? Here's how in 4 easy steps! Retrieved from: 
http://dotsub.com/howto

Youtube Beta Captioning
Youtube provides the ability for users to add Beta Closed Captioning to the videos they upload.   When choosing videos from Youtube for use in the classroom, it’s good practice to select ones that have this service enabled.  Users can determine if the captioning has been enabled by the presence of ‘CC’ in the lower RH corner of the Youtube player.

Specifications and limitations:

• The owner of the video must enable the captioning service.  However, many users do not realize that the captioning option exists, and will often enable captions upon request.
• The captions are not perfect, especially if there are multiple speakers within the video, poor audio quality, or uncommon/discipline-specific  words. 

Transcripts

Dragon Dictation App
The free Dragon Dictation app is a cloud-based voice recognition program that instantly produces a transcript.  The app automatically adjusts to a user’s voice.

Specifications and limitations:

• Transcription must be completed in 60-second intervals
• The app does not work well with pre-recorded/existing audio   
• Since the app adjusts to a single user’s voice, it is not recommended that users share a single version of the app

ipadio
ipadio is a free service that allows users to broadcast live to the web via phone.

Specifications:

• Users create an account and receive a number and pin to dial in to make the broadcast or ‘phlog.’ 
• ipadio automatically adds the session to the user’s account and automatically creates an editable transcript of each session. 
• Users can link directly to or embed the conversations via ipadio, or cut and paste the transcript into another document.

Express Scribe Transcription Software
Express Scribe is an audio player software designed to assist with transcription of audio recordings.

Specifications:

• 14 day free trial but can be purchased
• Allows user to adjust speed control to match users typing speed.
• Users can type within software and then copy and paste into a Word Document

Tutorial for Express Scribe
YouTube Video Tutorial for Express Scribe