This article discusses the necessary configuration for utilizing one of the supported third-party closed captioning providers listed below. Echo360 also offers an automated transcription service for media, which can also be configured to automatically push transcriptions to closed captions if they meet an accuracy threshold. See Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) Service for Media Transcription as well as Automatically Apply Transcripts as Closed Captions for Media for more information.

Closed captioning is the process of transcribing audio/video from captured material and presenting the transcribed text in a readable format for end users during playback. Originally developed as an aid for the hearing-impaired, it is also useful for reinforcing lesson materials for all students.

The capture material (audio/video) is sent to a transcription and captioning service and then retrieved by the platform to integrate with the capture material.

BEFORE you can enable closed captioning in Echo360, you must set up an account with your captioning provider. Echo360 currently supports the following third-party captioning providers:

• Cielo24: www.cielo24.com;
• 3Play Media: www.3playmedia.com;
• AST (Automated Sync Technologies): www.automaticsync.com.
• AI Media: www.ai-media.tv
• Verbit: verbit.ai
• Rev: rev.ai

If you have configured a closed captioning provider but no longer wish to use it, you can turn the closed captioning feature off for the institution. This still allows for captions to be manually uploaded if appropriate.

Closed Captioning is automatic only for captures generated from managed devices: If a closed captioning provider is configured, only captures generated from managed devices (Pro, Pod, UC: Classroom, and legacy SCHD) are automatically submitted for captioning. Admins can manually submit uploaded, UC: Personal captures for captioning. If Instructors are in the habit of uploading videos for classes, they must request the video be submitted for captioning in order to receive them. Alternately, uploaded videos, UC: Personal captures can have manual captions added by either Admins or Instructors.

Configure closed captioning in Echo360

Once an account is established with your captioning provider, they will provide the necessary information and authentication values needed to configure closed captioning in Echo360.

To configure closed captioning

1. Log on as administrator.
2. Select the Settings icon in upper-right of the screen.
3. From the Settings menu, select Configurations.
   
4. From the left panel, select Closed captioning, as identified in the above figure.
5. Use the Captioning Provider drop-down list, shown below, to select the provider you are using.
   
6. Complete the requested configuration options using the information you have from your captioning provider.
   

   This may include secure communication values, such as API Key or Secret given to you by the captioning provider. It may also include selections for turnaround time, accuracy, language, or service profile the provider will be using for your agreed-upon captioning service.

7. When finished, click SAVE.

Apply captioning to scheduled captures

Closed captioning can be applied to individual captures or to all captures in a scheduled series, such as for a section. Closed Captioning is enabled through the capture options.

You can also have captions applied to captures after they have been processed, or you can have a captioned capture reprocessed.

To apply captioning to scheduled section captures

1. From the main menu, click COURSES.
2. Find the course containing the sections with captures you want to caption.
3. Expand the course to show the sections.
4. Click the calendar icon to view the current capture schedule for the section.
5. Expand the Options section of the capture configuration dialog box.
6. Enable the Closed Captioning slider.

   This option will not appear if closed captioning is not configured for your institution.

7. Click SAVE.

To apply captioning to an individual capture

1. From the main menu, click CAPTURES then click SCHEDULED.
2. Find the scheduled capture you want to caption and hover over it to show the menu arrow in the upper-right corner of the capture block.
3. Select Edit.
4. Expand the Options section of the capture configuration dialog box.
5. Enable the Closed Captioning slider.

   This option will not appear if closed captioning is not configured for your institution.

6. Click SAVE.

To apply captioning to a capture after processing

1. From the main menu, click CAPTURES and make sure you are viewing the Completed captures list (it appears by default). 
2. Find the completed capture you want to caption and click on it to open the media details view.
3. Click the Details tab from the bottom section of the page.
4. Find the Captions entry, as identified in the below figure. If the capture does not yet have captions, this entry shows Add. If it has captions, the entry shows Update, as shown in the figure below.
5. Click the chevron to the right of the Captions option and select one of the following:

   NOTE that if the media already has captions, uploading or reprocessing for captions replaces the existing captions. SEE ALSO the note below regarding sending or re-sending for caption processing.

   • If the Captions option says Add, select Send to Process to submit the media to your captioning provider to have closed caption applied to the media. 
   • If the Captions option says Update, select Reprocess to have captions re-generated and re-applied to the media by your captioning provider. This is shown in the below figure.
   • Select Upload to upload an .SRT or .VTT caption file you have and apply it to the video.
   
6. Click OK on the confirmation dialog box that appears.

If you sent the video for processing/re-processing, the new captions are applied to the capture in the timeframe you have configured in the Closed captioning settings, and negotiated with your captions provider.

NOTE: Before sending a capture to have captions added or to be reprocessed for captions, know that:

• Some institutions set the caption turnaround time for several days in order to lower captioning costs. Be certain you do not inadvertently send any captures for processing before the initial captioning is slated to be completed. This will incur a second captioning cost for these captures. 
• All caption reprocessing will likely incur a captioning cost when sent for reprocessing. If you are reprocessing captures for captioning because of errors or problems with the original captions, contact your captioning provider to mitigate this problem.

If you uploaded a manually generated caption (.VTT or .SRT) file, the application of those captions to the video should take only a few minutes.