Audio description tracks help make EchoVideo content more accessible by providing spoken narration of key visual elements, such as actions, text, and scene changes. With automatic audio descriptions through the 3Play Media integration, this process is smoother and faster. These tracks remain available as a separate audio option, allowing viewers to turn them on or off without changing the original media experience. This streamlined approach improves efficiency while helping organizations deliver accessible, inclusive video content.

1. Log in to EchoVideo as an Institution-level administrator.

2. Click the Settings icon and select Institution Settings.

   General settings appears and Basic Info is selected by default.

3. Click Integration.
4. From the middle panel, select Closed Captioning.
5. Click Add Configuration, as shown in the figure below.
   
6. Use the Provider drop-down and select 3Play Media (Audio Descriptions), shown in the figure below.
   

7. Complete the requested Provider Settings options using the information you have from your captioning provider.

   This may include secure communication values, such as an API Key or Secret, provided by an audio description provider. It may also include selections for turnaround time, accuracy, language, or the provider's agreed-upon service profile.

8. Select the box labeled Enable Audio Descriptions for this profile.
9. Set the Audio Description Turn Around Time.
   • Expedited - 2 business days. Upload by 8 pm Eastern Time. Delivery by the end of the 2nd business day.
   • Rush - 1 business day. Upload by 8 pm Eastern Time. Delivery by the end of the next business day.
   • Standard - Default. 4 business days. Upload by 8 pm Eastern Time. Delivery by the end of the 4th business day.
10. Set the Human Level Review.
    • Full
    • None
11. Enter a Configuration Name to help you identify the configuration later when generating an audio description.
12. Optionally, select Closed Caption Options.
    • Set As Default - This sets the closed caption configuration as the default. It is used as the main configuration at the Institution level and as a fallback. You must have at least one institution configuration set as the default.
    • Active Status - Allows you to turn individual caption configurations on and off without losing their settings.
    • Allow Ordering Closed Captions - For any users you have granted caption ordering permissions to, they can order captions from any capture configuration that has this option turned on.
    • Allow Configuration Closed Captions - This allows you to configure closed captioning to be generated automatically for different areas of your institution. You can specify different caption configurations for organizations, departments, and sections.
13. Optionally, select Audio Description Options.
    • Set As Default - This sets the audio description configuration as the default. It is used as the main configuration at the Institution level and as a fallback. You must have at least one institution configuration set as the default.
    • Allow Ordering Audio Descriptions - For any users you have granted audio description ordering permissions to, they can order audio descriptions across any capture configuration that has this option turned on.
    • Allow Configuration Audio Descriptions - This allows you to configure audio descriptions to be generated automatically for different areas of your institution. You can specify different audio description configurations for organizations, departments, and sections.
14. When finished, click Save.

What counts as In Use?

An automatic audio description configuration counts towards the total when explicitly selected for automatic audio description in an Organization, Department, or Section. When set in one or more places, you can click on the number in this column to see where it is used.

The default audio description configuration always displays N / A. It is used as the main configuration at the Institution level and as a fallback when conflicting audio descriptions occur.

Apply an Audio Description to Captures

Audio descriptions can be applied to individual captures or all captures in a scheduled series, such as for a section.

Unlimited configurations are possible across one or more audio description providers. Automatic audio description configurations can be set up for Organizations, Departments, and Sections so that published content is automatically sent out for an audio description. 

You can also apply audio description to captures after they have been processed or have an audio description capture reprocessed.

To apply audio descriptions to scheduled section captures

1. From the main menu, click Courses.
2. Find the course containing the sections with captures to add an audio description to.
3. Expand the course to show the sections.
4. Click the Calendar icon to view the current capture schedule for the section.
5. Click on the Pencil icon to edit the capture.

6. Turn on the CC slider.

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

7. Turn on the AD slider.

   This option will appear grayed out if audio descriptions are not configured for your institution.

8. Click SAVE.

To apply audio descriptions to an individual capture

1. From the main menu, click Captures, then click Scheduled.
2. Find and click the scheduled capture you want to add an audio description to.

3. Turn on the CC slider.

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

4. Turn on the AD slider.

   This option will appear grayed out if audio descriptions are not configured for your institution.

5. Click SAVE.

To apply an audio description to a capture after processing

1. From the main menu, click Captures and ensure you view the Completed captures list (it appears by default).

2. Find the completed capture you want to add an audio description to, then click it to open the Media Details Page.

   Details displays by default.

3. Select Accessibility, as identified in the figure below.

   If the capture does not have an audio description, this entry shows Add Audio Description Audio Track +. If it has an audio description, the entry shows an audio description ID, as shown in the figure below.

4. Click the Action Menu to the right of the Add Audio Description Audio Track + option and select one of the following:

   If the media already has an audio description file, uploading or reprocessing the audio description replaces the existing one. See the note below regarding sending or re-sending for audio description processing.

   • If the Audio Description option shows Add Audio Description Audio Track +, select Order Audio Description to choose the desired configuration, then submit the media to your provider to have an audio description applied.
   • If there is an audio description ID, you can Order Audio Description from the configuration of your choice to resubmit the request, but you may want to contact your provider directly to avoid additional charges.
   • Select Upload to upload a MP3 file and apply it to the video.
5. Click OK when the confirmation dialog box appears.

If you sent the video for processing / reprocessing, the new audio description is applied to the capture within the timeframe you configured in the Audio Description settings and negotiated with your audio description provider.

If you uploaded a manually generated audio description (.MP3) file, processing and applying it to the video should take only a few minutes.