design-a-video-caption-workflow

name	design-a-video-caption-workflow
category	media
description	Design a caption workflow for accurate text, timing, speaker identity, sound cues, localization, review, and delivery. Use when video needs accessible captions at repeatable production quality.

design-a-video-caption-workflow

Treat captions as authored access content, not an unchecked speech-recognition export.

Procedure

1. Define languages, formats, platforms, frame rates, accessibility standard, and owners.
2. Establish the final audio and picture lock required for timing.
3. Transcribe speech faithfully with names, terminology, punctuation, and meaningful sound cues.
4. Segment lines for readable length, grammar, pace, and on-screen placement.
5. Time captions to speech and relevant sounds without masking critical visuals.
6. Distinguish speakers consistently and handle crosstalk, music, and inaudible content.
7. Review by a qualified human, then proof in the actual player.
8. Localize from an approved source transcript with cultural and timing adaptation.
9. Deliver sidecar and burned variants with version, language, and QC evidence.

Guardrails

• Never publish auto-captions without appropriate review.
• Do not censor meaningful language unless the source itself is censored or policy requires notation.
• Avoid placing captions over names, translations, or essential action.

Done

• A caption workflow specification defines roles, formats, timing, review, and versions
• Text, names, sound cues, readability, synchronization, and player behavior are verified
• Delivered files reconcile with the approved master and language list