Options for Live Captions
Live captions, also known as same-language subtitles, provide a benefit to in-person and remote viewers, including those with hearing loss as well as those who are watching in a setting with ambient noise or in a location where they need to keep the live stream silent. Multi-language captioning increases accessibility for people watching in their non-native language. You have a number of options to consider if you want to add live captions to your live, hybrid or virtual events and conferences.
Traditional Black Box Captions
If white text in a black box centered at the bottom of the image is what comes to mind when you think of captions, you are picturing “burned-in captions.” Burned-in captioning can include two languages side-by-side. If the stream or presentation is recorded, burned-in captions stay with the video forever.
Embedded Multiple-Language Captioning for Live Streams
For greater flexibility and additional language options, a great option is to embed live captions on the webpage where you have embedded your live stream viewer.
Using an iFrame code, you can embed live stream captions onto your landing page. A button allows your viewers to show and hide captions as they wish. (Scroll below for a demonstration). When streaming to YouTube, the captions will appear in the video description.
- Learn about web accessibility for your website on DesignRush.
Your production team can add captions to the video recording by attaching an SRT file after the stream ends. An SRT file is a transcript of the captions with timecodes. Alternatively, you can link to a separate page or document containing the captions from the entire event.
Video example of embedded iFrame caption functionality. The QR Code on the page links to a separate mobile-responsive captions page.
Example of a live stream landing page post-event with a button linking to the captions transcript page.
Captioning Live Events
Multi-language live captioning creates inclusive and welcoming live events. One option to display the live captioning on monitors in the room.
(Left) Attendees view live captioning in English and Spanish on a display placed below the in-room screens or (Right) directly on the content feed.
QR Code Access
A second option to access multi-language captioning is through cell phones. Your guests scan a QR code and access a mobile-responsive captions page. Place the QR code in event programs, on the tables, around the venue, or in pre-program slide shows. With a quick scan on a cell phone, a separate captions page is reached. Watch a demonstration of the captions page below.
After scanning the QR code on the landing page, the guest can view multi-language captions on their cell phone.
Caption Both Live and Pre-Recorded Segments
Both humans and machines can generate captions. Human captioners are able to caption both the live segments and your pre-recorded videos in real-time, maintaining the feeling of a live event during your entire live stream.
The AV Department Partners with SyncWords
We’ve partnered with SyncWords to streamline our clients’ experience when adding live captions to virtual and hybrid events and conferences.
To hire SyncWords:
- Submit your request to SyncWords and select The AV Department in the dropdown list under Live Event Platform. Enter following text in the Message section of the form: I would like to hire a live captioner for an event with The AV Department on [enter event date.]
SyncWords services feature live human captioners to provide real-time captions for virtual events spoken in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German. Translations in 100+ languages are achieved with advanced AI translations. The accuracy of human captioning exceeds 98% and often surpasses 99.3%.
Want to discuss your live caption options at your next event? Contact us to discuss your event production options. We are happy to answer your questions about live, hybrid, and virtual event technology.
Originally published July 2022. Updated March 2025.
