Transcripts - Easy Checks
What are Transcripts?
Basic transcripts are a text version of the speech and non-speech audio information needed to understand the multimedia content. They are similar to captions, but in a format that can be easily opened and read.
Descriptive transcripts for videos also include visual information needed to understand the content.
For videos with visual and audio information, ideally a descriptive transcript is provided, and a separate basic transcript is not needed.
Examples
Example part of transcript of a podcast interview with two speakers
Example part of descriptive transcript
Who depends on Transcripts?
People who are Deaf, are hard of hearing, or have difficulty processing auditory information use basic transcripts.
People who are deafblind (both deaf and blind) need descriptive transcripts to understand audio and video content.
People who process text information better than they process audio and video information also use descriptive transcripts.
Checking Transcripts
- Check for a transcript with the media or a link to a transcript.
- Transcripts should be easy to find near the audio or video.
- If the video has important visual content, check that it is described in the transcript.
Check transcript quality
- Is all the speech accurately reflected in the transcript?
- Are all the speakers identified?
- Are all other sounds described in the transcript, such as ‘soft clapping’ or ‘tires screeching’?
- Is all visual content important to understanding the video described in the transcript?
Learn more
- User Experiences and Benefits to Organizations, in Making Audio and Video Media Accessible
- Transcripts, in Making Audio and Video Media Accessible
- Understanding SC 1.2.8: Media Alternative (Prerecorded)