Content Management Transcripts

You need an audio transcript to create a closed caption file.  The easiest way to make the audio transcript is with YouTube.

You need to upload the video into YouTube first.  Once you have done that, you are ready to make the transcript.

First, navigate to the video.  You can do this from the YouTube home page by clicking the menu in the left corner and selecting My Channel.  Then click the Uploads button. Select the video you need from those shown by clicking on it.

On the video page, click the black “cc” button located just under the video.  This takes you to the “Manage subtitles and closed captions” page.

Now click the blue “Add new subtitles or CC” button on the right. Select “English”.

Then click the “Transcribe and auto-sync” button.

Hopefully you have a script for your video.  If so, copy the script (after removing all text except the actual spoken words) and paste it into the “Type what’s spoken here” box.  Don’t worry about line breaks or spacing; YouTube will fix all of that for you.

If you don’t have a script, you need to make a transcription.  Luckily, this is relatively painless. 

First confirm the “Pause video while typing” box is checked.

Now, click the play button on the video and begin typing the audio transcript.  YouTube will automatically pause the video whenever you type, and then begin playing when you stop.  Use the 5-second go back button to re-listen to the video as needed. 

YouTube will auto-save as you go, so there is no need to manually save or worry about losing your work.

Make sure you use proper spelling and punctuation in the transcript, as YouTube will create the captions exactly as they are entered here.

Once you have the complete audio transcript, click the blue “Set timings” button.  YouTube will now sync your written transcript to the audio track, and add time stamps to the transcript.  Wait while it processes the timings.

Once YouTube is done setting the timing, you’ll see your video with the “CC” button.

Play the video and edit the transcript as needed to make sure it is accurate.

Once you are happy with the transcript, click the transcript in the “MY DRAFTS” section. It is probably the only one there. 

Now click the “Actions” button in the upper right.  Select “Download” from the drop-down menu.  This will download a copy of your closed caption file to wherever your browser is set to download files.

Now you have a closed caption file of your video’s audio.  Yay!