Captioners

Captioners are professionals who create synchronized text displays for audio content. Their primary role is to transcribe spoken words in real-time or near real-time, making audiovisual media accessible to a wider audience. This includes individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those who prefer to consume media with captions for various reasons, such as learning a new language or watching in a noisy environment.

There are two main types of captioning: live captioning and post-production captioning. Live captioners, often called stenocaptioners, use specialized equipment and high-speed typing skills to generate captions for live events like news broadcasts, sporting events, and conferences. They must be able to process spoken language and convert it into text with exceptional speed and accuracy. Post-production captioners work with pre-recorded material, creating captions after the audio has been finalized. This allows for more detailed captioning, including descriptions of sound effects and music.

The process involves listening carefully to the audio, identifying spoken words, and typing them out as accurately as possible. For live captioning, speed is paramount, with captioners needing to keep pace with the speaker. For post-production, accuracy and clarity are emphasized. Captioners often work with specialized software that helps with timing and formatting. The goal is to provide a seamless and accurate representation of the audio content in text form. Their work is crucial for ensuring inclusivity and enhancing the user experience of various media.