How to add Captions to Video Yourself

Sometimes the best option for your business is adding captions internally, particularly if you’ve got a lot of resources or just a few videos to work on. 

While it is a longer process than outsourcing, it’s also a good way to save on extra costs, if that’s your priority. But you don’t have to struggle through the process alone. 

Here’s how to get captions and subtitles in videos by yourself:

1. Transcribe Video

The first step in captioning your videos is creating a transcript. This means not only logging the spoken words in your video, but also making notes of other important audio cues in the video. Unfortunately, there is no quick way to transcribe a video yourself – you have to watch the whole thing, possibly multiple times, to note down all the audio and dialogue. However, you can use an audio transcription service to make things easier.

For both closed captions and subtitles, timing is a crucial element. If the subtitles in your video do not line up with the speakers, it will confuse your audience, so saving time codes is important. Make sure that your transcriptions are as accurate as possible before you move on to the next step.

2. Make an .SRT File

Next, you’ll need to create an .srt file – the most universal file type for adding closed captions to a video. It’s also the only one that sites like Facebook and LinkedIn accept when publishing video. To do this, simply save your typed transcript as an .srt file. Mac users should use TextEdit for this, with Notepad being the best option for Windows users. 

Take a look at our guide on .srt files for more tips for creating your own .srt files for video captioning.

3. Upload Your Video

Lastly, upload your video file plus the .srt file to your platform of choice. Most sites will allow you to review the subtitles on your video before you publish – this is a good point to check that they show up at the right time in the video. Take the extra time to confirm that your captions are accurate and valuable to ensure audience engagement. 

Add Closed Captioning to Videos on Different Video Players & Tools

With Rev’s video captioning services, you can easily add captions or subtitles to your video content.

Working with a specific platform? Here are some guides for captioning your content using different video players and tools:

Online Video Website Captions

• YouTube – This guide on How to Add Closed Captions to YouTube highlights Rev’s automatic YouTube integration for the easiest possible YouTube solution
• Vimeo – Learn about How to Add Captions to Vimeo videos
• Wistia – Guide on How to Add Captions to Wistia videos

Social Media Website Captions

• Twitter – Twitter Media studio works well with SRT files, learn how to add captions to Twitter videos here
• Facebook – Add captions to Facebook videos.
• TikTok – Learn how to add text and captions to TikTok videos.
• Snapchat – Add captions & subtitles to Snapchat with this helpful guide
• Instagram – Instagram accessibility as important as ever – learn how to add captions to Instagram videos
• LinkedIn – Add captions & subtitles to LinkedIn videos

Video Editing Software Captions

• Adobe Premiere Pro – The easiest solution for Adding Captions in Adobe Premiere Pro
• Final Cut Pro – Another popular tool for Mac users, see How to Add Captions and Subtitles to Final Cut Pro
• iMovie – Highlighting one of the most popular free tools for Mac users, check out How to Add Captions and Subtitles in iMovie
• Avid – One of the post popular software platforms for Hollywood producers: How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Avid
• Quicktime – Free video tool for Mac users, learn How to Add Captions and Subtitles to Quicktime
• DaVinci Resolve Studio – How to Add Captions & Subtitles in DaVinci Resolve Studio
• Lightworks – How to Add Captions & Subtitles in Lightworks
• Camtasia – How to Add Captions & Subtitles in Camtasia
• Handbrake (free option) – Handbrake is a great option for adding subtitle or caption files to video if you don’t want to pay for Final Cut or Premiere: Add Caption or Subtitle Files to Videos with Handbrake

Video Conferencing & Meeting Software Captions

• Zoom – Read our guide on adding captions to Zoom videos, the most popular video conferencing platform
• Google Meet & Hangouts – Learn How to Add Captions to Google Meet & Google Hangouts, Google’s free and paid video conferencing solutions
• Skype – Add captions to Skype recordings
• Cisco Webex – Add captions to Webex meeting recordings
• BlueJeans – Add captions & subtitles to BlueJeans meeting recordings

Education Platform Captions

• Panopto – How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Panopto Videos
• Kaltura – How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Kaltura Videos
• Brightcove – How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Brightcove Videos
• JWPlayer – How to Add Captions & Subtitles to JWPlayer Videos
• Canvas – How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Canvas Videos
• Blackboard – How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Blackboard Videos

Want captions added directly to your videos?

Rev now offers burned-in captions (open captions). Just check the “burned-in captions” box at checkout and you’ll receive a video with permanent, hard-coded captions added straight to your videos. Also available for foreign language subtitles!

Learn More About Video Captioning

If you want more information about the benefits of closed captioning your videos or how to subtitle your videos in foreign languages, check out our blog. We regularly publish new information to help optimize your content.

Related Blogs:

• How to Add Captions and Subtitles in Adobe Premiere Pro in 2021
• Zoom Closed Captioning: How to Caption & Subtitle Zoom Meetings and Recordings
• 7 Simple Steps to Add Closed Captions or Subtitles on Vimeo
• How to Add Subtitles & Captions to MP4 Video Files
• How to Add Captions and Subtitles in iMovie in 2021