Subtitles vs. Closed Captions: What’s the Difference?

Subtitle and closed captions can often be mistaken as the same, but they serve distinct purposes in the world of video content. This article will explore the differences between subtitles and closed captions, their applications, and the process of creating them.

Understanding Subtitles

What are Subtitles?

Subtitles are a translation or description of what is being said in the audio of a video. These are typically added directly into the video as a pre-embedded text layer and can be crucial for viewers who do not understand the spoken language. Unlike closed captions, subtitles do not provide auditory information, focusing solely on the dialogue and other spoken content.

Key Characteristics of Subtitles:

Cannot be changed in position, color, or size. Quality doesn’t depend on device settings or capabilities but can degrade if video compression or format changes occur. Cannot be downloaded from platforms without third-party software or text recognition software.

Purpose of Subtitles:

To translate the video into another language. To localize the content for viewers from different countries.

Use Cases:

Marketing and promo videos, such as trailers and ads, where visibility is crucial. Social media channels like Instagram and TikTok, where content needs to be accessible to a large audience. Less common in traditional cinematography.

Appearance:

Usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. Use a standard font without special formatting. May include translations and original dialogues.

Understanding Closed Captions

What are Closed Captions?

Closed captions, on the other hand, are a digitized representation of the audio content that can be toggled on and off by the viewer. They serve the purpose of providing auditory information for those with hearing impairments, enhancing understanding, and allowing translation into other languages.

Key Characteristics of Closed Captions:

Offer both spoken dialogue and sound effects, reflecting character emotions and other auditory information. Can be customized in terms of font size, color, and position. Can be downloaded and added manually using video editors or AI services.

Purpose of Closed Captions:

To provide access to auditory information for people with hearing impairments. To allow for easier understanding and localization into other languages. To enable learning of other languages through context.

Use Cases:

Cinemas, online platforms, streaming services, and social media. Most subtitles on YouTube are closed captions, as they can be toggled on and off by viewers.

Appearance:

Text is usually displayed at the bottom of the video. Use a standard font and color (black or white) for better readability on various backgrounds.

The Process of Creating Subtitles and Closed Captions

Creating Subtitles and Closed Captions:

Creating subtitles and closed captions typically involves several steps:

Transcription: Converting the spoken content into written text. Translation: Converting the text into the desired language. Formatting: Adjusting the text format to fit the video’s requirements. embedding or providing as a separate file: Embedding the text directly into the video for subtitles or providing it as a file for closed captions.

At the studio I work at, we often create closed captions. The process is almost identical for both, but for closed captions, they are provided as a separate file for viewers to toggle on and off.

Conclusion:

In summary, while subtitles and closed captions both provide information to enhance the viewing experience, they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Subtitles focus on translation, while closed captions provide auditory information for those with hearing impairments and can be toggled on and off. Understanding these differences is essential for creating effective and accessible video content.