YouTube is releasing a slew of updates to make content more accessible, including the addition of automatic live captions to all channels.
This feature was previously only available in beta for select channels with over 1,000 subscribers.
Live automatic captions allow live streams to display dialogue as it is spoken on the screen.
If a recording of the stream is made available as a VOD (video on demand), the captions will also be available, providing a quick and easy alternative to manually transcribing streams.
In addition, YouTube is releasing an update that will make content more accessible on mobile devices, as well as a method to search video transcripts.
Here’s more information on the upcoming changes to YouTube captions and transcripts.
YouTube Live Captions for Everyone
YouTube is now allowing all creators to use live automatic captions.
With this expansion, all creators, regardless of subscriber count, now have access to this feature.
Creators can enable or disable live automatic captions on a per-stream basis while streaming in their live control room.
This enables creators to make their content available to a larger audience, potentially expanding their live audience.
For the time being, this feature is only available in English, with plans to expand to other languages in the future.
AUTO-Translated Subtitles Are Coming to Mobile Today
Desktop users can auto-translate available caption tracks in their CC menu to another language.
YouTube intends to bring auto-translated subtitles to mobile devices.
By bringing this feature to mobile, users will be able to access a wider range of content in a language that they are familiar with.
Again, all of this can lead to an increase in channel viewers and subscribers.
Transcripts that are searchable
YouTube has made video transcripts searchable on the desktop in a slightly perplexing update.
Transcripts were already searchable, but the text on any website can be searched by pressing Ctrl+F on your keyboard.
Perhaps this is done to make YouTube more accessible to those who aren’t as tech-savvy.
For a long time, desktop users have had access to the transcripts feature. I go through them frequently when covering YouTube videos and have never had any trouble finding the text I’m looking for.
YouTube is now incorporating a search function directly into the transcript box, further improving the user experience.
Users can view and search transcripts for information that is most relevant to them in searchable transcripts.
This enables a viewer to find the most interesting information without having to watch the entire video — which YouTube touts as a good thing.
YouTube intends to make searchable transcripts available on mobile devices as well.
There is no word on whether YouTube transcripts will ever be searchable in Google, which would vastly increase video discovery.
New Subtitle Channel Permissions
YouTube is introducing a new subtitle role for channel permissions.
Creators will be able to delegate the ability to create captions or subtitles for their videos to someone they trust with this subtitles role.
This update simplifies the process of hiring someone to transcribe videos for creators. If you don’t have the time or resources to devote to manual transcription, there are always free, auto-generated captions available.
Learn more from Youtube and read The Top 10 Forms of Digital Marketing That Any Company Can Utilize.
