Guide
Add captions that make a short video easier to follow
Treat automatic captions as a draft. Review what is said, who says it and which sounds matter, then check timing and readability on the finished vertical export.
By LoopBatch · Checked 7 October 2026
- What you will have
- A reviewed captioned delivery copy, with a separate caption file where the destination supports one.
- What you need
- The source soundtrack or transcript, a caption-capable editor or workflow and time to review.
- How long it takes
- Allow 10–15 minutes to review a short clip; unclear audio or unfamiliar terms can take longer.
Before you start
- Keep the soundtrack and original edit available.
- Check permission to use the recording and its contents.
- Choose the caption workflow supported by your editor and destination.
Caption the information a viewer needs
W3C describes captions as a text version of relevant speech and non-speech audio. Include speaker identification and meaningful sounds when they are needed to understand the scene. A translated subtitle and a social post's description are different from a complete caption track.
For example, if a speaker pauses because a timer rings off screen, words alone may leave the viewer confused. A concise cue such as [timer rings] can supply that missing context. Choose useful cues rather than describing every background noise.
Proofread the words before choosing a style
Generate or import the initial text in your caption workflow, then compare it with the soundtrack. Check names, numbers, unfamiliar terms and negations. Changing “do not approve” to “do approve” is a meaning error even if the animation looks polished.
LoopBatch's narrated and clips workflows can render captions from timed words. Review their finished media before approval; the public video checker does not transcribe speech or create captions. For the underlying clip workflow, see turning a long video into short clips.
Review one cue at a time
| Draft | Review decision |
|---|---|
| Approve every post | If the audio says 'Review every post', correct the verb |
| One long cue over a cut | Break at a useful phrase and align with the speech |
| A name heard incorrectly | Verify the spelling against the source |
| A caption hiding the chart | Move the text or change the composition |
The table describes editing decisions, not automated corrections made by the checker. Play the clip at normal speed and make sure each cue appears with its speech. After shortening an edit, review the opening and ending for captions left from the old timing.
Test the final layout and delivery
Watch the export at a phone-like size. Use a readable typeface, enough contrast and a position that leaves the subject and important graphics visible. Review light and dark scenes, rather than approving the style from one still frame. Decorative emphasis should not make the words harder to follow.
Open captions are rendered into the picture and cannot be switched off there. Closed captions are a separate track the player can expose. Keep a reviewed caption file if your editor and destination support that workflow, and check how the actual upload displays it. Avoid unintentionally showing both burned-in text and an overlapping second track.
Finish with the pre-publish checklist and a measurement check of the final file. Those checks complement the language and accessibility review; they do not replace it.
The steps
Create or import a caption draft from the actual soundtrack.
Compare every cue with the spoken words and meaningful sounds.
Correct timing and phrase breaks after the edit is final.
Review text placement and contrast on the finished canvas.
Watch with sound and then without sound, check the delivery file and review the destination's caption display.
Check the result
- Names, numbers, negations and speaker changes are correct.
- Necessary non-speech information is available in the captions.
- Text timing follows the finished edit.
- The words are readable and leave important visual information visible.
If something goes wrong
- If the draft misses a technical term, correct it against the source rather than accepting a plausible substitute.
- If text overlaps the interface or a chart, adjust its layout and review the export again.
- If two caption layers appear on upload, inspect the burned-in text and separate track before removing either.
Sources and export guidance
These sources were checked on the dates shown. Product limits and planning advice are identified separately from platform requirements.
- W3C WAI: captions and subtitles, read 7 October 2026
- W3C WAI: planning accessible audio and video, read 7 October 2026
Common questions
Are automatic captions ready to publish?
Treat them as a draft. Review words, timing, speakers and necessary sounds against the finished edit.
Is the post description the same as captions?
No. The description accompanies the post, while captions follow relevant audio over time.
Does LoopBatch's free checker generate captions?
No. It checks measurements of the finished video. Caption creation and review take place in a caption-capable editor or production workflow.
Related pages
Put the plan into practice
Build a workflow you can run again.
Describe your content, review the estimate and approve the finished post before it goes out.