How to Add Closed Captioning to A Video (Must-Know 5 Skills)👀

In 2023, making your videos accessible to a diverse audience has become more crucial than ever. Adding subtitles to videos is one such popular practice. Closed captioning is a powerful tool to ensure everyone can enjoy and understand your video content, regardless of hearing capabilities or language preferences.

In this guide, we'll explore five effective ways to add closed captioning to your videos. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned video creator, these methods will help you enhance the accessibility and impact of your videos in the digital landscape of 2023 and beyond.

Open Captions vs. Close Captions vs. Subtitles

Open Captions, Closed Captions, and Subtitles are all text-based elements used in video content to convey spoken dialogue, narration, or other audio information to the audience. However, they have some distinct characteristics:

🎞️Open Captions: Open captions are permanently embedded in the video and cannot be turned off or disabled. They are always visible to the viewers and are suitable for audiences who are deaf or hard of hearing and also for viewers who may not understand the language spoken in the video.

🎥Closed Captions: Closed captions can be turned on or off by the viewers. Provided in a separate file format (such as SRT or VTT) and synced with the video's audio, they are used for providing accessibility while maintaining a cleaner visual experience for viewers who don't need the captions.

📺Subtitles: Subtitles are text translations of the video's dialogue or narration. They are primarily used when the video's audio is in a different language from the viewers' native language. Like closed captions, subtitles can also be turned on or off by the viewers. The main difference is that subtitles focus on translating the spoken content rather than describing other audio elements like sound effects.

Add Closed Captioning to A Video in 5 Ways

1. Using EaseUS VideoKit🥇

Now, we know the major differences between subtitles and captions. You can add captions to YouTube videos using YouTube Studio, be they open or close ones. And there are four different ways to do so.

EaseUS VideoKit, a powerful AI-driven video editor and background noise remover, is a must-have for Windows and macOS users. It features an automatic subtitle generator, offering various formats like SRT and TXT.

Free DownloadSupport Windows&macOS Free DownloadSupport macOS&Windows

The tool also provides over 200 font choices and customizable font colors. Additionally, it excels as a vocal remover to remove distortion from audio and video. With support for 1000+ audio and video formats, it guarantees a smooth experience for both beginners and experts.

Here's a guide for generating closed captions in a video using EaseUS VideoKit.

Step 1. Open EaseUS VideoKit and find the "Subtitle Generator" panel.

Step 2. Click "Choose File" or drag the YouTube video file to the interface.

Step 3. Wait for the AI analyzing.

Step 4. Click the "Text" button to change the text, or customize font, background, and position under "Style" menu.

Step 5. Click "Export Subtitle" to select exported subtitle format, "Save to" to change location, and press "Export" to export the video with subtitles.

2. Using VEED🥈

VEED is a comprehensive online video production platform that offers a range of professional features, such as video editing, recording, and hosting capabilities. It also serves as a convenient and free automatic subtitle generator, allowing users to upload various video file formats like MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, AVI, and more.

The platform's cloud-based nature ensures easy access to videos from any location. You can add subtitles to your videos manually or automatically. Here's how:

Step 1. Visit VEED and click "Choose File" > "Upload a File."

Step 2. Move to the "Subtitles" tab and select the way.

Step 3. Choose the language from the drop-down list and check "Add automatic highlighting." Press "Create Subtitles."

Step 4. Wait for it to generate subtitles and stylize your subtitles.

Step 5. Preview and export the video.

Or watch the video for a visual presentation.👀

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:16 Tutorial
• 2:54 Features
• 3:48 Outro

3. Using Premiere Pro🥉

Adobe Premiere Pro stands as an elite video editing software and the best vocal remover favored by professionals, boasting essential tools for crafting high-quality video content. With seamless transitions, stunning effects, and precise color grading, it caters to film and media experts.

Its wide array of features makes it a top choice, but novices might find its complexity and resource requirements daunting. The software's compatibility includes Windows 10 and 11, as well as macOS, and it supports various video formats. And you can work with captions in the timeline and stylize them as you like. Add subtitles in Premiere Pro automatically as the following:

Step 1. Open Premiere Pro and go to "Sequence" > "Captions" > "Add New Caption Track" to choose the subtitle option.

Step 2. Go to "Windows" > "Text" and hit "Transcribe Sequence" in the "Captions" tab.

Step 3. Select the language, speakers, and audio track from the drop-down.

Step 4. Click "Create" and wait for a few minutes.

Step 5. Click "Play" to check and modify the transcription in the captions panel.

Step 6. Choose "Transcriptions" > "Create Captions" > "Create."

4. Using Canva🏅

Canva is a free online graphic design tool and video editor that allows you to crop, trim, split, speed up, and resize video clips. It offers drawing, diverse elements, design templates, and audio removal and allows you to add subtitles on TikTok.

You can add customizable text and access a vast media library. Enhance with licensed music, voice-overs, and Beat Sync for automatic audio synchronization. You can manually add captions to a video with this tool.

Step 1. Enter the Canva website and click "Create a design" > "Video."

Step 2. Press "Uploads" > "Upload files."

Step 3. Click "Text" and add a heading, subheading, and body text to the text box for your videos.

Step 4. Stylize your subtitles by choosing the fonts, size, effects, and more.

Step 5. Click "Share" to send your work to social media or "Download" it.

Help others explore the world of closed captioning by sharing this article now!

5. Using iMovie🎖️

iMovie, Apple's free video editing app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, offers a user-friendly experience with various effects, color correction, and audio enhancements. Users can create cutaways, green/blue screen effects, and split-screen or picture-in-picture effects.

While there isn't a dedicated caption feature, you can still add subtitles to MP4 using title styles, adjusting font size, color, and positioning. Detailed instructions on using the Title Overlay feature are provided below.

Step 1. Start iMovie and import the video you want to add subtitles to.

Step 2. Drag the video clip to the timeline.

Step 3. Click "Titles" from the menu and choose "Lower" or other styles.

Step 4. Type 6-second text and adjust the duration.

Step 5. Copy and paste the text along the film strip.

Step 6. Add captions for each segment, and use brackets for meaningful sounds.

See also:

Wrapping up

In conclusion, adding closed captioning to your videos has never been easier with these five effective methods. Whether you choose manual captioning, utilize automatic transcription services, leverage YouTube Studio, or explore the capabilities of tools like iMovie, the options are abundant and cater to various needs and preferences.

From manual captioning to using EaseUS VideoKit's AI-powered automatic subtitle generator, you have a range of options to ensure your videos are accessible to all audiences.

Free DownloadSupport Windows&macOS Free DownloadSupport macOS&Windows

Add Closed Captioning to A Video FAQs

1. How do I add closed captions to a video for free?

To add closed captions to a video for free, you can use various online tools and software. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

• Prepare the video and create a caption file in SRT or VTT format.
• Use free online tools like YouTube Studio, Kapwing, or Amara.
• Upload your video and add the captions manually or upload the caption file.
• Sync the captions with the video's audio.
• Review and save the video with closed captions.
• Share or embed the video as needed.

2. Is there an app that adds captions to videos?

There are several apps that add captions to videos, such as EaseUS VideoKit, iMovie, Premiere Pro, Clips, etc. These apps offer user-friendly tools to add, customize, and sync captions with your videos. Simply choose an app that suits your needs, upload your video, and add captions effortlessly.

3. Is there an app that adds closed captions to videos I've made?

Yes, there are apps that add closed captions to your videos, like VEED, InShot, Rev, Autocap, or Clipomatic. These apps offer user-friendly tools for adding and customizing closed captions to make your videos accessible.