Overview
Harmonize makes it easy to create media-rich learning experiences while still supporting accessibility. If you need to review or refine your media accessibility content, you can edit closed captions, the transcript, and audio descriptions directly in Harmonize using the same editor.
This article focuses on how to edit these items. To learn what closed captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions are and how viewers use them during playback, see View and Use Transcripts, Closed Captions, and Audio Descriptions.
Interactive Tutorial
Use the interactive tutorial below to learn how to Edit and Manage Transcripts, Closed Captions, and Audio Descriptions in Harmonize. If you need or prefer step-by-step textual instructions, proceed to Before You Edit: What to Expect.
Some tips for using the tutorial:
- Turn the volume up! Alternatively, you can mute the demo to view captions.
- Get ready to interact! When the tutorial pauses and flashes a purple dot, click it to move forward.
- Move at your own pace. When you hover in the upper lefthand corner, you will find "Back" and "Next" buttons that will allow you to jump through the steps more quickly.
Before You Edit: What to Expect
After you publish a video, screen recording, or audio file, Harmonize processes the media before editing options are ready.
- First, the media processes.
- After processing, machine-generated closed captions appear.
- If your institution has the AI Accessibility add-on enabled, AI-generated audio descriptions will appear later for instructor-published media.
- When AI-generated audio descriptions are ready, instructors receive a notification (inside Harmonize as well as by email) so they can review them.
If you are not seeing audio descriptions and you think your institution may be interested in these features, see AI Accessibility at Harmonize.
Access the Editor
To edit the transcript, closed captions, and/or audio descriptions for a particular media item, you will need to first locate the media item in its editable form.
Locate the media item
For media items in instructions:
- Click Edit on the whole activity
- Navigate to the media item.
For media items in comments or posts:
- Click the 3-dot kebab menu in the upper right of the comment or post
- Select Edit
- Navigate to the media item.
Note: Anyone can edit their own closed captions and audio descriptions. Instructors and admins can also edit captions and audio descriptions on student media. When an instructor or admin edits a closed captions or audio descriptions on a student-published video, the post or comment is labeled Administratively Edited.
Open the transcript editor
- Under the media item, select Edit Transcript.
- If the transcript is expanded, the "Edit Transcript" button will be located after the transcript.
- The media appears on the left and the transcript editor appears on the right.
- Optional: If you want more space, you can expand the editor to full screen.
Understand Cues and Timestamps
In the editor, the transcript is divided into small timed chunks called cues. Each cue has its own text and timing. Cues are labeled at the top with either CC (closed captions) or AD (audio descriptions).
Each cue represents a short portion of text that aligns with playback timing.
- CC cues correspond to what appears on-screen as closed captions.
- AD cues correspond to what will be read aloud while the video pauses for an extended audio description.
Timestamp display:
- CC cues show a start and end time in the format m:ss.### to m:ss.###.
- AD cues show a start time only.
Rules for Timestamps
- You can edit the start and end times separately.
- For closed captions, the end time must be after the start time.
- Closed captions are allowed to overlap. When captions overlap, they will appear stacked on top of each other during playback.
- Audio descriptions do not have strict timing rules, but two audio description cues cannot have the exact same start time.
- If an audio description starts during a caption range, it may pause the video at an awkward moment, but it is allowed.
Edit, Move, Delete, or Add Cues
Each cue includes controls in the upper right.
- Pencil icon to edit
- Trash icon to delete
Audio description cues also include arrows to move them up or down and adjust where they fall between captions.
Edit a cue
- Select the Pencil icon.
-
Edit the text and, if needed, edit the timestamp(s) shown at the top of the cue.
- Note: If you're having trouble editing timestamps, see Rules for Timestamps.
- Select Done to keep your changes or Cancel to discard edits for that cue.
Move an audio description
Audio description cues include arrows to move them up or down in the timeline. This updates the start time.
This can help when an audio description is inserted during an awkward pause, such as mid-sentence. You can reposition it earlier or later, or manually adjust the timestamp. Remember that two AD cues cannot share the exact same start time.
Delete a cue
Click the trash icon to delete a cue.
When you delete a cue, Harmonize asks you to confirm.
- For closed captions: Deleting this caption cannot be undone. Do you want to continue?
- For audio descriptions: Deleting this audio description cannot be undone. Do you want to continue?
Add a cue
- Select the plus button between cues.
- Choose Add Caption or Add Audio Description.
- A new cue appears in edit mode with an inferred timestamp.
- Enter your text and adjust timing as needed and then click Done.
Manage caption files and audio descriptions
In the upper right of the editor (above the cues and below the Save/Cancel buttons), open the three-dot menu (kebab) to access:
Manage Caption Files
You can download, delete, or upload caption files from Manage Caption Files. Harmonize accepts both SRT and VTT caption files.
- Change the captioning language by clicking the current language and selecting a new language from the drop down menu that appears.
- Click +Add Files to can add an additional caption file. Each file must use a different language. Languages already in use are not shown.
- Click Save to confirm your changes, or click Cancel to discard.
Delete All Audio Descriptions
If you select Delete All Audio Descriptions, you will see this message:
Deleting audio descriptions will make them unavailable to all users. This action cannot be undone. Are you sure you want to proceed?
Select Cancel or Delete All Audio Descriptions.
Disable Audio Descriptions
If you select Disable Audio Descriptions, you will see this message:
Disabling audio descriptions will prevent other users from playing back audio descriptions on this video or seeing them in the transcript view. You can re-enable audio descriptions in the future. This change will not take effect until you publish. Do you want to proceed?
Select Cancel or Disable Audio Descriptions.
Save or discard changes
Harmonize does not save drafts in the transcript editor.
- Select Save & Close to apply all transcript changes and return to the main editor.
- Select Cancel to discard all transcript changes and return to the main editor.
Important: We recommend clicking Save & Close frequently as you work. Once you click Save & Close, we do save a draft.
Related articles
- View and Use Transcripts, Closed Captions, and Audio Descriptions
- AI Accessibility at Harmonize
- Alt Text and Media Captions
- Create a Harmonize Page
FAQ
Why aren’t audio descriptions showing up yet?
- They may still be processing. Processing time varies with media length, complexity, and system load. In general, processing can take up to the length of the recording (videos in Harmonize can be up to one hour). AI-generated audio descriptions often appear shortly after captions, but can take longer.
- Wait for the notification. If your institution has AI Accessibility enabled, instructors receive an in-app and email notification when AI-generated audio descriptions are ready for review.
- If audio descriptions never appear, see AI Accessibility at Harmonize to learn more about these features and how to get them at your school. If you believe AI Accessibility is enabled and you still do not see audio descriptions after about two hours, contact Harmonize Support.
Can I download the transcript?
- Not at this time. Harmonize lets you download caption files (SRT or VTT), but the full transcript view is not downloadable.
- You can copy the transcript from playback. From the video playback display (not the editor), you can copy the transcript text. You can copy captions only (with audio descriptions off) or copy captions plus audio descriptions (with audio descriptions on). For details, see View and Use Transcripts, Closed Captions, and Audio Descriptions.
Can students edit closed captions or audio descriptions?
- Yes. Users can edit their own closed captions or add audio descriptions using the same editor. In this release, AI-generated audio descriptions are available only for instructors (when enabled by the institution).
Do I need to set a default language to get accurate captions?
- Usually, no. Captions should now generate in the correct language automatically in most cases, even if you do not set a default language, and even if the video switches between languages.
- Still recommended. Setting a default language is still a good idea because users can see it when choosing to turn captions on or off.
How do I change the caption language in Discussions, Peer Review, and Individual Assignments?
- In Edit mode, go to Post Settings, scroll down to Default CC Language, and select your desired language.
How do I change the caption language in Polls, Pages, and Social Reading?
- Locate the media in its editable form.
- Click Edit Transcript.
- Click the triple dot menu in the upper right.
- Select Manage Caption Files to change the language.
Why did Harmonize generate Closed Captions for my video that has no audio?
- Closed Captions are unreliable for videos without audio. For videos without audio, we recommend using the Transcript Editor to delete the caption file.