What are closed captions?
Closed captions (CC) are captions stored in a separate file or track that viewers turn on and off in the player. Besides the speech, they usually describe important sounds, like [laughter], [music] and [applause], for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. On YouTube, they sit behind the CC button.
Also called: CC, closed captioning
Closed captions with described sounds
In closed captions written for accessibility, the sounds that tell the story go into the captions too, in square brackets.
Why closed captions matter
They are the foundation of video accessibility: viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing follow the speech and what happens around it. People watching on a train without headphones use them for the same reason.
Because they are text in a file, closed captions can also be read by platforms and search engines, and they can be fixed without rendering the video again.
Closed captions in FilmScribe
We transcribe with sounds marked, like [laughter], [music] and [applause], and you download the SRT to upload as captions on YouTube or your website player, on every plan. If you want speech only, you can hide the sounds in your clips' captions.
Captions in FilmScribe An SRT to upload as closed captions, burned-in captions on clips and translation into 9 languages on Studio and Agency. See how we caption →Writing closed captions that serve viewers
- 01
Tag the sounds that matter
Describe sounds that change the meaning, like a door slam, a phone ringing or laughter at a joke. A [music] tag every few seconds clutters the screen and buries the speech.
- 02
Say who is talking
When the speaker is off screen or hard to see, add a name or role before the line, like NARRATOR:, or mark a speaker change with >>. Viewers who cannot hear the voice need that cue.
- 03
Caption the music that counts
If a song carries meaning, name or describe it instead of writing a generic [music]. Lyrics sung on camera should be captioned too, usually marked with a music note.
- 04
Check sync at several points
Captions should appear with the speech and leave when it ends. Viewers who read lips along with the text notice lag at once, so check sync in the middle and at the end, not just the start.
Related terms
See all terms →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between closed captions and subtitles?
In the US, subtitles usually mean a translation of the speech for viewers who can hear, while closed captions are written for accessibility and also describe sounds. Technically, closed captions can be turned off, and open captions are burned into the image.
How do I add closed captions on YouTube?
In YouTube Studio, open the video, go to Subtitles and upload the SRT file in the video's language. The CC button then appears for viewers.
Do closed captions need to describe sounds?
For accessibility, yes: sounds that change the meaning of a scene, like laughter, applause and music, should be included. For social media captions, many creators prefer speech only.
Captions, clips and paper edits. All in one place.
Upload a video or paste a YouTube link. We transcribe every word with its timing, and you take the result to social media or to your editor.
See the result on your own recording before adding a card.