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Digital Accessibility > Create Accessible Content > Video Accessibility >

Adding Extended Audio Descriptions to MediaSpace Videos

Adding Extended Audio Descriptions to MediaSpace Videos

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Kaltura MediaSpace offers the ability to create and upload extended audio descriptions. Extended audio descriptions pause the video and provide extra narration explaining important visual details that are not spoken in the original audio track.

An extended audio description (EAD) pauses the video because there isn’t enough natural silence in the original audio track. This is distinct from an audio description track that serves the same purpose without pausing the video.

Manual Extended Audio Description Instructions

Reference the following instructions to manually create and add an extended audio description to a MediaSpace video.

Step 1: Create a VTT file containing the Extended Audio Descriptions

VTT or WebVTT stands for Web Video Text Tracks. This file type contains chunks of data that are time-aligned with a video or audience resource. For example, VTT files can be used for captions, subtitles, chapters, audio descriptions, or metadata.

The VTT file will tell the video player where to pause the video and what will be read aloud during each pause. Once the text is read, the video will resume until it reaches the timestamp for the next description.

Example:

WEBVTT
00:00:01.020 --> 00:00:02.000
A man is seated at a table with 2 children on his right and 2 children on his left. One child is waving his hand in the air while also shaking his head.

00:00:04.124 --> 00:00:06.000
Another child at the table attempts to get the man's attention.

Each caption entry should contain timestamps for when the video will pause to read the audio description.

Extended Audio Description Time Format

WEBVTT TIMESTAMP PARTS
HH:MM:SS.mmm --> HH:MM:SS.mmm
HH = Hours (00–99)
MM = Minutes (00–59)
SS = Seconds (00–59)
mmm = Milliseconds (000–999)
--> = Separator between start and end times

Save with a .vtt file extension.

Step 2: Upload extended audio description file

Go to the video in MediaSpace, select the Actions menu, and select Edit.

  1. On the Edit Video page, select the Captions tab.
  2. Select the button labeled "Add extended audio description."
  3. In the “Upload an EAD file” window, select the "Browse" button and select the .vtt file.
  4. Select the Language and the Accuracy percentage (required fields). The default Accuracy is 100 percent, which should be used for content that has been reviewed and confirmed as accurate. Add a Label, which is the text that appears in the caption selector.
  5. Select the Save button to complete the upload process.

Editing an Existing EAD File

Once uploaded, an extended audio description can be edited in the MediaSpace Editor. The option to edit an extended audio description is available in the Captions tab of the Edit Video page.

Related Resources

  • Understanding Success Criterion 1.2.7: Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded)
  • WebVTT: The Web Video Text Tracks Format (W3C Candidate Recommendation Draft)