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How-To Tutorials

AST’s tutorial library will guide you through preparation, upload, and incorporation of captioning to your media. Just select a tab below for the appropriate topic area and then locate the tutorial of interest.

  • You may view them in the format of your choice – media for many common players is posted here, or you can watch them on our YouTube Channel.
  • The media presented on this site is downloadable, so feel free to download a copy to show it locally.
  • Our videos are all captioned (of course), so you can see a demonstration of the captions while you watch the tutorials.
  • Bookmark this page and come back often! We add new tutorials as we increase our reach to formats and audiences.

Please suggest topics you would like to for future tutorials.

CaptionSync login page In Dec/09 the CaptionSync web interface underwent a series of improvements.  This tutorial helps users who are familiar with the old CaptionSync web interface to understand the changes in the new web interface.

Resources

Watch CaptionSync Changes for Existing Users on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch New CaptionSync Overview (QuickTime, 7.50MB)
Launch New CaptionSync Overview (Windows Media, 16.80MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Overview of recent CaptionSync changes

CaptionSync login page This tutorial with give you a brief overview of the CaptionSync highlights, showing you the basic operation of  the CaptionSync site.

Resources

Watch Getting Started with CaptionSync on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Getting Started (QuickTime, 6.60MB)
Launch Getting Started (Windows Media, 13.60MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Getting Started with CaptionSync
Transcript of Movie:
Getting Started with CaptionSync for new users

This tutorial provides a high-level overview of how to use the CaptionSync result files for Windows Media, QuickTime, and Real.  All three of these players support caption files in a similar manner.  The basic approach is outlined here and the similarities of each player are highlighted.

Resources

Watch Using CaptionSync Result files on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch CaptionSync Results (Real, 3.00MB)
Launch CaptionSync Results (QuickTime, 4.60MB)
Transcript of Movie:
An overview of how the CaptionSync result files are used

Image of the Redo submission screen CaptionSync provides users with a simple and fast mechanism to rerun previous jobs.  The "Redo" feature allows you to change formatting settings, request different output files, or alter the text transcript.  Revised results are ready for you in minutes and there is no additional cost for redos.  This tutorial shows you how to use the redo feature.

Resources

Watch CaptionSync Redo Feature on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch CaptionSync Redo (QuickTime, 10.80MB)
Launch CaptionSync Redo (Windows Media, 9.50MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
CaptionSync Redo Feature
Transcript of Movie:
How to use the CaptionSync redo feature

Submit list of URLs screen This tutorial shows you how to submit a list of URLs for captioning and/or transcription.  It provides a convenient method for captioning batches of files which are already online.  Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for List of URLs; login your account and submit a support ticket to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch Using List of URLs for Captioning on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Submitting List of URLs (QuickTime, 9.30MB)
Launch Submitting List of URLs (Windows Media, 16.30MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to use the List of URLs feature

This tutorial shows you how to install and use AST-Link on the Mac.  AST-Link is a light-weight client-side application that allows you to drag-and-drop media files to the CaptionSync server.  It provides a convenient method of uploading large batches of files.  Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for AST-Link; login your account and submit a support ticket to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch AST-Link for Mac Users on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch AST-Link for the Mac (QuickTime, 26.70MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
AST-Link for Mac Users
Transcript of Movie:
Using AST-Link on the Mac

AST-Link Setup for Windows This tutorial shows you how to install AST-Link on Windows.  AST-Link is a light-weight client-side application that allows you to drag-and-drop media files to the CaptionSync server.  It provides a convenient method of uploading large batches of files.  Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for AST-Link; please submit a support ticket after you log in to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch AST-Link Setup for Windows Users on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch AST Link Setup for Windows (QuickTime, 12.50MB)
Launch AST-Link Setup for Windows (Windows Media, 16.70MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
AST-Link Setup for Windows Users
Transcript of Movie:
How to install AST-Link for Windows

Using AST-Link for Windows This tutorial shows you how to use AST-Link on Windows.  AST-Link is a light-weight client-side application that allows you to drag-and-drop media files to the CaptionSync server.  It provides a convenient method of uploading large batches of files.  Make sure you view the tutorial on installing AST-Link for windows before you view this tutorial.  Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for AST-Link; login your account and submit a support ticket to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch Using AST-Link on Windows on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch AST-Link Usage for Windows (QuickTime, 12.50MB)
Launch AST-Link Usage for Windows (Windows Media, 14.40MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Using AST-Link on Windows
Transcript of Movie:
How to use AST-Link for Windows

For the most part, users interact with CaptionSync entirely electronically.  Even for folks creating physical media such as tapes or DVDs, CaptionSync results are usually supplied as electronic files that you import into your authoring or encoding software.  For those users who want the authoring process taken care of, AST offers a DVD Transfer, an authoring service that allows you to send in tapes of DVDs and receive back captioned DVDs.  This tutorial walks you through how to use that service.

Resources

Watch Using CaptionSync's DVD Transfer feature on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch DVD Service (QuickTime, 18.00MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to use CaptionSync's DVD Transfer feature

Once your videos are captioned, it is relatively straight-forward to provide viewers with the ability to perform text searches on the videos -- allowing them to locate the content of interest quickly and accurately.  This tutorial walks you through an example of a working video search system based on captioning data.

Resources

Watch Video Search Example on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Video Search and Navigation (QuickTime, 13.90MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Examine the benefits of Video Search

This tutorial highlights the basic components of a video search interface.

Resources

Watch Video Search in Action on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Video Search in Action (QuickTime, 12.00MB)
Launch Video Search in Action (Real, 2.70MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to construct a video search interface

The CSU Chancellor's Office has negotiated a system-wide agreement with AST to provide captioning services for all CSU campuses.  This tutorial offers an overview of the system-wide agreement and how you can participate in it.  This tutorial is applicable only to members of the California State University system.

Resources

Watch CSU Bulk Accounts on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch CSU Bulk Purchase (QuickTime, 9.20MB)
Launch CSU Bulk Purchase (Windows Media, 4.40MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Using the Special Bulk Purchase accounts for the CSU

The most typical method to caption Windows Media content is to use an external caption file known as a SAMI file (.smi).  These files are picked up by Windows Media Player at play time and allow the player to display captions.  The viewer can turn the captions on or off using menu controls in the player.  This tutorial shows you how to use SAMI files to caption Windows Media content.

Resources

Watch Windows Media: Captioning with SAMI files on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning with SAMI files (Windows Media, 6.00MB)
Launch Captioning with SAMI Files (QuickTime, 2.20MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Windows Media: Captioning with SAMI files

The standard method for captioning Windows Media files is to use an external caption file known as a SAMI file (.smi).  There are a couple of drawbacks to using SAMI files, including the need to properly associate the SAMI file with your WMV file, and the need to ensure the SAMI file is distributed along with the WMV file if it is being distributed.  A little-known solution is to embed the caption data back into the WMV file.  This tutorial shows you how this is done.

Resources

Watch Windows Media: Embedding captions in a WMV File on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Embedding captions in WMP (Windows Media, 4.30MB)
Launch Embedding Captions in WMP (QuickTime, 5.60MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Windows Media: Embedding captions in a WMV File
Transcript of Movie:
Windows Media: Embedding captions in a WMV File

QuickTime: The simplest way to caption a QuickTime movie is to use an external caption file (.qt.txt) which is referenced by a .smil file.  The default behavior for this type of captioning from CaptionSync is to place the caption text below the video window.  If you wish to relocate the text and place it over the video pane, this tutorial shows you how.

Resources

Watch Overlaying Captions on the Video in QuickTime on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Overlay Captions in QT (QuickTime, 2.20MB)
Transcript of Movie:
QuickTime: How to make captions overlay the video

QuickTime:  The simplest method of captioning for QuickTime is to use an external caption file (.qt.txt) along with a .smil file.  But there are many reasons why it may be more appealing to embed the caption data back into the MOV file.  This tutorial shows how this is done.

Resources

Watch Embedding Captions in a MOV file on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Embed captions in QT (QuickTime, 1.80MB)
Transcript of Movie:
QuickTime: How to make a self-contained QuickTime MOV file with captions

Viewers can turn captions on or off for a captioned QuickTime movie via the menu items in QuickTime.  You can make this functionality a bit more apparent to viewers by adding a CC button to your movie.  This button is called a "Sprite" in QuickTime, and this tutorial shows you how to add one.  You can download a free QuickTime Sprite from Whit Anderson.

Resources

Watch Adding a CC Sprite to QuickTime on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Add a Sprite in QT (QuickTime, 12.50MB)
Transcript of Movie:
QuickTime: How to make a self-contained MOV file with captions and a CC sprite

Flash gives developers tremendous control over how captioning data is presented, but Flash content developers need to ensure they present their content in a player skin that supports captioning.  There are several player skins available that have captioning support already built in, including many that ship with Adobe's Flash Professional (CS3 and CS4).  This tutorial shows how to use the Adobe Flash player skins to create captioned Flash content.

Resources

Watch How to Caption for Flash CS3 and CS4 on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning in Flash CS3/4 (Flash, 12.80MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Flash: How to caption CS3 and CS4 content

Flash gives developers tremendous control over how captioning data is presented, but Flash content developers need to ensure they present their content in a player skin that supports captioning.  There are several player skins available that have captioning support already built in, including the JW Player (now known as the Longtail Flash player).  This tutorial shows you how to caption Flash FLV movies that will be played back in the JW Player.

Resources

Watch How to Caption JW FLV Player Flash content on YouTube

Transcript of Movie:
Flash: How to caption JW FLV Player content

Captioning podcasts or vodcasts can be tricky because of the variety of devices that viewers may play such content on.  This tutorial series examines the different options available for captioning pod/vodcast content, focusing primarily on the Apple playback devices.  This particular tutorial provides an overview and summary of the different approaches.

Resources

Watch Podcast Captioning Overview on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Podcast Captioning Overview (QuickTime, 2.40MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Podcast: Captioning Overview

Captioning podcasts or vodcasts can be tricky because of the variety of devices that viewers may play such content on.  This tutorial series examines the different options available for captioning pod/vodcast content, focusing primarily on the Apple playback devices.  This particular tutorial shows how to obtain the specific caption files you will need to caption your Pod/Vodcast content.

Resources

Watch How to Obtain your Podcast Caption Files on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Obtaining Podcast Caption Files (QuickTime, 3.70MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Podcast: How to obtain your Caption Files

Captioning podcasts or vodcasts can be tricky because of the variety of devices that viewers may play such content on.  This tutorial series examines the different options available for captioning pod/vodcast content, focusing primarily on the Apple playback devices.  This particular tutorial shows how to open caption content which will allow captions to be displayed regardless of the playback device.

Resources

Watch Open Captioning a Podcast on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Podcast Open Captioning (QuickTime, 5.40MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Podcast: How to Open Caption

Captioning podcasts or vodcasts can be tricky because of the variety of devices that viewers may play such content on.  This tutorial series examines the different options available for captioning pod/vodcast content, focusing primarily on the Apple playback devices.  This particular tutorial shows how to caption for playback on Apple devices (iPods, iPhones, iTunes, QuickTime) using Apple's Compressor application.

Resources

Watch Captioning Podcasts with Compressor on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Podcast Captioning with Compressor (QuickTime, 3.40MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Podcast: Captioning with Compressor

Captioning podcasts or vodcasts can be tricky because of the variety of devices that viewers may play such content on.  This tutorial series examines the different options available for captioning pod/vodcast content, focusing primarily on the Apple playback devices.  This particular tutorial shows how to caption for playback on Apple devices (iPods, iPhones, iTunes, QuickTime) using Apple's QuickTime application.

Resources

Watch Captioning Podcasts with QuickTime on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Podcast Captioning with QuickTime (QuickTime, 5.20MB)
Transcript of Movie:
Podcast: Captioning with QuickTime

STAMP plugin for Powerpoint Are you embedding media clips into your Powerpoint presentations?  This tutorial will show you how to caption those clips using the new STAMP plugin for Powerpoint.

Resources

Watch Captioning for Powerpoint on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Powerpoint Tutorial (QuickTime, 9.09MB)
Launch Powerpoint Tutorial (Windows Media, 4.80MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Captioning for Powerpoint
Transcript of Movie:
How to caption embedded media in Powerpoint

Of all the media formats that can be captioned, dealing with old analog video tape is perhaps the trickiest.  The video first needs to be digitized, then a caption file needs to be generated, and finally, the end result needs to be encoded back onto tape.  Depending on the encoding system you are using, you may need to just digitize the audio track in order to generate a caption file.  This tutorial shows you how to extract a digital copy of the audio track from a VHS tape.

Resources

Watch Extracting Audio from VHS tapes on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Extracting audio from VHS (QuickTime, 10.50MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to extract the audio track from a VHS tape

This tutorial shows how to add captions and/or subtitles to your DVD with Apple's DVD Studio Pro.

Resources

Watch Captioning with DVD Studio Pro on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning with DVD Studio Pro (QuickTime, 122.00MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to add captions and/or subtitles with Apple DVD Studio Pro

This tutorial explains the steps necessary to add captions and/or subtitles to your DVD using Adobe Encore.

Resources

Video Files:
Launch Captioning with Encore (Flash, 36.40MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to use captions and subtitles with Adobe Encore

Mediasite Captioning This PDF describes how to configure the direct integration between Mediasite 5.4 or later and CaptionSync (please see the other PDF for Mediasite 5.1 to 5.3).  Also please make sure your CaptionSync account is enabled for AST-Link (you can submit a support ticket on the Help page after you log into your CaptionSync account).

Resources

Tutorial (PDF):
How to configure Mediasite 5.4 (or later) for Captioning

This PDF describes how to configure the direct integration between Mediasite 5.1 to 5.3 and CaptionSync (please see the other PDF for Mediasite 5.4 or later).  Also please make sure your CaptionSync account is enabled for AST-Link (you can submit a support ticket on the Help page after you log into your CaptionSync account).

Resources

Tutorial (PDF):
How to configure Mediasite 5.1 (up to 5.3) for Captioning

Echo administration page Echo360's lecture capture system offers a direct integration with CaptionSync, allowing you to automatically caption content captured with your Echo.  This tutorial explains how to set up your Echo360 system to use CaptionSync.  This setup needs to be completed just once during configuration.  Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for use with Echo; contact AST Support to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch Configuring Echo360 for Captioning on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Echo Setup (QuickTime, 4.70MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to configure your Echo360 System for Captioning

Echo Administration page Echo360's lecture capture system offers a direct integration with CaptionSync, allowing you to automatically caption content captured with your Echo.  This tutorial shows you how to schedule lectures and lecture series for captioning.  Ensure you view the tutorial on how to configure your Echo system to enable captioning first.   Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for use with Echo; contact AST Support to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch Captioning with Echo360 on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning with Echo360 (QuickTime, 2.50MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to caption with Echo360

Panopto's Coursecast system offers a direct integration with CaptionSync, allowing you to automatically caption content captured in CourseCast.  This tutorial will show you how to configure and use your Panopto system with CaptionSync.  Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for use with CourseCast; contact AST Support to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch Captioning with Panopto CourseCast on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning with Panopto (QuickTime, 9.20MB)
Launch Captioning with Panopto (Windows Media, 14.00MB)
Transcript of Movie:
How to caption with Panopto's CourseCast system

Camtasia Presentation Captioning for Camtasia Studio 7.1 or later is a breeze with CaptionSync; this tutorial will show you how.

Resources

Watch Captioning for Camtasia on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning for Camtasia (QuickTime, 8.30MB)
Launch Captioning for Camtasia (Windows Media, 6.20MB)
Launch Captioning for Camtasia (Flash, 4.80MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Captioning for Camtasia
Transcript of Movie:
How to caption Camtasia presentations

ReelSurfer web interface ReelSurfer provides a platform that offers powerful video search capabilities.  Using CaptionSync data to enhance its search capabilities, the ReelSurfer platform allows viewers to find and watch segments relevant to their needs. In addition, ReelSurfer makes content interactive by allowing users to create personalized clips that can be saved for personal use or shared on third party sites and social networks.  The ReelSurfer platform is fully integrated with CaptionSync to allow seamless captioning of video content from your ReelSurfer system -- this tutorial shows you how.

Resources

Watch Using CaptionSync with ReelSurfer on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning with ReelSurfer (QuickTime, 3.60MB)
Launch Captioning with ReelSurfer (WindowsMedia, 8.40MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Using CaptionSync with ReelSurfer
Transcript of Movie:
How to use CaptionSync with ReelSurfer's video search platform

Screenshot of Tegrity Captioning status screen Tegrity's lecture capture system offers a direct integration with CaptionSync, allowing you to automatically caption content captured with your Tegrity.  This tutorial shows you how to set up your Tegrity system and your CaptionSync account to allow them to work together.  It also shows how to select lectures for captioning from within your Tegrity system.  Using the automated captioning feature from within Tegrity can substantially simplify your workflow.  Note that your CaptionSync account must be enabled for use with Tegrity; contact AST Support to get your account enabled.

Resources

Watch Captioning for Tegrity on YouTube

Tutorial (PDF):
Captioning for Tegrity

Screenshot of a Collaborate presentation CaptionSync now allows you to caption Elluminate or Blackboard Collaborate presentations.  All you need to do is provide a URL to your Collaborate archive -- CaptionSync will pick up the presentation, extract the movie file, and return a captioned M4V file to you.  This tutorial will walk through the steps to do it.

Resources

Watch Captioning Blackboard Collaborate Presentations on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning for Collaborate (QuickTime, 18.20MB)
Launch Captioning for Collaborate (Windows Media, 14.40MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Captioning Blackboard Collaborate Presentations
Transcript of Movie:
How to caption Blackboard Collaborate presentations

Captioning your own YouTube videos is quite easy.  YouTube provides a mechanism for video owners to upload a caption file along with their video file.  The caption file can be added at any time.  This tutorial shows exactly how this is done.

Resources

Watch Captioning Your own YouTube Videos on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning your own YouTube Videos (QuickTime, 5.30MB)
Launch Captioning your own YouTube Videos (Windows Media, 7.30MB)
Transcript of Movie:
YouTube: Captioning Your own YouTube Videos

YouTube: Captioning your own YouTube video is pretty straight-forward.  But YouTube does not allow you to add a caption file if you are not the video owner.  Fortunately, there is a work-around for this.  Overstream.net provides a nice way of adding captioning to any YouTube video.  This tutorial shows you exactly how to do this.

Resources

Watch Captioning Somebody Else's YouTube Videos on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning other peoples YouTube Videos (QuickTime, 5.50MB)
Launch Captioning other peoples YouTube Videos (Windows Media, 7.10MB)
Transcript of Movie:
YouTube: Captioning Somebody Else's YouTube Videos

Kaltura screenshot CaptionSync offers an integration with the Kaltura video platform that leverages the latest caption
features and accessible players offered by Kaltura. The integration provides users and administrators
with a simplified workflow for adding captions to videos hosted on the Kaltura platform. After uploading videos to Kaltura, a user can have those videos captioned with just a few clicks.  This tutorial shows you how.

Resources

Watch Captioning Kaltura Videos on YouTube

Tutorial (PDF):
Captioning Kaltura Videos
Transcript of Movie:
How to caption videos hosted by Kaltura

Brightcove screenshot CaptionSync offers an integration with Brightcove to make captioning your Brightcove videos a snap.  This tutorial will show you how to enable the automated workflow for captioning your Brightcove videos.

Resources

Watch Captioning Brightcove Videos on YouTube

Video Files:
Launch Captioning Brightcove Videos (QuickTime, 6.85MB)
Launch Captioning Brightcove Videos (Windows Media, 13.30MB)
Tutorial (PDF):
Captioning Brightcove Videos
Transcript of Movie:
How to caption Brightcove videos


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