What is the difference between closed captioning to open captions?
Closed captioning and open captioning are both methods used to display text on a screen to provide additional information or aid understanding for viewers, particularly those with hearing impairments. However, there are distinct differences between the two:
Closed Captioning:
Closed captioning (CC) refers to the process of displaying text on a screen that can be turned on or off by the viewer.
Viewers have the option to enable or disable closed captions, depending on their preference or need.
Closed captions are commonly used in various media, including television shows, movies, online videos, and streaming platforms.
Closed captioning also provides flexibility in terms of language options, as viewers can often choose from multiple languages if available.
Open Captioning:
Open captioning (OC) refers to the process of permanently displaying text on the screen, and it cannot be turned off by the viewer.
Open captions are embedded directly into the video frames or added during the post-production process.
Open captions are always visible and cannot be removed, making them suitable for situations where captioning is universally necessary, such as in theaters or public displays.
What are the benefits of closed captioning compared to open captions?
User Control: Closed captions allow viewers to control whether they want to enable or disable the text display. This flexibility is particularly useful for viewers who are not hearing impaired but may still benefit from captions, such as those learning a new language or watching content in a noisy environment.
Customization: Closed captions often provide options for customization, such as the ability to change the caption's appearance, size, color, and positioning on the screen. This feature allows viewers to personalize the captioning experience based on their preferences or specific needs.
Language Options: Closed captioning supports multiple languages, enabling viewers to choose captions in their preferred language when available. This aspect is crucial for international audiences or viewers with limited proficiency in the video's original language.
Compatibility: Closed captions are widely supported across various media platforms, including television, streaming services, DVD/Blu-ray players, and online videos. The closed captioning functionality is typically built into the player or device, allowing seamless integration with different content sources.
Accessibility Compliance: Closed captioning meets legal requirements and accessibility standards in many countries, ensuring equal access to video content for individuals with hearing impairments. These regulations often mandate closed captions for broadcast television, online video platforms, and other media distribution channels.
Non-intrusive: Closed captions can be turned off by viewers who do not require them or find them distracting. This aspect ensures that the video content remains unobstructed for those who prefer an uninterrupted viewing experience.
Overall, closed captioning provides greater flexibility, customization options, and compatibility with various platforms, while still fulfilling accessibility requirements. These advantages make closed captions more adaptable to diverse viewer preferences and needs.
Next step? Videolinq supports the creation and use of closed captioning in different ways:
Automated closed captioning creation, and to edit captions for better accuracy. This workflow can be used for both live and recorded streams.
Human-generated closed captioning for live streams.
Upload closed captioning files for recorded media, attach the file to a recorded video, create a player, or use the media + captions to simulate a live stream.
See why Videolinq is the best tool to create closed captioning. Open a free account.