WincapsASR, Now with Translation

WincapsASR, Now with Translation

WincapsASR, new and improved with translation is making waves in the battle to improve captioning and subtitling.

Background

The exponential growth of new video content and delivery solutions coupled with a shortage of skilled subtitlers and very tight timetables to turnaround file-based content has added significant pressure to improve subtitle productivity and maintain quality. Fortuately, ASR, Automated Speech Recognition is able to deliver significant benefits and new workflows to improve productivity and reduce turnarond times, while ensuring quality.

WincapsASR creates caption files automatically from program audio and leverages AI to provide translated subtitles in various languages. The resulting files can be quickly checked and corrected, if necessary, using conventional subtitle editing software like BroadStream’s WincapsQ4 thus marrying traditional methods of subtitling with the latest from the AI world using ASR.

WincapsASR is available when you are to convert file-based content and make it more viewable. It’s based on a platform that is known and appreciated for its simplicity and useful benefits. For starters adding ASR into the mix delivers significant increases in productivity with one large European broadcaster reporting 30% improvements in productivity from their subtitling team. With pressure to keep costs down this is a major win for this customer.

In addition, there are currently over 50 languages available with 30+ languages available for automatic translation to and from English to further make you life easier and improve productivity.

 

Overview

WincapsASR delivers the key features you need. Check out the details and features below.

Input files:

  • Video:MP4 (including audio track selection) and WMV
  • Audio: MP3 and WAV
  • Other formats subject to testing

Output files:

  • SRT, WebVTT and text transcription files

VoCabulary & Configuration

WincapsASR includes these special features that make it easy to upgrade your workflows to add ASR and includes the following:

  • Custom dictionary: improves ASR accuracy, use for program specific vocabulary requirements such as regional geographic names, sports team details, government terms and names, etc.
  • Word replacement: automatic substitutions for known issues with spelling, presentation or persistent misrecognition.
  • Profanity list: a special substitution list that supports wildcards and replacement strategies.
  • Segmentation & timing rules: creates well-formed text blocks that respect word timing, punctuation and linguistic style rules plus timing rules for duration and gaps between captions and subtitles.

Security and Options

It’s important to ensure your content is secure. With WincapsASR:

  • Your video never leaves your environment.
  • Audio is purged after processing.
  • On-premises AI hosting is an option for added security.
  • It uses a containerized architecture for efficient deployment for on-premise or private cloud.
  • Integrates with your storage solution.

Why Should You Care?

Globally, the use of captions and subtitles while watching TV and online video has become increasingly more prevelant extending beyond those with hearing issues to a much broader audience. A 2023 survey indicated that 51% of Americans use subtitles most of the time when watching content. Among younger viewers, 96% of GenZ use subtitles, up from 70% just a year ago.

Why do so many more people use subtitles and captions?

  • Enhanced comprehension: 27% of users enable captions to better understand the content.
  • Understanding accents and dialogue: 70% of viewers use captions or subtitles to comprehend actors with different accents.
  • Localization: Suit the cultural adn liguistics needs for you home audience.
  • Noisy environments: 22% of viewers turn on subtitles when watching in noisy environments.
  • Multitasking: 10% of viewers use subtitles to aid in multitasking when watching video.
  • Learning and focus: Subtitles aid in language learning and focus to help viewers, including those with attention difficulties.
  • Audio clarity: 90% of respondents indicated they use captions because streaming services often provide muddled dialogue that make it harder to understand.

To learn more about WincapsASR click here to speak to one of our team members. If you want to improve your live video subtitling please check out Q-LiveASR. It uses Wincaps to provide editing of live content to improve quality. If you don’t need live updates consider VoCaption.

Want a playout system with an embedded live captioning solution, then check out OASYS.

To be automatically notified when new releases are available please click here to Stay in Touch!

 

SubCaptioner, VoCaption, WincapsASR, Q-LiveASR, More than just ASR

BroadStream has a suite of ASR solutions to meet virtually any captioning or subtitling needs.

Automated Speech Recognition and uses AI elements to convert speech to text. Our speech engine provides accuracy in the high 90’s depending on the language and can be used to replace or supplement human captioners. These solutions encompass new automation, as well as, hybrid and traditional human applications. Here’s a brief recap:

SubCaptioner

SubCaptioner is our on-line, automated solution for captions, transcriptions and translation. It accommodates both live and file-based content and is available in over 50 languages. Users can upload MP3 audio and MP4 video files, and receive captions in SRT, WebVTT and transcriptions in Word format within minutes for just 25 cents per minute for all three files. The system can also translate converted files into multiple languages for an additional 25 cents per minute taking a task that when provided by humans can cost hundreds of dollars and take several days and delivering highly accurate files for just pennies in minutes. New users can open a free account and receive 40 minutes free (20 minutes if using translation), just for signing up.

SubCaptioner includes an online editor that is easy to use along with custom dictionary at no additional fee. Visit SubCaptioner for more details.

WincapsASR

For enterprise users, WincapsASR is available as an on-premise or private cloud implementation. It’s a bybrid solution for handling  hundreds of hours of content with human editing as a bonus. Files are uploaded and converted by our speech engine. Once converted, use Wincaps to QC the file and make any edits necessary to improve the already highly accuracy. WincapsASR is especially beneficial for clients needing higher security for their content or prefer to avoid moving their content outside of their domain.

VoCaption

Need live captioning or subtitling? VoCaption is our solution for low-cost, highly accurate live captioning. Using the most accurate speech engine available, BroadStream has added the necessary features to make it easy to turn on live captioning with just a mouse click or automation command from OASYS Integrated Playout. If you are a Polistream customer and interested in adding live, automated captioning to your channels, VoCaption can be integrated with many of the existing versions of Polistream.

Q-LiveASR

For broadcasters needing live captioning with human intervention Q-LiveASR is our enterprise solution that combines live, automated captioning with human editors to deliver an application that provides users with the ability to correct or edit live captions before they are published thus providing the ability to improve accuracy on-the-fly.

Please contact our Sales Team for details. If you use a 3rd party caption inserter and would like to know if VoCaption can work for you please contact our Sales Team or Support Team and we’ll be happy to help you.

 

VoCaption Integrates with Broadcast Pix

VoCaption Integrates with Broadcast Pix!

Since 2023, BroadStream Solutions has partnered with Broadcast Pix to create powerful solutions for the audio/visual market.

The latest announcement from this partnership brings live captions to Broadcast Pix customers via BroadStream’s live captioning solution: VoCaption.

VoCaption live captioning is now fully integrated in to Broadcast Pix’s line of Hybrid live video production systems to allow users to stop and start live captions with just the click of a button directly within their Broadcast Pix interface. This new integration leverages the power of VoCaption’s ASR (automatic speech recognition) technology with Broadcast Pix’s integrated live production solutions to create an all-in-one system where users can record, caption, and stream their live content.

Broadcast Pix Hybrid systems now feature this groundbreaking capability, empowering users to generate live, accurate captions effortlessly with just one click. This integration signifies a significant advancement in live streaming production technology, allowing users to utilize ASR software directly within their system without relying on third-party platforms.

Key VoCaption Integration Highlights:

  1. Ease of Use: VoCaption seamlessly integrates into Broadcast Pix Hybrid systems. This new integration  empowers users to quick and easily generate live, accurate captions automatically with the click of one button. This feature eliminates the need for third-party platforms, allowing users to utilize ASR software directly within their system.
  2. Enhanced Accuracy: VoCaption achieves an impressive accuracy rate of over 90-95%, surpassing the typical 80% accuracy of online streaming platforms. Users can further enhance accuracy with features like the custom dictionary, ensuring precise and reliable captions even in challenging audio environments.
  3. Video Content Optimization: VoCaption includes Automatic EBU Timed Text File Creation, enabling the automatic generation of EBU Timed Text (EBU-TT) files for various functions such as subtitle production, archiving, and live subtitling. Additionally, adding captions to videos enhances their SEO ranking, improving accessibility and audience reach.

VoCaption is sold as an additional feature to Broadcast Pix’s line of hybrid integrated production solutions. Customers who choose to enhance the capabilities of their system can also easily manage the processing minutes needed.

To learn more about VoCaption’s integration with Broadcast Pix’s line of solutions visit their website.

To learn more about the VoCaption live captioning solution from Broadstream, visit our website here.

To better understand why you should caption every video click here.