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.