Closed Captions vs Subtitles: What’s the Difference?

Making or watching videos can be a great experience, but sometimes there are issues with hearing the audio. This is where closed captions and subtitles come in. Closed captions are text versions of the spoken words in a video, while subtitles are translations of the spoken words into another language. So, which one should you go for? Let's take a closer look!

What Are Closed Captions And How Do They Work?  

This is no stranger for all of us. The spoken portion of a television, movie, or computer presentation is presented in text form in closed captions.

Closed captioning is effective when audio is unavailable, such as in an airport or another setting where silence is required, like a hospital.

Closed captions are applied to the video stream by encoding to make the text visible. On most modern televisions, you can toggle closed captioning on or off via an on-screen menu.

Most shows are captioned before they are broadcast. However, some programs, including live news broadcasts, necessitate real-time captioning due to their nature.

A stenographer or captioning service must first listen to the broadcast and write a shorthand transcription into a program. It will then translate the shorthand into a transcription of the captions and add that information to the television signal.

Besides the closed type, you must have heard about open captions. So, open vs closed captions - what makes them differ?

Open captions are permanently integrated into the video and cannot be disabled. Since they reduce the options for viewers, open captions are often only utilized where deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences would ordinarily miss all the dialogue.

Both closed and open captions are available for some movies, allowing viewers to select the style of captioning they prefer.

What Are Subtitles?  

Video subtitles (or translations) are translated parts of speech devoid of sound effects. They are designed for listeners who can interpret audio but not language.  

Although closed captions and subtitles serve different purposes, they are both always timed to the media and, for the most part, allow viewers to switch them on or off.

What Is The Difference Between Subtitles And Closed Captions? 

Closed captions are text translations of spoken words and other non-speech features in the video stream. 

Because they distinguish between various speakers, present background noises, and provide additional pertinent information, subtitles are helpful to those who face trouble understanding the language. In contrast, captions are meant for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers.  

Translations of the spoken audio are called subtitles, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. At the same time, people who watch movies or TV shows with subtitles typically do so because they cannot understand the language. 

Movies, for instance, include subtitles in the language used in the nations where they are released. In a Chinese movie that premieres in foreign countries, the Mandarin spoken in the movie is translated into English for the subtitles. 

Another case in point, if you are viewing a French movie and speak English, the translations at the bottom of the screen are subtitles. Usually, subtitles are created before a movie or TV show is released.

Which One Should I Use: Closed Captions Vs Subtitles? 

This will depend on your goals. Even if a viewer cannot speak the language, they can still watch videos thanks to subtitles. 

Many video producers recognize the value of adding subtitles and make their content accessible to more countries for the expansion of international video platforms. Otherwise, it’s your choice to turn off subtitles so that you can learn that forein language.

In the same vein, as more people view videos on their phones while the sound is muted in public spaces, the use of closed captions has increased along with mobile video consumption.

Source: https://www.hei.io/blog/closed-captions-vs-subtitles