If you already have transcripts for your video/audio files, transcript alignment is a faster and less expensive way to create captions and/or use the 3Play Media interactive video plugins.

 

  Before getting started you will need...

- A video/audio file

- A pre-existing transcript of the video/audio file in an unformatted plain text  (.TXT) format, SCC, SRT, or VTT caption file.

- An FTP application on your computer

- Your 3Play Media FTP credentials found in your account under Upload > FTP Upload.

See more information about locating your 3Play Media FTP credentials, downloading FTP software, and the FTP upload method.

See information about 3Play Media's suggested best practices to achieve the highest quality results when using this service.

Please note that the duration of each file submitted for alignment should not exceed 2 hours.
DO NOT submit songs, music etc. The alignment process is intended for speech not singing.

For users new to the transcript alignment process it is suggested to set up the alignment review tool before submitting transcript for alignment.

See more information on the transcript alignment review tool

Follow the steps below to begin the transcript alignment process:

Step 1- Create a folder named english_alignment in your FTP client

Create a folder in your FTP client named english_alignment.

 

Step 2- Upload your media files

Upload your media files to the english_alignment folder. 

NOTE: Your media file must be uploaded before your transcript!
             If you are uploading multiple media files for transcript alignment, they can all be uploaded at this step.

 

Step 3- Upload your plain text transcript

Upload the plain text transcripts that correspond to your media files in the same folder, english_alignment.
This must be a .txt, .srt, .vtt, or .scc file as Microsoft Word documents will not be processed.

NOTE: Your plain text file must have the same name as your media file AND .txt REPLACING the media file extension.

For example, if your media file name is: Bo_speaks_at_TED.mp4
then the transcript must be called: 

Bo_speaks_at_TED.txt, Bo_speaks_at_TED.scc, Bo_speaks_at_TED.srt, or Bo_speaks_at_TED.vtt

Stranded media files:

These are media files uploaded for alignment that do not have corresponding text files.

- Every morning, we check for these, and... 

• If it's has been stranded for more than 24 hours  but less than 48, we send project admins a reminder and warn that it will be deleted in 24 hours.
• If it's greater than 48 hours (i.e., the warning has already been sent), we delete and notify project admins.

Alignment Turnaround:

Turnaround for transcript alignment depends on the duration of your files and our capacity at the time of upload.
Files will usually be completed within a few hours and almost always by the next business day.
For files greater than 1 hour, the alignment will likely be completed by the next business day.

Regarding Audio Description and Vertical Caption Placement 

Please note that Audio Description and Vertical Caption Placement can be ordered for alignment files once the transcription process is complete.

See more information regarding Audio Description

See more information regarding Vertical Caption Placement