Automatic Sync Update Fall, 2012 September, 28, 2012

Automatic Sync UpdateFall, 2012

September, 28, 2012

Agenda

•Welcome•Systemwide Contract Overview (ATI)•CaptionSync Update (Automatic Sync)•Q&A•Wrap-up

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CSU Systemwide Contract

•Previous systemwide contract (2009-2012) was very successful• $100,000 savings over 3 years• High satisfaction reported in user survey

•New Contract Process• Workgroup formed in Spring• RFP Process (requirements, RFP drafting, proposal

review, vendor selection) completed in Summer

•Very few logistical or technical changes from earlier contract

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© 2012 Automatic Sync Technologies

Kara [email protected]

www.automaticsync.com

September 28, 2012

CaptionSync Update


Introduction

• CaptionSync is a web-based service provided by Automatic Sync Technologies (AST) for Transcription and/or Closed Captioning of media files.

• CaptionSync was initially funded by the US Dept of Education.

• CaptionSync has over 2000 users across the country

• In addition to captioning, AST has expertise in workflow automation, video search and navigation, and the use of synchronized interactive media.


Agreement Overview

•AST has provided services to the CSU System since 2005.

•In 2008 AST was awarded CSU system-wide agreement.

•AST was recently awarded agreement again to be the sole chosen provider

•The system-wide agreement with the CSU provides for:

• Special pricing (very favorable to CSU customers)

• Centralized billing of core transcript & caption services

• System-wide training sessions


Agreement Mechanics• Each CSU campus has an “AST Administrator” responsible for

overseeing usage of the agreement at their campus.

• Any CSU member can get their own CaptionSync by applying at: http://www.automaticsync.com/caption/csu_sign_up.php

• After AST receives an application, an approval from your campus Administrator is automatically requested. As soon as we receive this, the account is created and you will receive an automated notification.

• Every month, the Administrator receives a summary of all usage of the Agreement for your campus.

• AST does not directly bill your campus – the CO handles all invoicing from AST and “bills back” all usage to the campuses every 4 months (previously 6 months).


What’s new for CaptionSync? Video Encoding Services

URL submission capability

Spanish transcript and captioning

Spanish translation services (in Beta)

Production Transcripts

Several new lecture capture integration options. Currently integrate with Echo 360, Mediasite, Panopto, Tegrity.

Online Video Platform integrations options include Brightcove, Ensemble Video and Kaltura

Elluminate Workflow


Video Encoding Services Submit your .MOV, .M4V or .MP4 video and get back a fully

encoded .M4V file. The text track is embedded in the container.

Encoded M4V file is ready to go for use with any player or device that supports iOS devices, including JW Player, Flowplayer, QuickTime, iPad, iPhone, iPod and iTunes.

iOS Devices require encoded caption data. Our encoding services will save you a production step by embedding the files for you. 2

Option available for open-captioning

This service is not part of the CSU agreement, is billed separately.


URL Submission

• You are now able to submit a URL or list of URLs for captioning

• We download videos for you, send them for transcription and captioning and email results back to you.

• Enable this feature automatically by submitting a support ticket requesting this service


URL Submission Continued• Need to have it enabled for your

account.

• Just paste in a set of URLs and we take it from there

• Cannot provide your own transcript this way.

• URLs must be accessible. (no password protected sites)

• Tutorials for use at www.automaticsync.com/help


Spanish transcription & captioning

• Submit your Spanish audio and get back Spanish transcript and caption files

• Service is same price as English, billed as a regular transcript/caption submission

• Select the language of the audio you submit under the Advanced Settings “language” tab.


Spanish Translation Service (in Beta)

• Needed when you want captions/subtitles in a language other than the language of the media.

• AST has a beta program offering English -> Spanish, and Spanish -> English translation.

• Uses human translators (not machine translation); as with our captioning, we have found a way to do this much cheaper than typical market rates.

• Will be available through the web UI shortly– need to enable through support ticket.


Production Transcripts

• Time coded transcripts are full transcripts with periodic timestamp

• Users can decide resolution of time stamps under Advanced Settings

• Helpful for Video editors to quickly locate segments of interest, used primarily for:

Video editing

Interviews and panel discussion recordings

Focus group recordings

Depositions


Upload Options

Several ways to get content into CaptionSync:

1. Web Submission

2. AST-Link

3. URL List (previously discussed)

4. DVD Transfer

5. Integration API

6. Partner Applications– Lecture Capture (MediaSite, Echo, Panopto)– Video Platforms (BrightCove, Kaltura, Ensemble,

ReelSurfer)


AST Link• Need to have it enabled for your

account.

• Use BatchID for easier sorting and access to groups of files.

• Can retrieve results via ASTLink or by web or email or SFTP.

• MAC version available, uses a droplet for uploading files or batches

• Tutorials for use at www.automaticsync.com/help


AST-Link: Batches• There are several benefits to

using a Batch ID

• Results can be obtained as a single zip for the batch:

–

Via email

–

Via SFTP

–

Via web (new)

• Status section allows you to

search by BatchID


Direct Integration CaptionSync allows direct integration to any application

or system.

Simple and secure interface.

Allows content to be aggregated on your side and then automatically submitted to CaptionSync.

Complete documentation and integration assistance available.


Lecture Capture Automation

• An increasing amount of content is coming from lecture capture systems.

• Many (but not all) support captioning

• Some support automated workflows for captioning (Mediasite, Echo360, Panopto, Tegrity). We are adding new partners all the time.

• With workflow automation, you can select to have an individual lecture, or a whole course captioned with just a checkbox.


Lecture Capture Automation

Systems with good CC support also offer Search capabilities.


Elluminate Workflow• CaptionSync can now accept Blackboard Collaborate presentations

(Elluminate archives) for captioning.

• You submit a list of Collaborate archives and receive back captioned videos in the M4V video format.

• The resulting accessible videos can be viewed with captions on any computer or device with iTunes or Quicktime, including mobile devices such as iPods, iPhones, and iPads.

• Instructors who want to re-use content from Blackboard Collaborate sessions in future classes now have an easy way to create videos that are compliant with accessibility requirements and also usable on a variety of mobile devices.

• The captioned videos can be used as downloadable content in Blackboard Learn courses, and they are also compatible with iTunes U sites

• Tutorial on process can be found at:

http://www.automaticsync.com/captionsync/resources/how-to-video/40


A Quick Tour of CaptionSync

• Settings: update your account; change password; enroll keys.

• Help: documentation, downloads, wiki, Support Request.

• News: review news items.

• Caption/Transcribe: submit new jobs, check status, redo jobs. You can change your submission type on left-hand navigation bar. Options include Captioning, Transcription-only and Production Transcript (if your account is enabled). You need to request Transcription-only using support ticket.


What happens after you submit?• CaptionSync ingests your media file and extracts the audio portion.

Schedules your job for transcription.

• We produce a transcript of the audio portion of the program. Stenographers are trained to use proper captioning conventions.

• Divide text into captions, observing guidelines about where to break sentences. System also pays attention to the output formats you requested to conform to constraints on those formats.

• Synchronize captions to the video timeline.

• Create output files in the format required by your media. Note that format is dictated by the type of player that the content will be played on, not by the media itself.


But What Caption Files Do I Need?• Caption files are usually “side car” files – they are separate from the

movie file.

• In some cases, the caption file needs to be encoded (or injected) into the movie data (iOS devices, Broadcast)

• There are many different media types; some are associated with a specific player, some are not.

• Subtle but important distinction: Captioning format is dependent on the Player, not the Media.

• Players have varying support for captioning, and use different format caption files. Use Open Captioning where support is lacking.

• All formats AST offers are listed at: http://www.automaticsync.com/captionsync/support/result-formats/


Improving the End Result

• Transcriber Notes (Guidance to Transcriber)o Communicate proper names, special terms, etco Global Account notes are possible (AST must enable)o Batch notes are also possibleo No Attachments (yet), but a URL is ok

• Transcript Review Workflow Option• Audio quality

o Good audio is critical to success. Result Review option recommended for poor quality audio.


Dealing with Specialized Content

• Specialized transcriber pools o We can restrict the transcriber pool for any accounto We have a special pool for medical contento Other pools can be createdo AST needs to enable this for your account (no cost)

• Math contento Special “Math mode” available for accountso AST needs to enable this for your account (no cost)


Redos

• Can be used to:o Change transcript (fix typos)o Add markers (fix timing errors)o Select other/additional output formatso Change formatting characteristics

• Available for 6 months from original submission, no charge

• Must use the raw transcript (.txt)


Redos - Screenshot


Additional Services Offered

• Video encoding• Result Review• DVD/VHS mail in service• Translation• Production Transcripts

• These are all billed direct (not under CSU agreement)


Contact Information

Kara Stark ([email protected])

1-877-AST-SYNC x715

Kevin Erler ([email protected])

1-877-AST-SYNC x701

www.automaticsync.com


Other Resources

• Take a look at the CaptionSync “how-to” videos (captioned): http://www.automaticsync.com/help

• The Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee Wiki page gives updates regarding the committee's activities and meetings.

• AST’s Newsletter with ongoing updates on captioning: http://www.automaticsync.com/captionsync/news/newsletter/

• AST’s Blog on captioning-related topics: http://blog.captionsync.com/

Closing

•Thank you for attending• Please provide feedback to the ATI ([email protected])

regarding this webinar or the Automatic Sync contract.

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Documents

Automatic Sync Update Fall, 2012 September, 28, 2012