Live streaming your event content gives you the power to reach a global audience and create a more inclusive experience for attendees. If you plan to live stream content, providing closed captions and translations should be at the top of your priority list. That's why we offer Webex Events Closed Captions & Translations and third-party integration options to provide text and audio captions and translation.

This article explains how to use a third-party human captioning or translation service with the Webex Events Production Studio, Webex Events RTMP, or a Webex Events Simulive stream.

To learn all about the free machine closed captions and translations included with Webex Events Production Studio, the Webex Events RTMP Player, Video on Demand, and Simulive, read our Webex Events Closed Captions & Translations article.

Human captioning means that real people listen to your stream and provide captions in real-time. Our official partners are SyncWords for closed captioning and translation, and Interprefy for audio interpretation. Other providers like Vitac and Caption Max also work well. The general processes and best practices described in this article should apply to nearly any human caption provider. 👍

Before learning more about our supported providers, here are a few considerations to keep in mind:

SyncWords has actual people who listen to your live stream and provide real-time closed captions in multiple languages. If you're streaming pre-recorded video as Simulive content, they'll translate that, too! Attendees on the Web App can select their preferred language from the drop-down next to the Show/Hide Captions button below the live stream.

Interprefy provides actual people who watch and listen to the stream and then simultaneously interpret the speech. Attendees using the Web App simply click the Audio Captions button below the live stream and select their preferred language to start listening.

If you prefer to work with a different captioning or interpreting service, make sure you verify compatibility with Webex Events. Arrange a test stream with your provider to make sure everything works smoothly. If you have any questions before or after testing with your provider, start a chat with our awesome Support team!

This section focuses on working directly with SyncWords and Interprefy to purchase and coordinate their services for your event, and the general steps should apply to most other providers.

As you work with the caption provider, you need to provide them with a way to access your live stream(s) so captioners can watch the stream and add captions in real time.

If you're using live captioning with Webex Events Production Studio, provide a Speaker Link for each Session you need captions for. This ensures that the captioner can see and hear the stream with as little delay as possible. If you plan to go live multiple times in the same Studio, make sure you communicate that with your captioner.

If you're using pre-recorded video to stream a Simulive session, if you're using another streaming platform, or if you need room for other speakers in the Studio, create an attendee profile for each captioner so they can watch and provide the captions for the live stream from the Web App.

If you're using pre-recorded video for a hybrid or Simulive stream, it's a fantastic idea to provide video files and associated scripts to your captioner at least one week ahead of the stream. Since your captioner can prepare and review captions before the stream, this provides your viewers with a highly accurate captioning experience.

Even though captions for Simulive content can be prepared in advance, you should still set up an attendee profile for your captioner. They'll watch the stream in the Web App and make sure the prepared captions are in sync with the video at all times.

Any closed caption provider must give you a unique Widget Code for each stream that will have captions. Others, like Interprefy, supply a URL for each. When you have your Widget Codes or URLs, you're ready to enter them in your Event App.

Now you're ready to go with captions. Keep in touch with your captioner about any last-minute schedule changes or delays. When the live stream starts, so will the captions! 👍

If you're using text captions, attendees simply click the 'Show Captions' button beneath the live stream to activate closed captions. If the caption provider is supplying multiple language translations, the attendees will also select a language preference. To turn off closed captions, attendees click the 'Hide Captions' button.

If you're using audio captions or translation, the button will say 'Audio Captions'.

Attendees click the button to open a modal where they select a language. After they select a language, they'll start hearing the captions right away, and they can close the modal.

Now you know how to implement third-party captions for your live streams! Don't have the budget for captions with every live stream? Webex Events Closed Captions & Translations is available for Webex Events Production Studio, the Webex Events RTMP Player, and Simulive at no additional cost. For Video on Demand content, Webex Events Closed Captions & Translations is also available for all videos you upload to Video Center.