Automatic generation of transcripts and captions for recorded video

Introduction

Transcripts and captions and for lecture/meeting recordings can be generated using Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology which is included with Echo 360, Zoom and Microsoft Stream. Since these transcripts are automatically generated they should be thoroughly checked and edited. This guide covers how to generate transcripts and if necessary how to transfer those transcripts to Echo 360 for subsequent publication within a Moodle course.

Using Echo 360 automatic speech recognition to generate a transcript/captions

All Echo 360 recordings will be transcribed using automatic speech recognition when they are published to a course. Where the Echo 360 AI is confident in the accuracy of a transcript it will also be automatically applied as captions (sometimes known as subtitles). Please note that the process of assessing accuracy is an automated process. See this Echo 360 guide to understand the difference between transcripts and captions.

How long does it take for a transcription to appear?

It takes at least 30 minutes for a video to receive automatic transcriptions, longer for videos that are more than an hour in length and/or if the transcription service is processing a large number of requests at the time. Further details re. transcription can be found here.

Transcription accuracy

The automatic speech recognition transcription service is likely not going to meet the accuracy levels required of closed captions for hearing impaired individuals. Those with such a requirement should contact the LSE Disability and Mental Health Service (DMHS) for access to enhanced captions.

Generating and editing an Echo360 automated recording transcript

1. First you need to publish your Echo360 Recording.

2. Allow at least 30 minutes for the recording to receive automatic transcriptions

3. Locate the video you wish to receive automatic transcriptions and click on it.

4. Click Details and then for the Transcripts entry click “Update” followed by Edit Transcript (if the transcript is not ready yet, the Transcript entry will read "Add")

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5. You can edit the transcript using the Transcript Editor

6. If automated captions have previously been applied to your recording, then your newly edited transcript will override the automated captions. Click “Apply to CC”. To see the applied transcript in action, play the video in the playback panel, with the CC button turned on.

Using Zoom to generate transcripts/captions for recorded Zoom meetings

All Zoom meeting recordings can be transcribed automatically, but the meeting does need to be recorded and the audio transcript setting needs to be enabled on your Zoom profile before you schedule/start a meeting. See the Zoom guide to learn how to enable automatic audio transcription on your Zoom profile.

Transferring your Zoom generated transcript to Echo 360

If your Zoom recording will be automatically uploaded to Echo 360 (for publication to a Moodle course), the transcript created by Zoom will also be automatically copied across to Echo 360. The automated Zoom transcript should be edited in Echo360. Whether you edit it or not, the transcript will need to be manually applied as on-screen captions. This is only a one-click process however!

If your Zoom recording will be manually uploaded to Echo 360 or the transcript fails to automatically transfer, the transcript created by Zoom can be uploaded to Echo 360 to be applied to your recording. The transcript can be checked and edited within Zoom before uploading to Echo 360, or you can edit using Echo360 as above.

1. To download automatically generated captions from Zoom, go to the Recordings section of your Zoom profile page, select the recording, hover your mouse over the transcript and click the audio transcript download button (downward arrow icon).
   
   

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2. Upload your automatically generated captions to Echo 360 and apply them to your previously uploaded video.

Using Microsoft Stream (new Sharepoint version) automatic speech recognition to generate a transcript

Microsoft Stream can be used to generate a transcript and caption file for any video uploaded to Microsoft OneDrive. This means that the video could be produced by any other means.

Generating a transcript

1. First you will need to upload your video to Microsoft OneDrive.

2. Generate automatic captions using Microsoft Stream

Transferring your Microsoft Stream generated transcript to Echo 360

The transcript can be checked and edited within Microsoft Stream before uploading to Echo 360.

1. Ensure that your video has also been uploaded to Echo 360.

2. Download your automatically generated captions from Microsoft Stream (see the download section)

3. Upload your automatically generated captions to Echo 360 and apply them to your previously uploaded video.

Note: The ‘classic’ version of Microsoft Stream is no longer available.