## How to Transcribe Video to Text with Subly

Our automated video transcription streamlines the process from start to finish.

### Step 1  
**Upload Video or Audio**  
Drop your MP4, MOV, or audio file into Subly. Our AI transcribes speech to text automatically, detecting speakers and adding timestamps. Supports 100+ languages and dialects.

### Step 2  
**Edit & Adjust**  
Review your transcript in Subly's editor. Correct any errors, add speaker labels, adjust timestamps. Need guaranteed accuracy? Route to human transcription for 99%+ precision.

### Step 3  
**Export Transcript**  
Download as TXT or DOCX for documentation. Export as SRT or VTT if you need timed subtitles. One transcription powers multiple outputs.

## What Is Video Transcription?

Video transcription converts spoken audio into a written text document. Unlike captions (which display on-screen during playback), a transcript is a standalone file — readable, searchable, and usable independent of the video.

Transcripts serve multiple purposes:

- **Accessibility**: Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deafblind users can read content they can't hear. WCAG requires transcripts for audio-only content (SC 1.2.1) and allows them as an alternative to audio description (SC 1.2.3).
- **Documentation**: Create written records of meetings, interviews, lectures, webinars. Archive and search your video library by text.
- **SEO**: Search engines can't watch video. Transcripts make your video content indexable, improving visibility in search results.
- **Repurposing**: Turn one video into blog posts, social content, training materials, knowledge base articles.

Subly's AI video transcription handles all of this automatically. Upload video, get transcript, export in whatever format you need.

## Descriptive Transcripts — Full Accessibility for Video

A standard transcript captures speech. A **descriptive transcript** goes further — it includes descriptions of visual information needed to understand the content.

Think of it like a screenplay: dialogue, speaker identification, AND descriptions of actions, scenes, on-screen text, facial expressions, relevant visual context.

**Why it matters for compliance:**

| WCAG Level | Requirement |
| --- | --- |
| Level A (SC 1.2.1) | Descriptive transcript required for video-only content |
| Level A (SC 1.2.3) | Descriptive transcript accepted as alternative to audio description |
| Level AAA (SC 1.2.8) | Descriptive transcript required for all prerecorded video |

Descriptive transcripts are essential for deafblind users who can't access captions or audio descriptions. They also benefit users who process text better than audio/visual content.

Subly generates transcripts with visual context included — not just what's said, but what's shown. Meet WCAG requirements without manual scripting.

### Why Subly?

## Built for Scale, Speed, and Simplicity

Subly’s enterprise-grade platform automates audio description across entire video libraries. Process thousands of files faster, more accurately, and up to seven times more affordably than manual production.

- **Built for Scale**: Process thousands of videos with enterprise infrastructure
- **Instant Processing**: Minutes, not days. AI-powered automation.
- **7x More Affordable**: Cut costs vs manual production.
- **Everything in One Place**: Captions, audio descriptions, transcripts, translation — one platform.

## Who Needs to Video Transcription?

Whether you want to cut the manual work or make sure every video is compliant before it becomes an issue - Subly does the heavy lifting.

### Marketing Teams
- Webinar transcripts
- Video content repurposing
- SEO

### Education
- Lecture transcripts
- Research documentation
- Student accessibility

### Corporate L&D
- Training documentation
- Meeting records
- Compliance archives

### e-Commerce
- Product video transcripts
- Tutorial documentation
- Knowledge base content

### Media & Entertainment
- Interview transcripts
- Production documentation
- Content archives

### Government & Public Sector
- Public meeting records
- Accessibility compliance
- Section 508 documentation

## Transcription Is Just Part of the Platform

Subly covers every accessibility requirement for video content:

- **Captions & Subtitles**: Checks if captions are in the video, then generates open and closed captions in 100+ languages.
- **Transcriptions**: Automatically generates transcripts in 100+ languages. For descriptive transcripts, request our expert team to help as an alternative format.
- **Audio Descriptions**: Our expert team creates standard and extended Audio Description for videos to support visually impaired viewers and listeners.
- **Localisation & Translation**: Translate into 100+ languages and use the editor to clearly see the original and translation. Work on multiple translations at once.
- **Subtitle Editor**: Effortlessly edit, format, and customise your subtitles online, ensuring your content is both accurate & engaging for your audience.
- **Colour Contrast**: AI checks WCAG compliance for text in videos and captions, flags issues, and allows colour adjustments.
- **Descriptive Transcripts**: Full, time-coded descriptive transcripts for any video — silent, non-narrated or with audio — describing spoken content, visuals, sounds and on-screen actions.

## Frequently Asked Questions

We've got answers! Browse through our FAQ section to find quick solutions and detailed explanations to some of the most common queries. Whether you're just getting started or need specific guidance, our comprehensive FAQs are here to assist you every step of the way.

### What's the difference between a transcript and captions?
Captions display on-screen during video playback — synced to audio, designed for viewing alongside video. Transcripts are standalone text documents — readable without the video, searchable, exportable. Subly generates both from the same source file.

### How accurate is AI video transcription?
Accuracy depends on audio quality, accents, and background noise. Clear audio with single speakers = high accuracy. Complex audio with multiple speakers or technical terminology = use human transcription for 99%+ precision.

### What file formats can I export?
Transcripts export as TXT or DOCX. Timed transcripts export as SRT, VTT, TTML, or XML for use as subtitles.

### What's a descriptive transcript?
A transcript that includes both spoken content AND descriptions of visual information — actions, scene changes, on-screen text, facial expressions. Required under WCAG for video-only content and accepted as an alternative to audio description.

### Can I transcribe audio files, not just video?
Yes. Upload any audio file and Subly transcribes it. You can also add an image to audio and convert it to video with subtitles.

### How does transcription help with compliance?
WCAG 2.1 requires transcripts for audio-only content (SC 1.2.1). Descriptive transcripts satisfy requirements for video-only content and can substitute for audio description at Level A (SC 1.2.3). At Level AAA (SC 1.2.8), descriptive transcripts are mandatory for all prerecorded media.