𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦: 5 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴🕒
Subtitles and live captions have a few key distinctions.
Having worked on thousands of subtitling and live captioning projects since 2014, we are well-placed to tell you all about them.
One of the key differences includes timing and when they are used. Subtitles are used for pre-recorded material, live captions are used (you guessed it!) for live material.
Other key differences include workflows, content type, accuracy, and audience experience.
However, there is plenty more to it. In this blog, we’ll take a look at:
- Subtitles: in more detail
- Live captions: in more detail
- Key differences between subtitles and live captions
- Which option you need
What are subtitles?
Subtitles are text versions of spoken dialogue that are added to pre-recorded video content. They appear in sync with the audio, allowing viewers to read what is being said while watching the video.
They can be valuable for a wide range of audiences.
SDH subtitles (Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing) — which include sound effects, tone, music and audio cues that matter — support viewers who are deaf, hard of hearing or have tinnitus (of which there are 18 million in the UK).
Subtitles also help people watch content in sound-sensitive environments and can improve understanding when accents, audio quality or background noise create barriers.
As many as four in five (80%) 18 – 25-year-old TV viewers said they use subtitles ‘all of part of the time’, Stagetext figures show.
To take your content even further if you want to target audiences abroad, multilingual subtitles can also help here.
At VoiceBox, we provide both AI and human subtitling.
We appreciate there are different types of subtitles and ways in which they are referred to differ around the globe. For example, you may have heard closed captions referred to as SDH subtitles and subtitles used to reference basic dialogue.
It can be confusing and we don’t expect you to be the expert. If you speak to us, we can help you understand what you need to know.
Open vs closed subtitles
When discussing subtitles, you’ll often hear the terms open and closed.
Open subtitles
Open subtitles are permanently embedded into the video itself.
They cannot be turned on or off because they form part of the video. Every viewer sees them regardless of the device or platform being used.
Open subtitles are commonly used when:
- Social media platforms autoplay videos without sound
- Maximum compatibility across devices is required
- Content creators want complete control over subtitle appearance
They are displayed at the bottom of the screen in the middle. The streamer (the person who pushes/sends the stream) can place the captions anywhere they like, but it’s standard that they are at the bottom.
The viewer can’t change their location.
Open subtitles are often chosen when the business wants to enforce accessibility.
Closed subtitles
Closed captioning services are provided as a separate file and can be switched on or off by the viewer.
This offers greater flexibility, allowing users to choose whether they want subtitles displayed. Depending on the platform, viewers may also be able to customise how captions appear on screen.
Closed subtitles are often preferred for:
- Corporate training videos
- E-learning content
- Streaming platforms
- On-demand video libraries
Many organisations choose closed subtitles because they provide accessibility without permanently altering the video. They also give audiences the choice.
What are live captions?
Live captions, sometimes referred to as real-time captioning services, are captions produced during a live event as speech is taking place.
They too can be open or closed.
Live captions are widely used for:
- Webinars
- Conferences
- Virtual meetings
- Live broadcasts
- Hybrid events
They help audiences follow spoken content as it happens, creating a more inclusive experience for deaf and hard of hearing participants as well as people joining from noisy or distracting environments.
Additionally, non-native speakers and neurodivergent audiences may benefit from live captions as well.
Live captions may be produced by professional captioners, speech recognition technology, or a combination of both.
Many organisations choose a human-supported approach when accuracy is especially important, such as for public events, legal discussions or technical presentations.
How do live captions work?
The exact workflow varies a bit from subtitles.
- The client provides all the relevant information about the event, including whether it’s in-person or remote.
- We assign a dedicated project manager from start to finish.
- The project manager organises a rehearsal.
- We need to receive the audiovisual feed of the client’s stream.
- We join the event feed and help supply the live captions.
- We support post-event with items like a transcript if wanted.
A captioner (chosen by our in-house vendor management) or speech recognition system listens to the audio feed and converts spoken words into text. The captions are then streamed to the audience in near real time.
Professional live captioners are trained to handle:
- Multiple speakers
- Fast-paced discussions
- Industry-specific terminology
- Accents and dialects
- Audience questions and interactions
This expertise can make a significant difference, particularly during complex or high-profile events where accuracy matters.
Key differences between subtitles and live captions
While subtitles and live captions share the goal of making content more accessible, there are some important distinctions.
Timing
Subtitles are created after recording and added during post-production.
Live captions are created while the event is taking place.
Content type
Subtitles are used for pre-recorded content such as training videos, marketing campaigns and on-demand media.
Live captions are used for live events, meetings, webinars and broadcasts.
Accuracy and review
Subtitles can be reviewed, edited and quality checked before publication. That way, accuracy can be 100% and they can be carefully synchronised.
Live captions must be produced instantly, leaving little opportunity for correction before they appear on screen. The accuracy rate sits at around 98%.
Delivery
Subtitles are usually attached to a video file or delivered as a separate caption file.
Live captions are received on a HTML web page that they can embed on their screen or stream. This depends on the clients’ requirements, which will be discussed in the rehearsal.
Audience experience
Subtitles provide a polished viewing experience for recorded content.
Live captions provide immediate access to spoken content as it happens, allowing audiences to participate fully in live discussions and events.
Which option do you need?
The answer usually depends on whether your content is recorded or live.
If you’re publishing pre-recorded videos, subtitles can improve accessibility, engagement and reach while giving viewers flexibility in how they consume your content.
If you’re hosting a live webinar, conference or event, live captions help ensure audiences can follow the conversation in real time and participate more confidently.
There are several studies that show captions improve memory, comprehension and attention. If you’re spending a good amount of money on content or an event, you may as well enable the maximum amount of people to engage with it.
Conclusion
Hopefully you now feel more comfortable differentiating between subtitles and live captions.
Whether you want more people to be able to engage with your event or content, for them to remember it better or to improve accessibility, either subtitles or live captions could work for you.
And if you need them, you know where to come! Contact us today to discuss live captions or subtitles in more detail.