Automatically Transcribe YouTube Videos: Create Subtitles and Closed Captions

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Importance of Transcripts
3. How to Enable Automatic Captions on YouTube
4. How to Edit the Auto-Generated Transcript
5. Getting a Professional Transcript Done
6. Benefits of Having a Professional Transcript
7. Uploading Your Own Transcript
8. Converting Transcripts into a Text File
9. Translating YouTube Videos into Different Languages
10. Conclusion

Understanding the Importance of Transcripts

When it comes to watching videos online, understanding the content can sometimes be a challenge. Whether it's due to accents or unclear speech, many viewers struggle to follow along. That's where transcripts come in handy. Transcripts are a simple way of creating closed captions for your videos, making it easier for viewers to understand the content. In this article, we will explore the importance of transcripts and how to best utilize them on YouTube.

How to Enable Automatic Captions on YouTube

If You want your YouTube videos to be automatically transcribed, you need to turn on the caption default setting. This will allow YouTube to generate closed captions for your videos using machine learning algorithms. To enable automatic captions, log in to your YouTube Channel, click on your profile icon, go to settings, and click on "playback and performance". Next, find the "subtitles and closed captions" option and check the "always Show captions" box. You can also include auto-generated captions if available by checking the corresponding box. It's important to note that automatic captions may not be entirely accurate, but we'll discuss how to edit them later on.

How to Edit the Auto-Generated Transcript

Even though YouTube can generate automatic captions, there may be times when you need to make adjustments or corrections. To edit the auto-generated transcript, go to the content tab in the YouTube dashboard, hover over the video you wish to edit, and click on the Pencil icon that says "details". Then, click on "subtitles" to access the auto-generated transcript. From here, you can edit the text, timings, and ensure its accuracy. Once you've made the necessary changes, click "publish" to save your edited transcript.

Getting a Professional Transcript Done

While YouTube's automatic captions are convenient, they may not always be accurate enough for your needs. That's where professional transcription services like GoTranscript come in. For just a few dollars, you can have your videos professionally transcribed by humans, ensuring the highest level of accuracy. Professional transcripts can save you time and allow you to repurpose your content for other social media platforms. To get a professional transcript done, visit GoTranscript's Website, click "order online", paste the URL of your video, and submit your order. Within a few days, you'll receive an email notification when your transcript is completed and ready for download.

Benefits of Having a Professional Transcript

Having a professional transcript offers many advantages. Not only does it provide accurate captions, but it also allows you to reach a wider audience. By translating your videos into different languages, you can expose your content to viewers who speak other languages. Additionally, professional transcripts can be repurposed for other social media sites, maximizing your content's reach. To find out the top 10 languages spoken by your channel's audience, use a tool like TubeBuddy. It will help you discover the best keywords to rank your videos on YouTube's search engine and guide you in creating subtitles in foreign languages.

Uploading Your Own Transcript

If you already have a transcript that's been professionally done or one that you've created yourself, you can upload it to YouTube. Go to the content tab in YouTube Studio, locate the video you want to add the transcript to, and click on the pencil icon. Then, click on "subtitles" and select the "add language" option. Choose the language of your transcript and click "add". You can then upload your transcript file or choose to Type it manually. YouTube also provides an option called "auto-sync", which allows you to Create subtitles and closed captions by typing them in as you watch the video. Make sure the transcript language matches the language spoken in your video for accurate captions.

Converting Transcripts into a Text File

When receiving a transcript from a professional transcription company, it may come in formats like HTML, Word documents, or DOCX files. Before uploading it to YouTube, you need to convert it into a plain text file. This ensures compatibility with YouTube's system. On a PC, simply use Notepad to open the file and save it as a plain text file. If you're using a Mac, open TextEdit, click on "format", and select "plain text" before saving the file. This step is crucial, especially when uploading transcripts in different languages.

Translating YouTube Videos into Different Languages

Translating your YouTube videos into different languages can significantly expand your audience. It allows viewers who speak different languages to understand your content and engage with it. To translate your videos, make sure you have the original captions in the video's language, usually English. Then, you can use the auto-translate feature to automatically translate your captions into other languages. However, keep in mind that auto-translate is only available for order-generated captions and not for the auto-generated ones. If you want accurate translations, it's recommended to use professional translation services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using transcripts and closed captions on YouTube can greatly enhance the viewing experience for your audience. Whether you enable automatic captions or get a professional transcript done, the benefits are undeniable. Transcripts make your content more accessible to viewers with hearing difficulties or those who speak different languages. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure your videos are accurately transcribed and reach a broader audience. So, don't overlook the importance of transcripts when creating and sharing your YouTube content.