Harvard University – Captioning, Transcription, and Audio Description

Accuracy and Quality

3Play Media provides closed captions and transcripts that are at least 99% accurate, even in cases of poor audio quality, multiple speakers, difficult content, and accents. All of our work is done in the U.S. by professional transcriptionists who are native English speakers. We specialize in educational content and our staff of 800+ transcriptionists have expertise across many different domains. Custom vocabulary and instructions can be added for every file, which further improves accuracy and quality. Learn more

Integrated with Lecture Capture and Video Platforms

3Play Media is integrated with many different video players, platforms, and lecture capture systems. You can also use our flexible APIs to build your own automated workflows. Learn more

Audio Description

3Play Media provides high-quality, competitively priced audio description services for online video. Once your media files have been uploaded to our system, your audio description will be created by professional describers who utilize our unique workflow, process, and advanced technology. Learn more

Interactive Transcript

In addition to captions and transcripts, you have the option to add an interactive transcript, which lets users interact with your video in an entirely new way. Users can search the video and navigate by clicking on any word to jump to that exact point. It’s even possible to share sections of a video by simply highlighting the text. Learn more

Captioning of Sensitive Data

Harvard’s agreement with 3Play Media includes provisions for captioning of sensitive data, such as Data Security Level 4, Personal Identifiable Information (PII), or HIPAA. 3Play takes extra precautions to ensure this content is secure resulting in a slightly higher rate for PII projects (see pricing table), while still receiving discount pricing under the agreement. To request this type of 3Play Project, indicate the requirement on the form below. Learn more about 3Play Media Security.

Academic Video Captioning

3Play Media offers additionally discounted pricing on 1 Business Day and 2 Business Day turnaround times for the captioning of recorded academic content. 3Play Projects can easily be linked to Panopto or Kaltura accounts, allowing for efficient application of professional captioning to a recorded file. For those interested, fill out the online form at the bottom of the page and indicate your interest in course video captioning.

Captioning and Transcription Services Pricing Tiers 📺

*The prices quoted here are contingent on Company choosing the standard turnaround option, which is four (4) business days. Should Company choose a faster turnaround time or other options, Company acknowledges and agrees that Company shall be subject to additional charges, as outlined below.

Live Captioning 

Additional Options

Audio Description 🔉

Audio description is an accommodation for blind and low-vision viewers that narrates the critical visual information in a video to provide context, clarify speakers, and articulate visual elements. We offer standard and extended description. With the standard description service, descriptions fit into natural pauses in the video’s audio track. With our extended service, the descriptions are not constrained to the natural pauses of a video. The extended service inserts pauses in the video to make room for descriptions, as needed.

Vertical Caption Placement

Vertical Caption Placement is a service provided by 3Play Media to help overcome instances when onscreen text or other important visual content may become obstructed by captions. This service is referred to as Vertical Caption Placement because affected caption frames will move up or down on a vertical axis in case important visual content is present where the captions would otherwise be. 

Additional Resources 📚

• Captioning and transcription services
• Automated transcript alignment (captioning only)
• Import existing captions & subtitles
• Integrations with video players, platforms, and lecture capture systems
• Translation and multilingual subtitles
• Interactive transcript + video search tools
• Captions and subtitles editor
• Web-based account system
• Support documentation