Audio description, in every language
Audio description is a second voice that tells a blind or low-vision viewer what the picture shows, in the gaps between the dialogue. It is a separate piece of writing from the subtitles, and it is read to fit the film, not the other way round.
Audio description at a glance
- Family
- Narration and immersive audio
- Languages
- Every language we cast, with the native variant of each market
- Our availability
What it is
A description track narrates actions, faces, settings and on-screen text that someone watching without sight would otherwise miss. It is written to fit the pauses in the soundtrack and read by a voice that does not compete with the actors.
What has to be described changes with the film and the audience. A thriller and a cooking show need very different descriptions, and a children’s programme needs different words again.
The rules that make description necessary, or encouraged, differ from country to country and by type of content. Check the ones that apply to the content and the market, and tell us the delivery they expect.
Decide before the booth.
What to settle for audio description before anyone records.
Who writes the description
The description is a script in its own right. Decide who writes it and who checks it. If it already exists in one language, it needs adapting to the next, not word-for-word translation.
How much to describe
Choose between a light track that fits the existing pauses and a fuller one that may need the programme paused or extended. The choice depends on the content and on where it will be played.
Tone of the voice
A neutral, clear voice usually works; for drama a more expressive voice can help. Decide it before casting, and keep the voice distinct from the main characters.
Names, places and on-screen text
List the names of characters and places and how they are said, and decide whether text on screen is read aloud and in which language.
Delivery
Say whether you need the voice alone, mixed with the original sound, or both, and ask your platform or broadcaster for its technical requirements before recording.
Where it is used
- Film, series and broadcastDescription tracks delivered alongside the programme, in the language of each market where it is released.
- Corporate and training videoInternal and public videos that need to be usable by every employee or visitor, whatever they can see.
- Museums, exhibitions and eventsDescriptions of objects, rooms and routes, close to an audio guide but written for people who cannot see what is described.
- Websites and appsNarrated descriptions of video and interactive content where a text alternative alone is not enough.
Audio description: questions
Is audio description the same as subtitles or captions?
No. Captions put the dialogue and sounds into text for people who cannot hear. Audio description puts the picture into speech for people who cannot see it, and it needs its own script.
Can you record a description we have already written?
Send the script and the video, and say which language it is in. If it was written for another language, it needs adapting for the market before it is recorded.
Do I need to pause the video?
Not always. A light track is written to fit the pauses that already exist. A fuller description may need extra time, which depends on the platform and has to be decided before the script is final.
Brief audio description
It takes a few short questions. We reply with voice options and a quote for each market.
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