IT Services - Request Machine Captions for Kaltura Media

Overview

All videos added to Kaltura ("My Media" in Canvas or MediaSpace) after 13 June 2020 automatically have machine captions added to the entry. Kaltura entries resulting from the integration with Zoom bring Zoom's machine-generated captions with them.

If the conditions are right (see the "critical concepts" section below) Kaltura media owners and co-editors can request machine captions for their Kaltura entry.

These instructions apply to all UCSD Kaltura users (instructors, students, and staff with active directory credentials).

Users can request machine captions in both Canvas and MediaSpace.

Critical Concepts

Machine captions can be requested from a couple of different places. We're only discussing one method below.
To request new machine captions, certain conditions must be met. If they aren't met, you'll see an error message indicating that machine captions were already requested (pictured to the right). You can only request new machine captions if:
- The entry has no captions
- You've used the video editor to trim the video (either clicking "save" or "save a copy")
- The entry is a Zoom integration entry and only has Zoom's captions
You'll receive an email alert when the machine captions are complete. We've set it up that you only get an alert like this when you manually request them.
Zoom's captions identify the speaker based on their AD login. Zoom and Kaltura use different machine caption vendors. Though the accuracy between them is comparable, Zoom is able to leverage users' active directory logins to identify who is speaking in the captions. This can be handy if you have multiple speakers, but it's important to be aware of if you intend to disseminate your material more widely and students are identified in the recording.
All captions can be edited. You can use Kaltura's web-based closed caption editor or download, edit, and upload them yourself. Click on either of the two tutorials below if you're interested in learning how:
- Edit Captions on the Web for a Kaltura Video
- Edit Captions on Your Computer for a Kaltura Video
The default captions will show up in the transcript. All of the main or "default" Kaltura players have an option to display a transcript within the player. So when you add captions to an entry, they'll also appear (as a text-only version) in that in-player transcript. If you want the transcript to change, you have to edit the captions. (Alternatively, you can edit the transcript and use the machine alignment feature to create new captions. This might be a preferable option since transcripts don't have timecodes and it's easier to edit.)

Steps to Take

Watch the tutorial below on how to request machine caption within Canvas, or follow the text instructions further down to do so in either Canvas or MediaSpace.

For the first three steps, choose the column below that aligns with where you want to perform the action. All the steps afterwards are the same.

In Canvas	In MediaSpace
Log into Canvas. Go to https://canvas.ucsd.edu. Enter your active directory credentials. Within Canvas, click My Media in the left navigation. Locate the video to which you want to add captions, and click on the video's title or thumbnail. On the player page, click Actions and select Caption & Enrich.	Log into MediaSpace. Go to https://mediaspace.ucsd.edu. Click the profile icon at the top right of the page and select Login. Enter your active directory credentials. Click the profile icon again and select My Media. Locate the video to which you want to add captions, and click on the video's title or thumbnail. Below the player, click the kebab (three dots) and select Reach captions & enrich.

In Canvas

In MediaSpace

Log into Canvas.
1. Go to https://canvas.ucsd.edu.
2. Enter your active directory credentials.
Within Canvas, click My Media in the left navigation.
Locate the video to which you want to add captions, and click on the video's title or thumbnail.
On the player page, click Actions and select Caption & Enrich.

Log into MediaSpace.
1. Go to https://mediaspace.ucsd.edu.
2. Click the profile icon at the top right of the page and select Login.
3. Enter your active directory credentials.
Click the profile icon again and select My Media.
Locate the video to which you want to add captions, and click on the video's title or thumbnail.
Below the player, click the kebab (three dots) and select Reach captions & enrich.

Information should populate lower down on the screen (Canvas) or appear in a pop-up window (MediaSpace). Ensure that the following settings are selected:
1. Service: Machine
2. Source Media Language: English
3. Feature: Captions
Click Submit (Canvas) or Order (MediaSpace).

Once your captions have been added, you'll receive an email alert.

If you still have questions or need additional assistance, feel free to contact us at kaltura@ucsd.edu.