How do you proof automatic captions for a product video?

Start from the final audio

For an illustrative narrated pouch clip, a speech recognizer might turn a model name into a common word or confuse “does not include” with “does include.” Listen to the final edit while reading its captions. Do not proof captions against an earlier voiceover that was replaced during editing.

This guide reviews captions for the final externally edited audio, whatever tools produced the source clip. Check the actual selected workflow rather than assume the file is silent. W3C explains that captions represent speech and relevant non-speech audio; a promotional text overlay has a different role.

Use a high-risk token list

Keep the list short and specific to the clip. The point is to direct attention to errors that affect product understanding, not to replace a full listen.

Inspect timing and reading

Play at normal speed on a phone. Check that captions appear with the corresponding speech, remain long enough to read and do not cover the relevant product action. Correct punctuation where it helps comprehension without changing the speaker’s meaning.

Approve the exported version

Inspect the exact file or caption track uploaded to the destination. Verify the final audio and subtitle language selection together. Keep the corrected caption file with its edit version. Read track versus overlay choices and audio claim review for related decisions.

Correct a transcript, then approve its meaning

Fictional final audio says “Arlo Mini, two pouches; stand not included.” The automatic draft reads “our low mini, two couches; stand included.” This is an invented comparison, not output from a speech-recognition service.

If the final audio itself gives an incorrect quantity, making captions faithfully repeat it does not approve the claim. Correct the audio and captions together, then replay the exact revised export. Replacing narration or shortening the edit invalidates the earlier timing approval. Keep relevant nonspeech information where needed to understand the audio; a promotional slogan is not the whole caption track.