Closed captioning has become an essential standard for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. Yet its equally important counterpart, audio description, often remains overlooked.
Audio description provides narrated commentary that describes the essential visual elements of a film or television program, such as "actions, characters, scene changes, and on-screen text that are important and are not described or spoken in the main soundtrack." ~ WCAG 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) Level AA. Here's a great example that also defines audio description:Creating High-Quality Audio Descriptions
When scripting your video for audio descriptions, remember that the core function of audio description is to provide a clear and objective verbal account of what is visible, not assumptions or interpretations. In other words, avoid narrative assertions and inferences—remain objective, never subjective.
The image below from Perkins School for the Blind describes the difference between "What You See Is What You Say" (WYSIWYS) and inferences.
Inference: Andy stands in the rain. His arms are open, embracing his new freedom. He has a look of euphoria and relief on his face.
WYSIWYS: Andy stands in the pouring rain. He holds his arms outstretched, his head tilted back and his eyes are closed.
Courtesy of Perkins School for the Blind, Audio Descriptions: Best Practices (PPT)
Creating a Quality Audio Description
What to Describe
Remember you are describing elements of the presentation that are
"not described or spoken in the main soundtrack." Those elements would be:
- People on screen - Names of characters when they appear, physical descriptions (hair color, clothing), and notable facial expressions.
- Actions and movements - What characters are doing, how they are moving, and significant gestures.
- Scene changes - When the setting changes, describe the new location and key visual elements.
- On-screen text - Any important text that appears on screen. For example, a title card with the movie title and credits, a speaker's name appearing on the screen, or key points displayed as text during a presentation.
- Context awareness - Describe elements relevant to the scene and plot development.
How to Describe
- Be Concise - Descriptions should be brief and include only essential visual details using descriptive, accurate, and appropriate language.
- Natural pauses - Insert descriptions during the natural pauses in the dialogue.
- Terminology - Avoid technical terms unless necessary. Do not use phrases such as "we see" or "as you can see."
Now that we have a more precise definition of audio description and some best practices, take a look and listen to this example from The Hunger Games. See what best practices you can identify.
Audio descriptions are crucial in making entertainment and information accessible to people with visual impairments. Crafting effective audio descriptions, however, requires careful attention and practice. The best practices described in the post are not an exhaustive list but are a great place to start.
Resources
- The Audio Description Project
- Audio Description: Best Practices (PPT)
- The Ultimate Guide to Audio Description
- Described and Media Captioned Media Program
- When to Use Audio Description on Your Content
- 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) Level AA
- Turning Sights into Sounds: The Art of Audio Descriptions
- Does Your Video Need Extended or Standard Description?
- Audio Description Quality: Best Practices and Legal Standards