Video Content Management - Using Audio Descriptions in Panopto


Introduction

Panopto is Virginia Tech’s chosen video content management system and video creation tool that allows users to create, share, and manage video content easily. 

Panopto is integrated into Virginia Tech’s Canvas platform, allowing instructors to record, upload, and share videos directly within Canvas. Panopto also provides tools for organizing videos, tracking engagement, and enabling students to review content.

This guide covers audio descriptions in Panopto. For additional Panopto topics, please see: Virginia Tech Panopto Resources.

Contents

Instructions

About Audio Descriptions

Audio description is an auditory track that narrates essential visual content (e.g., on-screen text, scene changes, actions) that is not described or spoken in the video’s original audio track. In the Panopto player, when a user turns on the audio description feature, the video pauses to read the audio description, then resumes playing after each description. 

Video creators can use Panopto’s audio description editor.

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Adding Audio Descriptions

Please refer to Panopto’s video on How to Add Audio Descriptions for a demonstration of Panopto’s audio description editor.

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Manually Adding Audio Descriptions

Panopto’s audio description editor lets you add visual descriptions to your videos.

  1. In Panopto, browse to the media entry and click on the video thumbnail or title.
  2. Then click Open in Editor, located in the top right.
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  3. Click on Audio Descriptions on the left toolbar.
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  4. The Audio Description Editor has:
    1. The video on the right.
    2. The audio description edit box on the left.
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  5. In the editing tool, click onthe point in the video timeline where the audio description should be read.
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  6. In the “Enter audio description” box on the left, type the audio description and hit enter. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each description.
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  7. After editing audio descriptions, select apply in the top right of the video editor.
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Uploading Audio Description File

Audio description files should be in .vtt format, which can be created using TextEdit or Notepad. The first line of the file should state WEBVTT. Please refer to the example below.

WEBVTT

1

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.107

Growley, a Labrador retriever, sits in front of a person wearing camouflage on the Virginia Tech campus. Virginia Tech Corps of Cadet uniformed students look at Growley.

2

00:00:05.107 --> 00:00:07.590

Close-up of Growley on a leash, lying on all four paws, next to the legs of Corp of Cadet members.

3

00:00:07.590 --> 00:00:12.700

Dara Qualter, Growley II Handler

4

00:00:12.700 --> 00:00:16.195

Virginia Tech campus building

5

00:00:16.195 --> 00:00:23.922

Growlly standing in a residence hall room with Dara

6

00:00:23.922 --> 00:04:03.391

Michael McCord, Growley II Handler

  1. In Panopto, browse to the video thumbnail and click on the settings wheel icon in the top right corner.
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  2. Click on Audio Descriptions on the left toolbar.
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  3. Click Import audio descriptions, then click Upload or request Audio Descriptions.
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  4. To upload the .vtt audio description file:
    1. From the dropdown, select the language of your audio description file (e.g., English (United States).
    2. Click Choose File to browse to your .vtt file.
    3. If your audio description file is based on an edited video, select this box; otherwise, leave this checkbox blank.
    4. Click Upload Audio Descriptions. 
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Playing Audio Descriptions

  1. In Panopto, browse to the media entry and select the video thumbnail or title.
  2. When audio description is available for a video, an “AD” icon will appear in the bottom-right corner of the player.
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  3. Select the AD option to play audio descriptions. Once selected, the button will no longer be grayed out. The video pauses to read the audio description, then resumes playing after each description. 
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Downloading Audio Description Files

  1. In Panopto, navigate to the video thumbnail, then select the settings wheel icon in the top-right corner.
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  2. Click on Audio Descriptions on the left toolbar.
  3. Click on the arrow (triangle) next to English.
    • Note: If the video and corresponding audio description are in a different language (e.g., Español (México) [Spanish]), the arrow will appear next to that language name.

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  4. Then click Download file to save the file to your computer.
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Getting Help

If you need help with Panopto in general:

  • Check Panopto System Status.
  • Review Panopto documentation.
  • Contact Panopto Support.
    • Click Login and sign in with your VT email address to access 24/7 support options:
      • Choose Live Chat to chat with an agent.
      • Choose More Ways to Contact Support to access support phone numbers for your region.

If you still have questions:

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