Caption settings
Caption defaults, errors and warnings
Captions and subtitles often have pre-defined specifications, especially for broadcast use. This can include how long a subtitle lasts on screen for, or how many characters it has. In CaptionHub, we refer to this specification as Limits. CaptionHub helps you create technically accurate captions by continually checking that your captions obey these limits.
Language profiles make it easier to set and manage limits for individual languages.
These limits include:
- Maximum caption duration
- Minimum caption duration
- Maximum characters per line
- Maximum line count
- Minimum frames between captions
- Maximum reading speed (either WPM or CPS)
- Whether to require completed metadata
- Whether to convert quotes in captions to curly/smart quotes
Note: You can apply these limits to T1 only, or to both T1 and T2, by selecting your preferred option under Apply limits to at the top of the limits list.
If your captions fail to meet any of these criteria, then your team won't be able to approve them.
You're also able to specify whether to enforce curly quotes, for stylistic purposes. If you'd prefer not to enforce curly quotes, then leave this button unticked.
You're able to specify default limits in Team Settings. This means that every new set of captions you create will default to these limits. You're able to override these limits from the Edit limits option in the drop-down menu on the Edit page.
Default caption style
If you’ve created a template with your preferred caption formatting, you can select it as the default for your team using the Default caption style dropdown menu.
You can learn more about format templates here.
Language profiles for caption settings
We've introduced language profiles to give you greater flexibility in managing caption settings across different languages. Previously, caption settings such as character limits and reading speeds applied globally across all languages. With this update, you can now define settings per language and per project, allowing for more accurate and localised captions.
What’s new?
- Language-specific caption settings
Set character limits, reading speed, and other constraints tailored to each language.
- Multiple language profiles
Create different profiles for different use cases (e.g., regular videos vs. portrait format).
- Profile-based automation
Apply specific profiles to transcriptions, translations, and automation workflows.
Getting started with language profiles
1. Accessing language profiles
- Navigate to Team settings > Caption settings
- Click “Manage language profile“
- This opens the settings for the selected profile, including the Language Defaults and any Language Overrides currently applied.
2. Creating and configuring a new profile
- Click “Duplicate profile“
- Give your profile a descriptive name
2.1 Set default caption rules (Language Defaults)
- In the Language Defaults section, define the base caption settings for the profile.
- These defaults will apply to all languages unless overridden.
2.2 Add language-specific overrides
- Go to the Language Overrides section
- Click “+ Add language override“
- Select the target language(s) for customisation
- Modify settings such as:
- Max characters per line
- Characters per second (CPS)
- Number of lines, etc.
- Click Save Changes
Note: Once saved, the override will move out of the default language settings and be marked as a “Language Override“
3. Applying a language profile
- Go to Team settings > Caption settings
- Under Default Language Profile, select the profile you'd like to apply across your team
4. Choosing a language profile for your project
- You can choose which Language profile to apply when creating a project by selecting it from the drop-down menu.
- If you are using an automation template, you can select your desired Language profile from the drop-down menu in the Project tab of the template.
Migration note
Your existing caption settings have already been migrated. We recommend reviewing this profile to ensure it aligns with your organisation’s language-specific requirements.