Best Practices for Post-Production and Emerging Forms of Audio Description

1. Best Practices for
Post-Production
and Emerging
Forms of Audio
Description
Robert Pearson
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
May 20th, 2014

2. Agenda
1. Overview
2. Background and Experience
3. Financial Model
4. Described Video (DV) and Roadmap
5. Post-Production DV Best Practices
6. Live DV Best Practices
7. Embedded, Multilingual and Digital

3. Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
Make accessible media for all Canadians
• Overview

4. Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
• AMI-audio; news and information with local
and original programs
• AMI-tv; open described, closed captioned TV
• AMI-tv Français; in French
• AMI.ca http://www.ami.ca/
• DV Guide http://www.ami.ca/dvguide/

5. Making Television Accessible to
Everyone:
The Canadian Experience
Most studies show that blind and visually
impaired persons watch TV as much as
sighted persons. This G3ict White Paper
Business Case Series, published by G3ict in
June 2013, is researched in cooperation with
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
http://g3ict.org/resource_center/publication
s_and_reports/p/productCategory_studies/s
ubCat_13/id_287

6. AMI-tv
• The worlds first and only open described,
closed captioned digital TV service
• Available with basic digital package at no
additional cost
• Broadcasts popular movies and TV series
(Canadian and American) with open
description and closed captioning

7. AMI-tv
• Broadcast Simulcast and describe live major
events and popular programs such as the Royal
Wedding, a Canadian reality show, Toronto Blue
Jays Baseball and the Paralympics
• Produce and broadcast original content
• Blind and low vision reporters offering a unique
perspective with relevant content through a
positive portrayal

8. Financial Model
• Per subscriber
– AMI-audio: $0.04
– AMI-tv: $0.20
– AMI-tv en Français: $0.28
• AMI-tv en Français paid in Francophone
markets, but distributed nationally
• Not-for-profit, everything invested back
• Largest costs are for acquiring and describing
Canadian broadcast content

9. In Canada, it’s Described Video
• Described video (DV) is a narrated description
of a program's main visual elements, such as
settings, costumes, or body language
• Works best for pre-recorded programs, such
as dramas and documentaries
• Described video uses a separate audio track

10. Description Roadmap
Timeline
• April 2011 to June 2012
– Described Video Working Group
• June 2012 to June 2013
– Post-Production Described Video Best Practices
• January 2014 to June 2014
– Live Described Video Best Practices
• 2014: Embedded, Multi-lingual, Digital

11. Post-Production DV Examples
AMI YouTube Channel
• AMI Old House
• AMI Diner
• Industry PSA
• Murdoch Mysteries

12. • Member from 14
organizations (Community
Groups, Broadcasters,
Producers, Description
Houses, Canadian
Association of Broadcasters)
• Described Video Best
Practices; Artistic and
Technical Guidelines
submitted to the CRTC in
July 2013
http://www.ami.ca/media-
accessibility/Pages/Described-
Video-Best-Practices.aspx
Post-Production DV Best Practices

13. Post-Production DV Best Practices
Artistic Guidelines
1. Individual/Physical Characteristics
2. Scene Transitions
3. Visual Effects
4. Non-verbal Sounds/Communications
5. Titles, Subtitles , Credits, Text on
Screen, Signing
6. Style and Tone
Technical Guidelines
1. Channels
2. Loudness & peak levels
3. Soundtrack vs. DV mix levels
4. Equalization
5. Sync
6. Recording quality
7. Output parameters

14. Industry adopted Described Video Best Practices
+
Internally developed guidelines based upon the
unique experiences of each producer
=
Consistent and good quality DV in Canada
Post-Production DV Best Practices

15. Live DV Best Practices
• The Live Described Video Best Practices are an
extension of the Post-Production Described
Video Best Practices.
• Royal Wedding
• Blue Jays Baseball

16. Live DV Best Practices
• The describer is an actor who is a narrator.
• Role of the Describer
• Logistical
1. Research
2. Physical Location
3. Producer, Describer Relationship
4. Characteristics of a Live Event
5. Handling the Unexpected
• Technical

17. Embedded DV (EDV) Best Practices
• EDV is an experimental method of creating
described video, whereby the identification of
key visual elements are incorporated into the
original production of the program, such that
traditional DV is not required
• The program is produced from the onset in
consultation and collaboration with an
experienced describer in order for blind and
visually impaired audiences to understand and
enjoy it without the addition of traditional DV

18. Embedded DV (EDV) Best Practices
DV EDV
Separate narration track No separate narration track
Altered delivery format One delivery format
Executed after program is
packaged
Executed throughout production
Factors:
o Scriptwriting and narration
Factors:
o Scriptwriting, narration,
talking heads, dialogue,
translations, sound effects,
background noise, music,
lyrics, and the space between
all of the above

19. Multi-Lingual DV Best Practices
• AMI-tv en Français
• Working with French broadcasters in Canada
to gain insight into the nuances of French
programming that may need to be considered
• Everything for French has been considered in
the English Post-Production document

20. Digital DV Best Practices
• An Accessible Media Player
• Video, Audio, Captioning, Description
– Turn all of them on and turn all of them off
• A generic solution to ensure accurate output
of a separate audio track.
• Embedded Description considerations.

21. Described Video TV Guide

22. Contact
• Robert.Pearson@ami.ca
• http://www.ami.ca
• Twitter: @a11ymedia
• Facebook: Accessible Media Inc.
• YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/accessiblemedia/