Updates to Kaltura automatic machine captions
In preparation for the new federal and state requirements for digital accessibility (opens new window) that will take effect in April 2026, media files added to Kaltura My Media and Media Gallery after January 5, 2026 will be automatically machine captioned.
Tip: Beginning on February 6, 2026, automatic language detection will also be enabled for a pilot period of one year. This means that each media file uploaded or recorded with speech in a language supported by Kaltura ASR (opens new window) should have machine captions automatically generated using the first language spoken within the file.
YouTube videos added to Kaltura will continue to be automatically captioned in English.
Important: If your media file has speech in a language supported by Kaltura ASR (opens new window) and the captions file was generated in the incorrect language, please contact the Learning Technology Services (LTS) team at [email protected] to report the issue. Please include the name of the affected media file in your email.
Why will this change be made?
Captions and transcripts make video and audio files accessible to students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or learning in noisy or quiet spaces. They also help all learners follow along, understand better, and review key points more easily.
Automatically captioning media files will reduce the steps required for you to provide captions for your content, as the captions will be available for you to review and edit shortly after your media is uploaded or recorded. For steps to review and edit captions, see How do I edit captions in My Media? (opens new window).
What if I have media in a language other than English?
If your video or audio file includes non-English speech, check if the captions file was created in the correct language. Each media file you upload or record with speech in a language supported by Kaltura ASR (opens new window) should have machine captions automatically generated in the first language spoken within the file. YouTube videos added to Kaltura will be automatically captioned in English.
If the captions file is in the correct language, follow the steps in How do I edit captions in My Media? (opens new window) to review and edit the captions.
If the captions file is in the incorrect language, follow the steps to request captions in the appropriate language (opens new window). Then, hide the incorrect auto-captions file from viewers and review and edit the captions in the other language by following the steps in How do I edit captions in My Media? (opens new window).
What if my file cannot be automatically captioned?
If a media file only includes audio that cannot be automatically captioned, for example, music, sound effects, or speech in a language that is not listed on the Kaltura ASR captioning services overview page (opens new window), an empty English auto-captions file will be generated. You will need to edit this file to create the captions and add timestamps. If the file only includes instrumental music or sound effects, include a description of the audio, for example, "[Smooth jazz music]."
For additional details, see How do I add captions to an empty captions file in My Media? (opens new window).