[REVIEW: Verify against live product before announcing.]
Audio descriptions are a spoken narration of visual information that is not conveyed by the existing audio. They are required for WCAG 2.1/2.2 Success Criterion 1.2.5 (Audio Description, Prerecorded) at Level AA when the video contains visual information that matters to the viewer's understanding.
When you need them
Audio descriptions are required when something visible in the video is necessary to understand the content and is not described in the dialogue. Common examples:
- A diagram or whiteboard sequence the speaker references but does not read aloud
- A silent demonstration of a product feature
- On-screen text that the dialogue does not repeat
- Action that drives the story (someone enters or leaves a room without dialogue acknowledging it)
You do not need audio descriptions when the existing dialogue already covers everything visually significant.
How they are produced
There are three common approaches:
| Approach | What it is | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated narration | Write the script so the narrator describes visual elements naturally | No separate track; works well for tutorials |
| Recorded second track | A separate audio track with description added in the gaps between dialogue | Standard approach; needs an editor to fit narration into pauses |
| Extended audio descriptions | Pause the video to allow longer descriptions where the dialogue leaves no room | WCAG AAA; supported by few players |
On VideoPlayer.ai
VideoPlayer.ai accepts a separate audio-described version uploaded as its own video. The standard pattern is to publish two videos side by side and let viewers pick the one they need. Multi-track audio in a single video file is not yet supported on the player.
For tutorials and explainers, integrated narration is usually the simplest path. Write your script so the narrator describes visual elements as they happen. This avoids the production overhead of a second track.
What is not auto-generated
Audio descriptions are not auto-generated by VideoPlayer.ai. Producers must write and record them.