Audio Description
Audio Description
Audio description is the narration of essential visual content that cannot be understood from a recording’s original audio track alone (e.g., on-screen text, scene changes, actions). Other names for audio description include “video description” and “descriptive narration.” Audio description makes visual content accessible for various audiences, including:
Users who are blind or have low vision
People who have difficulty processing visual information
Those who cannot see a screen due to environmental factors (e.g., glare, low lighting)
Language learners
Terminology
When discussing and considering the need for audio description, it’s helpful to establish a shared understanding of terms.
Audio refers to the transmission of sound
Audio description is the narration of essential visual information that is incomprehensible from the main soundtrack by itself
Integrated audio description describes visuals as they appear and/or change in a video (e.g., stating aloud “E equals m c squared” as you write E=MC2).
Standard audio description describes visual content during existing pauses without extending the video’s duration by adding an additional audio track.
Extended audio description pauses the video to provide additional descriptions of visual content, increasing the video’s overall runtime.
Examples
Integrated Audio Description
By verbally stating essential visual information in real time, narrators can integrate audio description so that additional audio does not need to be added later. In the 2026 State of the University, President Sands integrated audio description by verbally stating the projected words accompanying his address:
2026 State of the University from 12:28 to 13:13
Standard Audio Description
When videos lack description of essential visual information in the original audio track and have natural pauses for which to insert description, standard audio description works well. In Disney’s Frozen Teaser Trailer, a user who cannot see the visuals would not know what was happening in the following clip.
Disney’s Frozen Teaser Trailer - Without Audio Description
By adding audio description to the natural pauses in the following clip, users can access vital visual information, allowing them to understand the interaction between the two characters.
Frozen - Trailer with Audio Description
Extended Audio Description
When recorded videos lack description of essential visual information in the original audio track and do not have natural pauses to insert description, extended audio description is necessary. When enabled, extended audio description adds additional time to the length of a video.
Panopto allows video creators to add extended audio description to post-production videos. In Virginia Tech’s video, Celebrating National Therapy Animal Day with Virginia Tech’s Therapy Dogs, extended audio description provides access to essential visual information in the video:
Celebrating National Therapy Animal Day with Virginia Tech’s Therapy Dogs
Determining Necessity
Videos that describe essential visual information in the main audio track do not need additional audio description. Videos that omit or fail to convey essential visual information in the main audio track benefit from standard or extended audio description. Virginia Tech’s video content management system, Panopto, allows users to incorporate extended audio description.
Please use the flowchart below to determine if a video needs standard or extended audio description:
What to Describe
The purpose of the visuals in a video dictates the content of the description. It is important to narrate all visual information necessary to understand the video’s content. Examples of essential visual information may include:
On-screen text
Text written on a whiteboard/chalkboard
Scene/environment changes
Chacters
Action/movement
Passage of time
How to Describe
The Web Accessibility Initiative and The Described and Captioned Media Program provide important guidelines for describing visual information. These guidelines include:
Use active voice in third-person narrative style with complete sentences.
Describe information before or in conjunction with its appearance (never after the visual leaves the screen).
Match the vocabulary and language of the presentation.
Use clear pronunciation and an understandable pace.
Be objective (do not interpret emotions or actions).
Read aloud all on-screen text.
Only use technical language after it has been introduced or in conjunction with expected prerequisite knowledge.
When adding extended audio description, be concise, and consider both the overall video length and the level of description needed to convey the purpose of the visual information.
Additional Resources
Questions
Please email assist@vt.edu with any questions about audio descriptions.