Before you export, check the generated text against the original recording. Treat the recording as the final word, not the text file. If you are making SRT captions, also play the video with the captions turned on to confirm each caption shows up with the speech it belongs to.

Hold the file if any mismatch is still unresolved. A transcript or caption file that exported cleanly may still have errors. It becomes usable once you have reviewed it against the source.

Choose the Review That Matches Your Export

Your file type decides how much review it needs. A transcript-only file like a plain text document is just words, so its review focuses entirely on checking wording against the recording. Timing does not apply because a plain transcript has no on-screen cue points.

SRT captions need more than accurate words. Check synchronization, reading pace, speaker identification, and meaningful sounds as well. A cue can match the speech and still be too dense to read or omit context a viewer needs.

Pick your path before you start. If you only need a transcript, the next section covers everything. If you need SRT captions, do the text check first and the playback check second. Fixing words first means you won’t have to re-time a line you are about to rewrite.

Review	What must pass
Source accuracy	Names, numbers, terminology, and meaning match the recording.
Playback	Cues align with speech and allow enough reading time.
Accessibility and display	Identify speakers and relevant sounds; check line breaks and placement in the target player.

Compare Transcript Text With the Recording

To review the text, play the original recording and read the transcript along with it line by line. Mark any spot where the words on the page fail to match what you hear. Never trust text just because it reads smoothly, as a natural-sounding sentence can still be incorrect.

In its closed-captioning process, DCMP recommends comparing indirect transcripts with the original audio and correcting scripts that do not match what was said. Generated transcripts belong in that same group. They are a draft made from the recording, not the recording itself.

As you follow along, watch for the kinds of differences that change meaning:

1. Words that were swapped for similar-sounding words
2. Words or phrases that were dropped or added
3. Names, product terms, or numbers that don’t match what was said
4. Text in the wrong language, or a passage that switches language partway through

Fix each mismatch in the transcript, or flag it as unresolved if you can’t tell what was said. Once you’ve corrected a section, replay it to confirm the new text matches the audio. A transcript passes this check when you’ve worked through the whole recording and no flagged spots remain open.

Check SRT Captions in Playback

Reading an SRT file won’t show you its timing. The file lists text and timestamps, but you can only see whether a caption lines up with the speech by watching the two together. So the timing check happens in playback, with the video running and the captions visible on screen.

DCMP’s captioning guidance covers synchronization, readable presentation, speaker identification, and relevant sound effects. Watch with captions visible: check that cues follow the right speaker, remain readable, and communicate sounds needed to understand the scene.

Note the spot for every cue that doesn’t line up with its speech, and fix the timing before moving on. No single number defines “close enough” for every project. Judge each cue by whether it matches the speech it belongs to. Pay extra attention when speakers change, when someone talks fast, and after long pauses. Those are the moments when a caption that lines up with the wrong speech is easiest to spot.

The same DCMP process notes that automated tools can check spelling, reading rate, and technical timing errors. If your caption tool has those checks, they help as a first pass. They don’t replace watching, though, because the playback review is where you see how the captions actually look against the video.

Ready or Hold: Decide Whether to Export

Export when the source review and the checks for your format are complete. For captions, confirm accurate meaning, timing, reading pace, speaker changes, and relevant non-speech sounds. Check the final player too: SRT styling and positioning support varies, so the text file alone cannot prove the captions will display well.

Hold the file while an unclear word, timing problem, missing speaker cue, or readability issue remains unresolved. Fix it and replay the affected section. If captions need concise wording for readability, preserve the meaning and follow the project’s captioning standard rather than silently changing what was said.

Passing this caption review doesn’t guarantee a perfect file. It does mean the file has been checked against its source, which is what makes it usable.

FAQs

What should I do when a word stays unclear after several listens?

Don’t guess and move on. Mark the spot so it stays open, then try another source for the word, such as the speaker, a script, meeting notes, or the correct spelling of a name. If you still can’t confirm it, decide how your project should show unclear speech before you export. Either way, fix that spot on purpose so the error doesn’t slip through.

Can automated checks replace watching the captions?

No. DCMP describes automated tools as useful for spelling, reading-rate, and technical timing checks. It still calls for watching the video with captions on to catch errors. Use automated checks to find obvious problems quickly, then do the playback review to see how the captions really look.

Besides timing, what else should I watch for on screen?

DCMP’s playback review also looks for captions that cover graphics or the speaker’s mouth. If a caption hides on-screen text, a chart, or a face, viewers lose information even when the words and timing are correct. Note those spots while you watch so you can fix them alongside any timing issues.

Do I need to review the whole file again after making a fix?

Usually you only need to review the part you changed, not the whole file. Replay the edited section with the recording to confirm the new wording matches. For SRT captions, also confirm the corrected cue still lines up with the speech. If an edit changes timing across many cues, replay all of those cues before you export.