ADLAB PRO Course Materials

• Original video, MP4

  64 MB

• Original video, WebM

  50 MB

• Accessible video

  MP4, 52 MB

(An animation.)

Hello. I'm an animated character of a woman with shoulder-length red hair.
I have big eyes, and I'm dressed in a figure-hugging dress.
I'm your host for this ADLAB PRO introduction to Module 1.

(The screen turns black.)

Module 1 will provide you with a general introduction
to audio description, or AD for short.
It contains ten units: audio-visual texts, defining AD, research, related services,
process, audience, guidelines, central AD issues,
voicing and legislation.
Since AD is woven into existing audio-visual texts,
whether they be films or live events, you first need to know how these function.
After that, you learn what defines AD and analyse how its typical features
work in interaction with the text or setting into which it is integrated.
You will understand why research has been essential
in figuring out how to optimize AD for those who produce it and those who use it.
And also in designing the additional services
that can be used in combination with AD
to further enhance the user's cultural experience.
You will get a very good idea of how AD is produced,
keeping the needs of its target audiences in mind,
and learn about the benefits and limitations of AD guidelines,
as well as the challenges involved in writing the AD script
and its subsequent voicing.
The unit ends on the role of legislation and where AD stands today.
On completion of Module 1, you will be ready to explore specific aspects of AD
at a more advanced level.

(On-screen text: Module 1. General introduction. Introductory video. Prepared by: Aline Remael, University of Antwerp. Designed and edited by: Darko Osterc, RTV Slovenija. Voiced by: Mojca Mavec, RTV Slovenija. The ADLAB PRO logo.)

VOICE-OVER: The preparation of this video was supported by ADLAB PRO,
Audio Description: A Laboratory for the Development of a New Professional Profile,
financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme,
Key Action 2 - Strategic Partnerships,
Project number

2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

(On-screen text: The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.)

• Original video, MP4

  68 MB

• Original video, WebM

  39 MB

• Accessible video

  MP4, 54 MB

(An animation.)

Hello. I'm an animated character of a woman with shoulder-length red hair.
I have big eyes, and I'm dressed in a figure-hugging dark dress.
I'm your host for this ADLAB PRO introduction to Module 2.

(The screen turns black.)

Module 2 deals with screen AD, and it contains ten units.
Films and genres, process, software, characters, time and space,
culture, language, film language, audio introductions and recording.
This module is about audio description for recorded content,
mainly films and television programmes.
In it, we will walk through the process of creating AD for a screen,
tell you how film genre impacts AD style
and what software we can use to facilitate the process of AD creation.
You will also find out about the different types of film characters
and how to treat them in AD.
In screen AD, it is essential to keep the audience informed
of where and when the action is taking place.
You will be presented with a range of strategies on how to do that.
You will also find out how to explain cultural elements
to persons with sight loss, so that they can understand foreign concepts in a film.
We will explain how to make the language of your AD vivid, clear,
and easy to visualize.
We will also talk about film language, that is, the different shot types
and film editing techniques, and how to reflect them in AD.
In some cases, an audio described film is preceded with an audio introduction.
You will find out what elements it usually includes.
And finally, you will learn about the last step in AD creation
which is recording and mixing AD with the existing soundtrack.
We do hope you will learn useful and interesting things
from the module on screen AD.

(On-screen text: Module 2. Screen Audio Description. Introductory video. Prepared by: Iwona Mazur, UAM. Designed and edited by: Darko Osterc, RTV Slovenija. Voiced by: Mojca Mavec, RTV Slovenija. The ADLAB PRO logo.)

VOICE-OVER: The preparation of this video was supported by ADLAB PRO,
Audio Description: A Laboratory for the Development of a New Professional Profile,
financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme,
Key Action 2 - Strategic Partnerships,
Project number

2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

(On-screen text: The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.)

• Original video, MP4

  65 MB

• Original video, WebM

  49 MB

• Accessible video

  MP4, 49 MB

(An animation.)

Hello. I'm an animated character of a woman with shoulder-length red hair.
I have big eyes, and I'm dressed in a figure-hugging dark dress.
I'm your host for this ADLAB PRO introduction to Module 3.
Module 3 deals with live events. It contains ten units.
Live performances, technical skills, content selection, scripting, touch tours,
workflow, evaluation, dance and opera, audio introductions and innovation.
An audio description for a live event differs from AD for screen in several ways.
Often, the describer delivers their own script live
and operates simple sound equipment.
You may work closely with persons with sight loss,
especially if there's a touch tour.
The workflow can extend over several weeks
and includes writing an audio introduction, as well as your AD script.
You might need to describe the reactions of the audience,
as well as the actions on stage.
As the action might change, you have to be prepared to improvise.
Opera and dance can be especially challenging.
Both are essentially nonverbal.
Ballet, for example, tells a story without words.
Opera has words, but often in a language that the audience doesn't understand.
So, opera AD shares similarities with audio subtitling.
AD of live events is constantly evolving.
In some countries, it is becoming more integrated,
so that the describer works with members of the artistic team
to convey a more visceral experience.
You will learn more about all these aspects in Module 3.

(On-screen text: Module 3. Live events. Introductory video. Prepared by: Louise Fryer, Utopian Voices. Designed and edited by: Darko Osterc, RTV Slovenija. Voiced by: Mojca Mavec, RTV Slovenija. The ADLAB PRO logo.)

VOICE-OVER: The preparation of this video was supported by ADLAB PRO,
Audio Description: A Laboratory for the Development of a New Professional Profile,
financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme,
Key Action 2 - Strategic Partnerships,
Project number

2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

(On-screen text: The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.)

• Original video, MP4

  55 MB

• Original video, WebM

  30 MB

• Accessible video

  MP4, 45 MB

(An animation.)

Hello. I'm an animated character of a woman with shoulder-length red hair.
I have big eyes, and I'm dressed in a figure-hugging dark dress.
I'm your host for this ADLAB PRO introduction to Module 4.
Module 4 deals with semi-live, live or recorded AD
for static arts and environments, and it contains ten units.
Static arts, museums, AD for static arts, strategies,
live and recorded AD, AD directions, tactile explorations, descriptive tours,
stakeholders and research. This module is about art description.
Besides defining static arts, new museums and new audiences,
it will teach you the strategies to describe an artwork,
both in isolation and embedded in a descriptive tour.
Module 4 will also illustrate the main features of touch
as a way of communicating and experiencing art.
And it will walk you through the many steps
that contribute to the creation of descriptive tours and touch tours.
It also tackles both live and recorded ADs,
in order to provide a comprehensive picture of art AD
and to make you more independent in your future activity as an art AD expert.
Module 4 closes with a focus on stakeholders
and on the endless research topics that can be studied
in this fascinating subcategory of AD.
We do hope you will learn useful and interesting things
from the module on live, semi-live or recorded AD.

(On-screen text: Module 4. (Semi-)live or recorded AD for static arts and environments. Introductory video. Prepared by: Elisa Perego, UNITS. Designed and edited by: Darko Osterc, RTV Slovenija. Voiced by: Mojca Mavec, RTV Slovenija. The ADLAB PRO logo.)

VOICE-OVER: The preparation of this video was supported by ADLAB PRO,
Audio Description: A Laboratory for the Development of a New Professional Profile,
financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme,
Key Action 2 - Strategic Partnerships,
Project number

2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

(On-screen text: The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.)

• Original video, MP4

  60 MB

• Original video, WebM

  12 MB

• Accessible video

  MP4, 47 MB

(An animation.)

Hello. I'm an animated character of a woman with shoulder-length red hair.
I have big eyes, and I'm dressed in a figure-hugging dark dress.
I'm your host for this ADLAB PRO introduction to Module 5.

(The screen turns black.)

Module 5: Additional services.
Module 5 deals with additional services, and it contains three units.
Audio subtitling, dubbing and voice-over.
An audio description can be created
for content originally produced in the same language.
For instance, an English audio description for a film in English.
However, an audio description can also be created
for content originally produced in another language
and transferred to the audience through subtitling, dubbing or voice-over.
The transfer mode chosen has an impact on the audio description,
and this is what you will learn in this module.
When subtitles are used to translate foreign content,
you need to know how to make those subtitles accessible
for those who cannot read or see them. This is called audio subtitling.
In this module, you will learn what audio subtitling is,
the scenarios in which is it used,
the main standards that regulate its practice
and its integration with audio description, among other features.
When the original track is re-voiced to translate foreign content,
either by means of dubbing or voice-over,
there are other challenges for the audio describers.
In this module, we will explain the main features of dubbing and voice-over
and how they affect the audio describer's job.

(On-screen text: Module 5. Introductory video. Prepared by: Anna Matamala, UAB. Designed and edited by: Darko Osterc, RTV SLO. Voiced by: Mojca Mavec, RTV SLO. The ADLAB PRO logo.)

VOICE-OVER: The preparation of this video was supported by ADLAB PRO,
Audio Description: A Laboratory for the Development of a New Professional Profile,
financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme,
Key Action 2 - Strategic Partnerships,
Project number

2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

(On-screen text: The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.)

• Original video, MP4

  56 MB

• Original video, WebM

  19 MB

• Accessible video

  MP4, 49 MB

(An animation.)

Hello. I'm an animated character of a woman with shoulder-length red hair.
I have big eyes, and I'm dressed in a figure-hugging dark dress.
I'm your host for this ADLAB PRO introduction to Module 6.

(The screen turns black.)

Module 6 deals with additional technical issues, developments and change,
and it contains seven units.
Technology for consumption, technology for delivery, translation,
text-to-speech, crowdsourcing, new services and audiences
and accessible productions.
This module will allow you to learn a bit more about diverse topics.
You will learn about the different technological possibilities
of consuming and delivering audio description, audio introductions
and audio subtitles.
You will learn about the challenges of translating audio descriptions
and you will discuss how translation and text-to-speech technologies
can be integrated in the process.
You will also get familiar with crowdsourcing
and how it can be implemented in audio description.
You will know about new domains of applications for audio description
and about new audiences.
Finally, you will learn about how to create accessible productions
in which audio description is part of the process.
There are many topics in this module,
and they will help you get a glimpse of interesting technologies
and new developments in the field.

(On-screen text: Module 6. Other technical issues, developments and change. Introductory video. Prepared by: Anna Matamala, UAB. Designed and edited by: Darko Osterc, RTV SLO. Voiced by: Mojca Mavec, RTV SLO. The ADLAB PRO logo.)

VOICE-OVER: The preparation of this video was supported by ADLAB PRO,
Audio Description: A Laboratory for the Development of a New Professional Profile,
financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme,
Key Action 2 - Strategic Partnerships,
Project number

2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

(On-screen text: The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.)