How DV Works
Described Video (DV) is to the blind and vision impaired what closed captioning is to the deaf.
Our skilled writers create narrative descriptions of the key visual elements, actions and setting in television programs and other visual media. Highly trained narrators vocalize these decriptions within natural pauses in dialogue, providing an audible context that makes shows accessible to people with vision disabilities.
A full-stereo DV mix of these narrated descriptions is blended with the main program audio, and can be heard via an optional secondary audio program (SAP), available on TVs and through television service providers.
Click on the links below to learn more about our:
Production
Writers
Narrators
Focus Groups
Production
We work with all standard broadcast formats and digital files, including Quicktime, FCP, AVID, .mov, .aiff, .wav, DVD, HDCam, Digital Betacam, Betacam SP, Betacam SX, and others.
We require the finished broadcast-ready audio mix with the final picture-lock on your disc, file or master tape. We can then layback the finished Described Video mix to your master tape, or provide audio files/disks for your own laybacks.
Our expert production staff works in a state-of-the-art production facility to ensure the highest standards of broadcast quality.
We can also provide closed captioning or just the encoding as part of the process, using our HDSDI closed captioning encoding system which is compatible with all closed captioning formats.
Writers
Descriptive writing is a thoughtful, creative and time-consuming discipline. Our experienced writers have received extensive training and are skilled at selecting the precise words needed to paint vivid and lasting images. It takes our highly trained writers 8 to 10 hours to write descriptions for a one-hour show. All writers train for two months until they are certified DV writers. We're very proud of all our talented writers.
Read more about our: Writers / Trainers
Narrators
We match the style of each program with appropriate voice talent. Our exceptional team of narrators understands the subtleties involved in describing movies, documentaries, and television series. They ensure the narration is a true enhancement of the program for both the vision-impaired and sighted audience.
Focus Groups
The Descriptive Video Works Research and Development Team is co-chaired by two members of the blind and vision-impaired community. They provide education and community advocacy, and hold regular focus groups to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our target audience.
Learn more about how we can help with your next show:
