RAAM 1.1

Audio description (time-based media)

Narration added (via a sound file) to an audio track to describe important visual details that cannot be understood from the main audio track alone. The audio description must be synchronised with the time-based media by an application device linked to the media player.

Note 1: the audio description of a video provides information about actions, characters, scene changes, on-screen text and other visual content.

Note 2: in standard audio description, narration is added during pauses in the dialogue (see also extended audio description).

Note 3: when all the information in the video is already given in the audio track, no additional audio description is required.

Where this term is used

4 accessibility criteria refer to this definition.

3.9 — Does each pre-recorded time-based media (video only or synchronised) have, where appropriate, a synchronised audio description (excluding special cases)?
3.10 — For each pre-recorded video-only or synchronised time-based media with a synchronised audio description, is the description relevant?
3.14 — For each pre-recorded synchronised time-based media, that has synchronised captions or audio description, are the control features for these alternatives presented at the same level as other primary features?
3.16 — For each feature that transmits, converts or records a pre-recorded synchronised time-based media with a synchronised audio description, at the end of the process, is the audio description correctly preserved?